3:10 kindness. Lit. “covenant love.” Throughout the book, God’s own covenant love (1:8; 2:20) is mirrored by that of Ruth (1:8, 16–17). Now her faithfulness is proved as (a) she invokes the duties of a close relative, and (b) she has declined to follow any of the young men. The “kindness” Boaz refers to is evidently Ruth’s proposal to follow the custom that would provide an heir for Naomi.

the first. That is, when she chose to accompany Naomi.