INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 3 In this chapter we have a proposal of Naomi to Ruth, with advice and directions to get Boaz for her husband, Ruth 2:1. Ruth's obedience to the instructions she gave her, Ruth 2:5, the notice Boaz took of her, and the conversation that passed between them, Ruth 2:8 the dismiss... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN NAOMI HER MOTHER IN LAW SAID UNTO HER,.... After the harvests were over, and so gleaning likewise; when Naomi and Ruth were together alone in their apartment, the mother addressed the daughter after this manner: MY DAUGHTER, SHALL I NOT SEEK FOR THEE, THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE? that is, in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW IS NOT BOAZ OF OUR KINDRED, WITH WHOSE MAIDENS THOU WAST?.... He was, and her question supposes and concludes it, and which she observes, that Ruth might take notice of it, and encouragement from it; and the rather, since she had been admitted into the company and conversation of his maidens... [ Continue Reading ]
WASH THYSELF, THEREFORE,.... Thy flesh, as Ben Melech, that she might appear clean and neat, and free from all spots, and every thing that might occasion a disagreeable aspect, or an ill scent, and so be acceptable to the man proposed: AND ANOINT THEE; not with aromatic ointments, as great personag... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN HE LIETH DOWN,.... On the threshingfloor, under the open air, in order to sleep, and take rest: THAT THOU SHALL MARK THE PLACE WHERE HE SHALL LIE; the spot he shall lie on, and the direction in which he shall lie, whether east, west, c. that when the light shall be taken away,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SAID UNTO HER,.... Having the highest opinion of her piety and prudence, and being confident she would never advise her to what was contrary to true religion and virtue: ALL THAT THOU SAYEST UNTO ME I WILL DO; observe every instruction and direction she gave her, and attend strictly to ever... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE WENT DOWN UNTO THE FLOOR,.... From the city of Bethlehem, from her mother-in-law's house there, to the threshingfloor of Boaz, which was at some distance from it, and lower: AND DID ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HER MOTHER IN LAW BADE HER; both before she went, and after: she washed and anointed he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN BOAZ HAD EATEN AND DRUNK, AND HIS HEART WAS MERRY,.... Having ate and drank freely, though not to excess; and innocent mirth was always allowed in the time of harvest, and of the vintage, and of gathering the fruits of the earth, see Judges 9:27 or "his heart was good"; he was in a good fra... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT MIDNIGHT,.... So long Boaz slept without knowledge of any person being at his feet, and so long Ruth had lain there; but awaking, and perceiving something at his feet, which pressed them, it made him look about and feel, and so affected him, THAT THE MAN WAS AFRAID; though a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WHO ART THOU?.... He spoke quick and short, as one displeased, or however surprised and frightened, just coming out of sleep, and in the night: AND SHE ANSWERED, I AM RUTH THINE HANDMAID; that had gleaned in his fields with his maidens, and with whom he had conversed there, and knew he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD, MY DAUGHTER,.... Instead of calling her an immodest woman for laying herself down at his feet, and a bold impudent woman, she being poor, to ask marriage of him; and instead of being angry with her, and chiding and reproving her for disturbing and frightenin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER, FEAR NOT,.... Either of being forced and defiled, to which he had exposed herself by lying down at a man's feet, or of being reproached as an immodest woman for so doing, or of being despised as a poor woman, and of not succeeding in her suit and enterprise: AND I WILL DO TO T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW IT IS TRUE, THAT I AM THY NEAR KINSMAN,.... Her husband and he being brothers' sons, so own cousins: HOWBEIT, THERE IS A KINSMAN NEARER THAN I, who was, the Jews say w, the brother of her husband's father, and so his uncle, which was a nearer relation than an own cousin. w Midrash Ruth, ut... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRY THIS DAY,.... Or lodge here tonight, where she was; this he said not from any design upon her, but for her own safety and honour, that she might not be exposed to danger or disgrace, by returning home at such an unseasonable time of night. The first letter in the word for "tarry" is larger tha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE LAY AT HIS FEET UNTIL THE MORNING,.... In the same place where she first lay herself down: AND SHE ROSE UP BEFORE ONE COULD KNOW ANOTHER, because of the darkness, as the Targum, it not being yet break of day: AND HE SAID, LET IT NOT BE KNOWN THAT A WOMAN CAME INTO THE FLOOR, to whom he spo... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO HE SAID,.... Which seems to confirm the first sense, that what he had said before was to Ruth, beside which he also said to her what follows: BRING THE VAIL WHICH THOU HAST UPON THEE, AND HOLD IT; by which it appears that he rose also thus early, since he ordered her to bring her vail to him,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SHE CAME TO HER MOTHER IN LAW,.... To Naomi, in Bethlehem: SHE SAID, WHO ART THOU, MY DAUGHTER? it being near dusk, she could not discern her, or perhaps she put the question before she opened the door and saw her; though one would think, if Ruth had called to her, she would have known her... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SAID, THESE SIX MEASURES OF BARLEY GAVE HE ME,.... Which she laid down before her, which was a proof of his kindness to her, that she was acceptable to him, and had well sped; of these six measures, see Ruth 3:15 which by some are allegorically interpreted of six blessings that should be bes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN, SAID SHE, SIT STILL, MY DAUGHTER,.... Keep at home, say nothing of this affair to any person, be easy about it, take no other steps in it, wait the issue of it: UNTIL THOU KNOW HOW THE MATTER WILL FALL; not that she thought it was a chance matter, a fortuitous and contingent event with respec... [ Continue Reading ]