On the threshing floor, a secret meeting takes place between Ruth and Boaz. Ruth asks Boaz to “spread his wings over her,” to care for her and act as her kinsman. Boaz declares that he will do everything in his power to fulfill her request.
Ruth 3
15 And he said, “Take the veil that is on you and hold it up.” So she held it up, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. And she entered the city.
16 And she came to her mother-in-law and said, “How is it, my daughter?” And she told her all that the man had done for her.
17 And she said, “These six measures of barley he gave me, and he said to me, ‘Do not come to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 And she said, “Sit, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out.” For the man will not rest until he brings the matter to an end today.
Veil
Boaz tells Ruth to take off her shawl (other translations say: veil). This is a picture of the removal of the veil from the people of Israel when they meet their Messiah and the new covenant is established.
2 Corinthians 3
14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day the same veil remains on the reading of the old covenant without the veil being removed, because it is only abolished in Christ.
15 But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts.
16 But as soon as their hearts are turned to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Barley
When the veil is removed, Ruth receives barley. This is a picture of the bread of life, the living word of God. The day of the sheaf of firstfruits, the beginning of the barley harvest, is, after all, the day of Christ’s resurrection. On the threshing floor, a representation of Zion, the people of Israel will meet their Bridegroom and Redeemer, and the veil will be taken away.
Six measures
Six is the number of man in the Bible. On the sixth day in Genesis 1, we find the mention of the creation of man. Here, it is Boaz, representing the Son of Man, who meets Ruth, the model for Israel.
The six measures of barley speak of the abundance Boaz gives to Ruth, but also indicate that the story is not yet finished. Seven is the number of perfection. The new covenant, symbolized in Ruth by the marriage yet to take place between Boaz and Ruth, is concluded on the seventh day of the 1,000-year period.
Naomi tells Ruth to sit down, meaning to wait patiently. Boaz will not rest until he has brought the matter to a successful conclusion. It is a beautiful picture of the Messiah, who is celebrated and described in many places in the Tanakh. Whatever he does will prosper (Ps. 1:3), and the desire of the LORD will prosper in His hand (Isa. 53:10).