or of groups such as widows (including Naomi and Ruth), who had very few means of supporting themselves. The Law of Moses instructed Israelite farmers that special provisions were to be made to allow the needy to gather some of the harvest while harvesting was under way (Leviticus 19:9, 10; 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:19–22). Naomi encouraged Ruth to follow through with her plan. Ruth proceeded to a field that belonged to a man named Boaz, who had been introduced previously in Ruth 2:1. There he is described