Remember that they had recently returned from Moab to Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was beginning. In Ruth 2:2 we see Ruth Seeking permission to go glean heads of grain in the fields to provide food for her mother in-law and herself. This took enormous courage and faith as a foreigner and Moabite she could have experienced an icy reception, run off the field, or even could have experienced physical abuse. So this was not an easy decision for Ruth to make, but they were poor, they were widows and living in a male-dominated society which meant that few jobs were available for women.
God had made wonderful provision for the poor among His people. When the farmers of the land reaped their harvest, whatever was left over was to be left for the poor. No field, vineyard, or tree was to be harvested a second time. So the gleanings that had been left were to remain for the poor. Note how clearly God's commandment had spelled this out: Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22, and Deuteronomy 24:19-22.
Think about that, God set laws to protect and provide for the poor, the stranger, and the widow. What an awesome God we have!
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