Ruth at the Threshing Floor

 That evening, Ruth made her way to the threshing floor-a flat hard-packed area where a number of farmers would take their grain for threshing and winnowing. The spot chosen was unusually on a hillside or a hilltop, where the breezes were strong in the late afternoon and early evening. To release the grain from the chaff and straw, workers used big forks or shovels to toss the mixture into the wind which carried off the lighter chaff and allowed the heavier grains to fall back to the floor. 

Ruth watched discreetly as the work wound down in the evening. Boaz oversaw the winnowing of his grain, which grew into a great heap. after eating heartily, he lay down at one end of the heap.  This was evidently a common practice, perhaps designated to protect the precious harvest from thieves and marauders. Ruth saw Boaz settling down for the night. The time had come to put Naomi's plan into action. 

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