Ruth beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She carried it back to the town and gave Naomi both the grain and her leftover food. This is reported in Ruth 2:17–18.
Ruth works through the whole day and then processes what she collected, showing both effort and a real result. When she finishes, the amount turns out to be sizeable—about an ephah of barley. She carries it back into town and shows Naomi what she brought. These verses close the day described in Ruth 2:1–16, where Ruth arrives to gather leftovers in Boaz’s fields and receives unusual protection and generosity. The story now shifts from the field to the home, letting Naomi see the outcome and setting up the conversation that follows in Ruth 2:19–20.
Ruth 2:17–18 presents a quiet but important outcome: Ruth works a full day gleaning, processes what she gathered, and brings a substantial amount back to Naomi. The story stresses both effort (“until evening,” then beating out the grain) and a measurable result (“about an ephah of barley”).
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with Ruth 2:17-18, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
17So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.