Ruth 3

Ruth 3:1

Theodoret of Cyrus: What does Naomi suggest to her daughter-in-law? When Ruth heard her mother-in-law saying, “Our neighbor is a true man,” she was reminded of his great kindness and thought to want him [to be] married to her in law, so that she might keep up the memory of the dead. Therefore, she [Naomi] suggests to her that she sleep at Boaz’s feet, not that she might sell her body (for the words of the narrative signify the opposite); rather, she trusts the man’s temperance and judgment. Moreover, the actions corroborate the words. — QUESTIONS ON RUTH

Ruth 3:10

Richard Challoner: Thy latter kindness: to thy husband deceased in seeking to keep up his name and family by marrying his relation according to the law, and not following after young men. For Booz, it seems, was then in years.

Theodoret of Cyrus: He praised Ruth’s deed and, moreover, he did not betray temperance, but he kept to the law of nuptial congress. “You show by your deed,” he said, “that this was not done out of voluptuousness. In fact, you might have gone to those who are young and blooming, with only the intent of enjoying voluptuousness, but you went to the man who stands in place of a father to you.” Twice indeed, he calls her daughter. — QUESTIONS ON RUTH