_I will. Hebrew and Septuagint may be read with an interrogation in the same sense. "Shall I not seek rest?" (Haydock) --- By this expression she means a husband, chap. i. 9. Marriage fixes the unsettled condition of women. (Calmet) --- Noemi being apprised of the law, entertained hopes that she cou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Night. In Palestine, and other maritime countries, a breeze generally arises from the sea in the evening. It was then that Booz seized the opportunity of winnowing his barley; so that, at an early hour, he gave Ruth six measures, and retired to rest, beside some of the remaining sheaves (Calmet) in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Garments. External cleanliness has many attractions, Judith x. 3. Many editions of the Hebrew are very confused, by the improper insertion of i : "I will put the garments on thee, and get me down, " &c. (Kennicott)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sleepeth. People of fortune did not disdain to sleep among the corn. Non pudor in stipula placidam cepisse quietem,_ Nec f\'9cnum capiti supposuisse suo.----- Ovid, Fast. i. (Menochius) --- Feet. It is said that women in the East, enter their husbands' bed at the feet, to shew their submission. (C... [ Continue Reading ]
_Merry. Hebrew, "good," yet by no means intoxicated. (Du Hamel; Menochius) --- It was formerly the custom, as it is still in many places, (Haydock) to conclude the harvest with a feast; (Calmet) on which day Cato observes, that the men and oxen did not work. (De re Rust. c. 131.) Hence the vacuna of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Troubled. Hebrew may be rendered, "and turned himself, or felt," &c. (Calmet) --- He perceived something at his feet, when he awoke, and was in consternation, particularly when he perceived, through the glimmering light, a woman at his feet. (Haydock)._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kinsman. Hebrew, "a redeemer;" (Calmet) one bound to defend and to espouse a brother's widow, if others more nearly akin refuse. (Haydock) --- Ruth modestly admonishes him of this duty, and begs that he would take her to wife, (Calmet) as he might then have done without any other formality. (Serari... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy latter kindness; viz., to thy husband deceased, in seeking to keep up his name and family, by marrying his relation according to the law, and not following after young men: for Booz, it seems, was then in years. (Challoner) Salien supposes about seventy years old. (Haydock) --- The affection wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Woman. Virtuous here may denote, "strong, generous," &c., Proverbs xxxi. 10. (Calmet) --- But it includes the assemblage of all virtues. (Haydock)._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Than I. The Jews think that he was brother of Elimelech, while Booz was only his nephew. But they might be in the same degree; the other being only older. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Well. Hebrew tob. (Haydock) --- Hence the Jews would translate, "If Tob will redeem thee, let him." They say that Tob was the paternal uncle of Mahalon: but it is not probable that his proper name should be only here mentioned, and not [in] chap. iv. The Septuagint and Chaldean are conformable to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hither. The next kinsman might otherwise allege this as a pretext for not marrying her, (Salien) as people are but too apt to suspect the worst, though nothing amiss had passed between them. (Haydock) --- Booz consulted his own as well as Ruth's reputation: for the apostle admonishes us to abstain... [ Continue Reading ]
Mantle. The Syrian and Arabian ladies cover themselves all over with a large white veil, or piece of cloth, which has no hole", so that Ruth might conveniently carry the barley in it. --- Measures is not in [the] Hebrew or Septuagint. Most people supply ephi. St. Jerome, who has translated six bushe... [ Continue Reading ]
_What, &c. Hebrew, "Who art thou?" It was yet so dark that she did not know her. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER III.... [ Continue Reading ]