Gideon: How to Become a Gibur Chayil in 5 Easy Steps

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, valiant warrior!”

What a rare find is a capable wife!

Her worth is far beyond that of rubies.

(1) Ben Zoma said:Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:3). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a man of substance, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “Daughter, I must seek a home for you, where you may be happy. ² Now there is our kinsman Boaz, whose girls you were close to. He will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight. ³ So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ When he lies down, note the place where he lies down, and go over and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what you are to do.” ⁵ She replied, “I will do everything you tell me.”

Ruth 3:6 She went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. ⁷ Boaz ate and drank, and in a cheerful mood went to lie down beside the grainpile. Then she went over stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down. ⁸ In the middle of the night, the man gave a start and pulled back—there was a woman lying at his feet!

Ruth 3:9 “Who are you?” he asked. And she replied, “I am your handmaid Ruth. ^aSpread your robe over your handmaid,^a for you are a redeeming kinsman.”

Ruth 3:10 He exclaimed, “Be blessed of the LORD, daughter! Your latest deed of loyalty is greater than the first, in that you have not turned to younger men, whether poor or rich.^{b 11} And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the ^celders of my town^c know what a fine woman you are. ¹² But while it is true I am a redeeming kinsman, there is another redeemer closer than I. ¹³ Stay for the night. Then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! let him redeem. But if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do so myself, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”

Ruth 3:14 So she lay at his feet until dawn. She rose before one person could distinguish another, for he thought, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” ¹⁵ And he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing.” She held it while he measured out six measures of barley, and he put it on her back.

When she^d got back to the town,

¹⁶ she came to her mother-in-law, who asked, “How is it with you, daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her; ¹⁷ and she added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” ¹⁸ And Naomi said, “Stay here, daughter, till you learn how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”

One of the attendants spoke up, “I have observed a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in music; he is a stalwart fellow and a warrior, sensible in speech, and handsome in appearance, and the LORD is with him.”

(3) "And Naomi had a kinsman (moda') of her husband's, a mighty man of valor (Ruth 2:1)". Moda' [means] relative. Rabbi Abbahu said: "[if] a giant marries a giant, what do they bear? Powerful men of "valor". Boaz married Ruth. What did they produce? David: "who is skillful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in affairs, and an attractive man, and Hashem is with him (1 Samuel 16:18)". He is "skillful in playing" [that is] in scripture. "And a mighty man of valor" [that is] in Mishnah. "And a man of war" who knows to take and to give in the war of the Torah. "And prudent in affairs" in doing good. "And an attractive man" in Talmud. Another interpretation: "And prudent in affairs" that he deduces a thing from the midst of a thing. "And an attractive man" who illuminates his face with halakhah. "And Hashem is with him": the halakhah is according to his words. "Of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz (Ruth 2:1)": the wicked precede with their name [i.e.] "Goliath was his name (1 Samuel 17:4)", "Nabal was his name (1 Samuel 25:3)", "Sheba, the son of Bichri, was his name (2 Samuel 20:1)". But the righteous precede with "name" [i.e.] "and his name was Kish (1 Samuel 9:1)", "and his name was Saul (1 Samuel 9:2)", "and his name was Jesse (1 Samuel 17:12)", "and his name was Mordechai (Esther 2:5)", "and his name was Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1)", "and his name was Boaz". They are similar to their creator, as it is said: "and my name Hashem I did not reveal to them (Exodus 6:3)". They had objections to that: "and his name was Laban (Genesis 24:29)". Rabbi Yitzchak said: "a paradox!". Rabbi Berachya said "refined (meluban) by evil". And it is written "and the sons on Samuel, the firstborn was Joel by name, and the name of his second-born was Abijah (1 Samuel 8:2). The rabbis said "as this is evil so that is evil." And Rabbi Yehudah, son of Rabbi Simon: "they changed their deeds and were found worthy of the Ruach Hakodesh, as it is said "the word of Hashem which came to Joel, the son of Petuel (Joel 1:1)".