262 EDWARD J. BRIDGE Self-abasement when used as thanks increases the face of the giver, and in doing so avoids obligation to the gift giver. A second text in which self-abasement is used to express thanks is Ruth’s statement to Boaz in Ruth 2,13: “ May I continue to find favour in your sight, my lord, you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants”. The clause, “I am not one of your servants”, is the statement of self abasement. It refers to her status as a foreigner, stated in a pre- vious turn in the dialogue, “Why have I found favour in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner [hyrkn]?” (Ruth 2,10). Ruth, by drawing attention to her foreign origins, im- plies she has no right to be specially treated, which is what Boaz has been doing 18. In effect, she reduces her face so as to increase Boaz’s face, which highlights Boaz’s generosity. In Boaz’ case, he has favoured a person who has little legal status in the community. No obligation is expressed, which is in keeping with her role as a destitute gleaner who is dependent on landholders’ generosity for sustenance 19. However, as the story proceeds, obligation is played upon by both characters. In 3,9, in the night-time scene at the threshing floor, Ruth attempts to obligate Boaz to her in her request that he act as lag (“ kinsman redeemer”). He in turn reverses this by claiming in v. 10 that her request is a form of obligation to him, since she is showing dsj (“ kindness/loyalty ”) to him 20. This change of relationship is noteworthy. Ruth has moved from con- structing an identity of an unworthy low-status foreigner to con- texts in which blk is used as a put down of others, a use which also occurs in the Amarna letters (EA 85,130, 134, 137, 281; see also BRIDGE, “Polite Language ”, 526-527). David uses tm blk to maintain independence from Saul even as he respects Saul’s legitimacy; and Mephibosheth uses tm blk to avoid obligation to David. Cf. K.L. YOUNGER, “Two Comparative Notes on the Book of Ruth”, 18 JANES 26 (1998) 121-132, here 127-128. Cf. Lev 19,9-10 and Deut 24,19-20, where gleaning by the destitute is 19 prescribed. Cf. Y. BERGER, “Ruth and the David Bathsheba Story: Allusions and 20 Contrasts ”, JSOT 33 (2009) 433-452, here 443.