As a basis for her proposal (note כִּי, “for”), Ruth appealed to Boaz’s status as a גֹּאֵל, “benefactor” (v. 9). We should probably assume the term has the same sense as in 2:20 (see our discussion above). If the term is used in a general sense of “deliverer, helper,” then Naomi simply identified Boaz as a relative and potential benefactor (cf. 2:20), and Ruth appealed to Boaz on the basis of this relationship (3:9). However, this does not fully explain Boaz’s response. He regarded Ruth’s proposal