REST. — Although Naomi had already (Ruth 1:12) repudiated any thought of marriage for herself, still she felt it her duty to do what she could to provide a home for the daughter-in-law who had so loyally followed her, lest her own death should leave her young companion specially unprotected and frie... [ Continue Reading ]
(3-5) The plan suggested by Naomi seems peculiar, yet some thoughts may give a certain colouring to it. (1) Naomi seems _to_ have believed that Boaz was the nearest kinsman, being ignorant of the yet nearer one (Ruth 3:12). Consequently, according to Israelite law (Deuteronomy 25:5 _sqq._)_,_ it wou... [ Continue Reading ]
UNCOVER HIS FEET. — More literally, as the margin, _lift up the clothes that are on his feet;_ so LXX. and the Vulgate. We are told that the custom still prevails in Palestine of owners of crops sleeping on their threshing-floors, lying with their clothes on, but with their feet covered with a mantl... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DO. — Ruth’s obedience here is an intelligent obedience. She knew in what relation Boaz stood for her family, and the duties attaching to the relationship (Ruth 2:20; Ruth 3:9). Thus with obedient trust, implicitly but not blindly, she follows her mother-in-law’s orders; strong in conscious i... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS AFRAID. — Was startled. See the use of the word in Genesis 27:33. TURNED. — Literally, _bent himself._ (Comp. Judges 16:29.) He wakes with a start, and in turning sees a woman at his feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
SKIRT. — Literally _wing;_ Heb. _canaph,_ as in Ruth 2:12. The Targum treats this as in itself the claim to espousal on her part. The metaphor may be illustrated from Ezekiel 16:8, and more generally from Matthew 23:37.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD. — This answer of Boaz’s is in itself a sufficient proof of the view he took of her conduct, and of the integrity of his own. We note, too, that this blessing follows immediately on the avowal of her name. His own feelings had already been attuned to due honour and respec... [ Continue Reading ]
CITY. — Literally, _gate:_ the constant meeting-place of persons going in and out. (See Genesis 19:1; Genesis 34:20; Genesis 34:24; Deuteronomy 16:18; Deuteronomy 21:19, &c.)... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE MORNING. — You have made clear the object of your plea, and I fully assent to it; but do not run the risk of going now, in the dead of night, back to your home.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE COULD KNOW ANOTHER. — Literally, _a man could recognise his friend; i.e.,_ before daylight, in the early dusk. A WOMAN. — Literally, _the woman_ — i.e., this woman. Thus it is of Ruth, not of himself, that Boaz is here thinking. A sensible man like Boaz knows _“_that we must not only keep a goo... [ Continue Reading ]
VAIL — Rather a _mantle,_ so in Isaiah 3:22. SHE WENT. — This should be, if we follow the current Hebrew text, _he went._ The verb is masculine (_yabho_)_,_ and the distinction is shewn in the Targum, which inserts the name Boaz as the nominative. It must be allowed that a fair number of Hebrew MSS... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ART THOU? — We can hardly view this as a simple question as to Ruth’s identity, but rather as meaning, _how hast thou fared? _... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL NOT BE IN REST. — _i.e., will not keep quiet._ IV.... [ Continue Reading ]