Ruth 2

Ruth going forth to glean ears of corn in the fields, lighteth upon the fields of Boaz, her deceased husbands near kinsman, v. 1. etc. Who showeth much kindnesses to her, and giveth strict charge to his servants concerning her, 8. Ruth coming home telleth Naomi what had befallen her, 18. Who giveth God thanks for it, and exhorteth Ruth to continue in the field, 20.

1. Now Naomi had a kinsman [Heb. properly acquaintance; but this word is also taken for a near Kinsman, Cousin, or Brother in law. See Proverbs 7:4. and below chapter 3. 2.] of her husbands, [viz. of the deceased Ebimelech as followeth,] a nan, mighty in power, of Elimelechs family; and his name was Boaz.

2. And Ruth, the Moabites said unto Naomi; Let me, I pray thee, go into the field, and glean of the ears [Compare Levit. 19. 9. and 23. 22. Deuteronomy 24:19. etc] after him, in whose eye I shall find grace: [i.e. With whom I shall obtain this favour, that he suffer me to glean in his field some ears of corn after the reapers. See of this phrase, Gen. 18. on v. 3. also below v. 10, 13.] and she said unto her; go thy ways, my Daughter.

3. So she went her ways, and came, and gleaned in the field, after the reapers : and there fell to her by change, [Heb. her meeting, or dealing, hap, accident, happened, or befell, met, dealt, & c. this is affirmed in respect of Ruth, who knew not whose field it was: but it was so ordained by God, to prepare the way to that which hereafter is related] a part of the field of Boaz, [Matth. 1. 5. called Boaz.] who was of the family of Elimelech.

4. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers; the LORD be with you: and they said unto him; The LORD bless thee. [See Gen. 12. on v. 2.]

5. Afterward Boaz said unto his youth, [That is, to say here, his man-servant, as in the following verse appeareth. See of the use of the Hebrew word, Gen. 22. on v. 5.] that was set over the reapers; Whose is this Young Women?

6. And the youth, that was set over the reapers, answered, and said : This is the Moabitish young Woman, who is returned [See above chapter 1. on v. 1. and 10.] with Naomi out of the fields of Moab.

7. And she said; Let me, I pray thee, glean, and gather (ears) amongst the sheaves, after the reapers: so she came go (or continued) from the morning until noon, [Heb. from then, the morning, etc.] now her tarrying at home is a little while. [Or, her tarrying is here a little while at home. That is, this morning she was a little while at home, for the residue, her tarrying is here. Otherwise, That she now hath sat in the but, or, within doers, is but a little while. Understand in the hut Boaz, which perhaps was made in the Field, to hide one’s self sometimes a little from the parching heat, or to take sometimes a little rest, perhaps also eat or take victuals in.]

8. Then said Boaz unto Ruth; hearest thou not, my Daughter? go not to glean in another field; also thou shall not to go away from hence: but here shalt thou abide by my maidens. [Meaning, maid servants, which I have in or about my work, as above youth, for man-servant, vers. 5.]

9. Thine eyes shall be upon this field, which they [viz. the reapers] shall reap, and thou shalt go for them; [i.e. the maid-servants] have I not charged them. See Judges 4. on v. 6] that they shall not touch thee? when thou art a thirst, then go to the vessels, and drink of that which the youth shall have drawn.

10. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, [See Genes. 18. on v. 2.] and she said unto him; Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou takest me, and dealest truly with me, as if I were thine acquaintance, and kin to thee] whereas I am a Stranger?

11. And Boaz answered, and said unto her; It hath been clearly told me, [Heb. being told it, was told me] all that thy husband, and hast left thy father, and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity; and art gone unto a people, which thou knewest not heretofore. [Heb. yesterday, ere yesterday.]

12. The LORD recompense thee thy deed and thy reward [Which God hath graciously promised to well doers] be perfect from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings [i.e. gracious protection, defence, and cherishing, a comparison taken from the young ones of birds, who shelter or cover themselves under the wings of the old ones, or of their dams, to be cherished and protected. See Psal. 17. 8. and 36. 8. and 57. 2. and 63. 8. and 91. 4. Matth. 23. 39.] thou art come to take refuge. [Or, thou art come to take refuge under his wings, or, to seek protection, or, to trust thyself.]

13. And she said; let me find grace in thine eyes, my Love, [Or, I shall find grace, etc.] seeing thou hast comforted me, and seeing thou hast spoken according to the heart [See Gen. 34. on v. 3. and Judg. 19. on v. 3.] of mine hand-maid: although I am not, as one of thy hand-maids, [Or, shall not be, & c. That is, I will not esteem so much of my self, or carry my self so, as if I were one of thine hand-maid, but less.]

14. Now when it was eating time, Boaz said unto her; Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar: so she sat down at the side of the reapers, and he reached her parched (corn) [Or, grout, frumenty; ready drest for food. Compare 2 Sam 17. 28.] and she did eat, and was satisfied, and lest. [Compare below vers. 18.]

15. Now when she rose up, to glean, Boaz charged his youths, saying; let her also glean among the Sheaves, and reproach her not.

16. Yet let also now and then somewhat of the handfuls fall for her, [Heb. robbing rob for her of the handfuls. That is, now and then, or of purpose, or, willingly rob your handfuls, letting ever and a non some eats fall or drop down from them, that so she may gather and glean the more] and let it lie, that she may glean it, and rebuke her not.

17. So she gleaned in that field until the evening: and she beat out [See Judg. 6. on v. 11.] that she had gleaned, and it was about an Epha. [See Exod. 16. on vers. 36.] of Barley.

18. And she took it up, and came into the City, and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: she also brought forth, and gave to her that with she had reserved from her satisfying. [See above v. 14.]

19. Then said her mother in law unto her; [viz. Naomi unto Ruth] where hast thou gleaned to day, and where hast thou wrought? [Heb. done: to wit, thy work. So Matth. 20. 12. These last have done one hour, to wit, work; i.e. laboured, wrought. So in the following verse. See further, Prov. 31. on v. 13.] Blessed be he [as v. 20.] that did take knowledge of thee: [See above on v. 10.] and she told her mother in law, with whom she had wrought, and said; The name of the man, with whom I have wrought to day, is Boaz.

20. Then said Naomi unto her Daughter in law; blessed be he unto the LORD, [That is, of the Lord: Compare Genes. 24. on v. 31. and below chapter 3. 10.] who [Namely, Boaz,] hath not omitted his kindness to the living [viz. to thee and me] and to the dead: [viz, to my deceased husband and two sons, which were of his blood, or kindred, for he now doeth unto us for their sakes] moreover, Naomi said unto her; That man is near of kin unto us, he is one of our redeemers: [i.e. who hath right, by reason of his next kinship, to redeem our inheritance and persons (which were aliened and sold) and to buy them back again, and to set them at liberty, and also to make or take a march for thee, according to the Laws, Levit. 25. vers. 25, etc. and 47, etc. Deuteronomy 25:5, etc. Matth. 22. 24, etc.]

21. And Ruth the Moabiteness said; Also, [Understand, must he be blessed, from the former verse. Or, also (that thou know) that he, & c.] because he said unto me; Thou shall keep thee by the youths, that I have, until they shall have ended all the harvest, that I have.

22. And Naomi said unto her Daughter in law Ruth: ‘Tis good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they fall not against thee in another field: [As if she should say; continue still there, where thou art so well dealt withal, and go not into another field, where thou mayest be ill dealt withal.]

23. So she kept herself by the maidens of Boaz, to glean; until the barley-harvest and wheat-harvest were ended; and she abode with her mother in law.