CHAPTER III _Naomi's advice to Ruth, how to procure herself a marriage with_ _Boaz_, 1-5. _She acts according to her mother-in-law's direction, and is_ _kindly received by Boaz, who promises to marry her, should_ _her nearer kinsman refuse_, 6-13. _He gives her six measures of barley, and send... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:2. _HE WINNOWETH BARLEY TONIGHT_] It is very likely that the winnowing of grain was effected by taking up, in a broad thin vessel or sieve, a portion of the corn, and letting it down slowly in the wind; thus the _grain_ would, by its own weight, fall in one place, while the _chaff_, c.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:3. _WASH THYSELF, THEREFORE_] She made Ruth put on her best dress, that Boaz might, in the course of the day, be the more attracted by her person, and be the better disposed to receive her as Naomi wished.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:4. _UNCOVER HIS FEET, AND LAY THEE DOWN_] It is said that women in the East, when going to the bed of their lawful husbands, through modesty, and in token of _subjection_, go to the bed's foot, and gently raising the clothes, creep under them up to their place. See _Calmet_. On the who... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:7. _WHEN BOAZ HAD EATEN AND DRUNK_] The _Targum_ adds, "He blessed the name of the Lord, who had heard his prayer, and removed famine from the land of Israel." _WENT TO LIE DOWN_] As the threshing-floors of the Eastern nations are in general in the _open_ air, it is very likely that th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:8. _THE MAN WAS AFRAID, AND TURNED HIMSELF_] The verb ילפת _yillapheth_, which we render he _turned himself_, has puzzled even the Targumist, who translates the clause thus: "The man trembled, and his flesh became like a (boiled) turnip through fear." It is fully evident Boaz had no int... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:9. _SPREAD THEREFORE THY SKIRT OVER THINE HAND MAID_] Hebrew, _Spread thy wing_. The _wing_ is the emblem of protection, and is a metaphor taken from the young of fowls, which run under the wings of their mothers, that they may be saved from birds of prey. The meaning here is, _Take me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:10. _IN THE LATTER END THAN AT THE BEGINNING_] It is not easy to find out what Boaz means. Perhaps חסד _chesed_, which we translate _kindness_, means piety; as if he had said: Thou hast given great proof of thy _piety_ in this latter instance, when thou hast avoided the young, and those... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:12. _THERE IS A KINSMAN NEARER THAN I._] It is very likely that Naomi was not acquainted with this circumstance. Some have supposed that there was a _brother_ of Elimelech remaining, who was nearer than Boaz, who is supposed to have been only a _nephew_; the former, therefore, must have... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:13. _AS THE LORD LIVETH_] Thus he bound himself by an _oath_ to take her to wife if the other should refuse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:15. _BRING THE VEIL_] המט פחת _hammit pachath_; this seems to have been a cloak, plaid, or what the Arabs call _hayk_, which has been largely explained elsewhere. See Judges 14:12. _SIX_ MEASURES _OF BARLEY_] We supply the word _measures_, for the Hebrew mentions no _quantity_. The Ta... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ruth 3:18. _UNTIL THOU KNOW HOW THE MATTER WILL FALL_] That is, whether he who is nearer of kin than Boaz will take thee to wife; do not return again till this thing is determined. Boaz lost no time to bring this to an issue, as we shall see in the following chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]