The Book of Ruth
Ruth 3
Chapter III · Vol. II, pp. 626–627
1 By Naomi's instruction, 6 Ruth lieth at Boaz's feet. 8 Boaz acknowledgeth the right of a kinsman. 14 He sendeth her home in the morning with six measures of barley.
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, aMy daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2 And bnow is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the thrashing-floor.1
A.M. cir. 2694. B.C. cir. 1310.
b Pr.18.24. ch.2.20,23. De.25.5,6. Job 19.25. He.2.11,14.
1 The night may have been chosen for sake of the land-breeze that in most warm climates springs up in the evening. Before modern improvements in machinery, winnowing, in many parts of Europe, was by means of a skin stretched tight upon a hoop, and the grain being slowly shaken off the edge, dropped down perpendicularly, while the chaff was carried off by the wind. In some of the northern kingdoms it is performed by a wooden shovel, which a man, sitting down, thrusts into the heap of grain, and then throwing the grain suddenly over his head, the grain and chaff are separated, according to their specific gravities.—C.
3 Washc thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and duncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and fhis heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she gcame softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid,2 and turned3 himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
2 He may at first have taken the sleeper for some one that had died there—robber or assassin it could not be supposed, so as to excite fear on account of danger.—C.
3 Or, took hold on.
9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth hthine handmaid: ispread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kkinsman.4
h ch.2.10,13. 1 Sa.25.41. Lu.14.11. Pr.15.33; 18.11.
i Ge.20.16. Eze.16.8, i.e. marry me.
k Or, one that hath right to redeem, ch.2.20.
4 From Eze. 16. 8, &c., it is evident that the covering with the skirt was a Jewish marriage ceremony, and so it remains till this day. If it be inquired why Ruth did not wait to see if Boaz should seek her to wife, the answer is plain: the Mosaic law evidently provided that, in such cases, it lay with the widow to claim if she chose; but that she could not be claimed, though she might be refused.—C.
10 And he said, lBlessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed mmore kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
l 1 Co.13.4,5. ch.2.4,20.
m ch.1.8. 1 Ti.5.11. Tit.2.4,5,12.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city5 of my people doth know that thou art na virtuous woman.6
13 Tarry this night, and it shall be pin the morning, that qif he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
14 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, rLet it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the 7vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, she measured six measures8 of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
7 Or, sheet or apron. [Some translate it apron, some cloak or robe; it must have been stronger than what the word veil represents to Europeans.—C.]
s Is.32.8. 1 Jn.3.18. Ga.6.10. 2 Co.9.6,7.
8 The quantity cannot be ascertained. The Targumists make it fifteen gallons. The phrase, 'laid it on her,' intimates a considerable weight.—C.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter?9 And she told her all that the man had done to her.
9 The meaning is, 'In what circumstances dost thou come? What hast thou accomplished?'—P.
17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me: for he said to me, Go not empty1 unto thy mother-in-law.
1 Go not without some token of my regard. Some imagine barley, which is not so valuable with us as wheat, was too mean a thing to bestow upon her. But they do not consider that in these countries it was a better sort of corn than it is in these parts of the world; for bread was commonly made of it, and that not only by the poor, but the better sort, of which we find examples both in the Old Testament and in the New.—I.
18 Then said she, tSit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day.2
t Ps.37.3-5. Is.28.16. He.10.36,37. Ja.5.7.
2 A truly pious man can neither be rash nor precipitate, neither can he be wavering, undecided, or dilatory, where duty is concerned: his real character is serious in considering duty, cautious in foreboding consequences, decided in principle, speedy in action—such was Boaz.—C.
Notes
[Ver. 4. Uncover his feet, and lay thee down. This is the ordinary mode in which servants still sleep in many parts of the East, lying in a? direction across their masters' feet. This translation is not to be construed by European customs or sentiments, but by the customs of the time and place, by the religious and benevolent character of Boaz, and the innocence and purity of Naomi and Ruth.' C.]
Ver. 7. [His heart was merry. There is a striking connection between piety, benevolence, a pure conscience, and cheerfulness, or even well-regulated mirth. We have heard the laughter of fools, and men think it joyful; but this we have also felt, that the more godly men become, the more cheerful and happy they become.—Note, It is a debt that religious men owe to the world, to convince them, by the mildness, meekness, and cheerfulness of their demeanour, that religion is neither austere nor melancholy, while yet it is staid and serious. C.——This scene is in every respect characteristic of the East. During the harvest rain never falls in Palestine, and the nights are warm and balmy. The whole agricultural population are then accustomed to bivouac round the thrashing-floors, which are usually at some distance from the villages. They all sleep in the open air—masters and labourers alike. This is considered no hardship. A large por-tion of the population of Palestine sleep in the open air during the summer in preference. I have often done so myself. P.]
Ver. 15. [The veil worn by the peasant women of Syria and Palestine is a piece of strong calico, from two to three yards in length by half as much in width. It is thrown over the head, and can be so worn as to envelop the whole person, or to hang down the back in graceful folds. The end of the veil is not unfrequently used to serve the purpose of a bag for carrying grain or fruit. P.]
Reflections.—It is often safest for young widows to marry. And it is the duty of parents to promote the settlement of their children in a comfortable marriage: for it is no small mercy when the married state fixes the affections at a rest in which it is well with the parties. Dress and cleanliness are commendable, so far as they are calculated to engage proper affections. But in courtship and marriage there ought always to be a strict attention to the commands of God. It is not enough that we do no evil;—we must indulge ourselves in no appearance of it. But what an advantage is it when we have to do with such as have the deepest regard to our chastity and honour; who are disposed to think no evil, but to interpret our innocent familiarities in the best sense; and who, in matters of importance, will certainly be faithful and diligent! Yea, hopeful is the match which is made up in dependence on God and regard to the authority of parents. But we cannot be too ready to start at temptations which steal softly upon us; nor too careful to remove every occasion from the envenomed tongue of slander. What is liable to be misinterpreted had best never be known. And when we circumspectly proceed in the way of our duty, we may comfort our minds in the hope of God's salvation in due time.