Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. Ruth 3:1-6

If you read the whole chapter, you'll see that Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, and so we know it was after the firstfruits of that crop had been offered. Boaz also offered Ruth parched grain from his table, which is not to be eaten until after the firstfruits are offered (Lev. 23:9-14). Since Boaz was winnowing barley in the scene above, then we can assume that the firstfruits of wheat had not yet been offered (on the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost, the 50th day of counting the omer), and the harvest of that crop had not yet begun. Barley matures faster than wheat and is harvested first.

Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits by rising from the dead. In the Book of Ruth, Boaz is a "type" of Jesus as our Redeemer. Boaz redeems both Ruth, whom he takes as his wife to fulfill the obligation to continue the family line of her dead husband (who was a Jew), and the land of Naomi. He is also pictured as the "lord of the harvest" like Jesus. (Luke 10:1-2) Ruth is told by Naomi to wash and anoint herself and put on her cloak, which would seem to represent being washed clean by Jesus' blood, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and clothed in Jesus' righteousness. Ruth is commended for her kindness to her mother-in law, Naomi, whose land is redeemed the same day as Ruth is redeemed by marrying Boaz.

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