speech to Ruth as anything except instructions on how to seduce Boaz is hard to do. Commentators debate the significance of Naomi’s directions that Ruth wash, anoint herself, and change clothes. Despite the NRSV translation, the Hebrew text does not say Ruth should put on her “best” clothes; it simply indicates that she is to change garments. Nonetheless, she is to come to Boaz clean and fresh. Naomi tells Ruth to make herself as attractive as possible and to wait until Boaz, if not actually drunk,