Ruth 3
PATprudence and piety, and trusted God would give good success to her design; which seemed not very modest, but had uo other intentions than what was agreeable to the law of God, and accordingly prospered. -Ver. G. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her tnother-in-law bade her.] Concealed herself, but observed when he came into the thrashingfloor, and where he lay down to sleep.
Ruth 3:1
JL HEN Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee. A settlement in a house of her own, with a good husband. That it may be well with thee?] That she might live more comfortably than she could do with her. The Chaldee understands it, as if she confirmed it with an oath, that she would give herself no rest till she had married Ruth.
Ruth 3:2
And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with tvhose maidens thou wast?. She puts her in mind of what she had told her before, (ii. 20.) Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the thrashingfloor.] The corn being gathered, thrashed or trodden out, it was next of all winnowed, to separate it from the chaffy and this was commonly done in the evening, when the heat of the day was over, and cool breezes began to rise. (See Gen. iii. 8.)
Ruth 3:3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee. Frequent bathings were necessary in those countries, where they continue to this day for cleanliness; and anointing for smoothing their skin, and making them appear more amiable. And put thy raiment upon thee.] Her best clothes; as the Vulgar expresses it; or her ornaments, as the Chaldee. And get thee down to the floor.’] To some place near it, where she might see, and observe what was done. But make not thyself known unto the man.] She would have her conceal herself, so that Boaz might not see her; nor, as some understand it, any man else. Until he, shall have done eating and drinking.] Upon such occasions they made feasts for the labourers in the harvest.
Ruth 3:4
And it shall be, when he lieth down, thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie. To sleep, after the feasl was done, and the guests were gone. And thou shalt go in.] To the thrashing-floor, where he lay down, as we read ver. 7. And uncover his feet, and lay thee down.] She was not to lie by his side, for that had been immodest; but at his feet, in the posture of an humble supplicant. And he will tell thee what thou shalt do.] Either * he presently understood her meaning, when she told him who she was, or explained it unto him; and Naomi did not doubt lie would comply with her desires, and put her into a legal way of accomplishing them.
Ruth 3:5
And she said unto her, All that thou say est unto me I will do. She put a great confidence in her mother’s
Ruth 3:7
And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry. This is a sign he had made a great feast, that he and his reapers, and perhaps other neighbours, might rejoice together; and (as the Targum understands it) praise God for his goodness in giving them plenty, after the famine that had been in the land. For so the words there are, His heart rejoiced, and he blessed God, who had heard his prayer, and removed the famine from the land of Israel He went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn.] Such was the plain way of living in those ancient times, that the most wealthy persons looked after their own business, both in the field and at home; which made Boaz not go to his house, but lie perhaps upon the straw in the floor where his corn had been winnowed, to secure it from thieves, till it could be laid up in his barns. These thrashing-floors were covered at top to keep off rain, but lay open on all sides, that the wind might come in freely for the winnowing of the corn; which being done, I suppose they were shut up at night with doors fitted to them, that, if any body lay th ir he might be kept warm; and the corn, as I said, be secured from the danger of robbers. Arid she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.] Before the doors were shut up, she came in so softly, that none perceived her, and when he was asleep, lay down at his feet, not naked, as it is supposed she was, but in her clothes, which w r o do not find she put off; for she had no intention of lying with him, but only of giving him an opportunity to consider what the law required of him. This, indeed, looks like a dangerous practice, which her mother-in-law put her upon, exposing both her and him to great temptations, and therefore many have condemned it as a very perilous adventure; but the known piety both of Boaz and Ruth, who were not now in their youthful years (at least Boaz was of a great age), made Naomi confident no sin would be committed by them.
Ruth 3:8
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid. It is a sign he went to bed sober, though merry, in that he waked so soon, and was not drowsy, but apprehensive of something extraordinary; for going to sleep alone, ho perceived another in bed with him. Or, all this is to be ascribed to a Divine motion, which secretly suggested such thoughts to Naomi, and awaked Boaz at a time when men used to sleep most soundly. And turned himself] Being much troubled, he turned himself about to feel who or what it was. The Hebrew word jilaphet, which we translate turned himself, is variously interpreted, and hath an unusual signification put upon it by the Targum, and the Gemara Sanhedrin, (cap. 2. n. 4.) where the modesty and chastity of Boaz is highly extolled, and compared with that of Joseph. And, behold, a woman lay at his feet.] Ho perceived by her clothes, and (when she spake) by her voice, that it was a woman.
Ruth 3:9
And he said, IVIio art thou?. He had no thoughts of abusing her, as the Targum cbserves, but only inquires who she was, and what her business was there. And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid.] She humbly acknowledges her meanness, and then acquaints him with her business. Spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid.] In the Hebrew, Spread thy wing; which is a phrase importing taking a person into one’s protection and tuition; and here not a common one, but such as was matrimonial. Therefore the Chaldee plainly renders it, Let thy name be called upon thy handmaid, by taking me for thy wife. See of this phrase upon Deut. xx. 30. From hence, at this day, when two persons are married among the Jews, the man throws the skirt of his talith over his spouse, and covers her head with it, as TJuxtorf observes in his Synagoga Judaica, cap. 39. For thou art a near kinsman.] This is the reason of her address to him; which may be rendered, as we translate it in the margin, one that hath right to redeem; for so the word goel signifies. (See the foregoing chapter, ver. 20.)
Ruth 3:10
And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter. He was so far from being incensed at her boldness, that he wishes her all happiness. For thou hast shewedmore kindness in the latter end than at the beginning.] He doth not condemn her as immodest, but commends her true kindness both to her mother and to her husband, which appeared now more than before, by her endeavours to preserve his name and family. Inasmuch as thou followedst not young men.] This is a high commendation, that she did not seek a husband to satisfy her lust, but to preserve tho memory of him who was dead. Whether poor or rich.’] That is, of any sort.
Ruth 3:11
And now, my daughter, fear?iot. He would not have her think he had an ill opinion of her because she took this course, or be in doubt whether her motion was acceptable to him; or that, being a stranger and poor, he would despise her. T will do unto thee all that thou requirestJ] That is, take her to be his wife. For all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.] She had behaved herself so, as to gain a general report of extraordinary virtue, as the Hebrew woTd chajil imports; which signifies one that doth things strenuously. The words wo translate, all the city of my people, in the Hebrew are, all the gate of my people: by which we rightly understand, all that entered in at the gate; that is, the whole city. But the gate being the place where justico was wont to be administered, the Chaldee paraphrast interprets it, It is manifest unto all that sit at the gate of the great Sanhedrin of my people, that thou art a just tooman, &c. This shews that Boaz was truly a very excellent person, who thought great virtue to be a great portion.
Ruth 3:12
And now, it is true that I am thy near kinsman: hoivbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. This, I suppose, was well enough known to Naomi; but she understood his disposition so well, that she thought it would be in vain to make any application unto him.
Ruth 3:13
Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if lie willperformunto thee the part of a kinsman, well; lethimdothe kinsman’s part. He resolved tomakeno longer Digitized by Mh CHAP- III.] UPON RUTH. delay than was absolutely necessary; but promises in the morning she should have right done to herself, and to her deceased husband, either by the next kinsman, or by himself. Some of the Jews take the word Tob, which signifies good, and we rightly translate well, to have been the name of the other kinsman, who was called Tob: and indeed, it is likely, this was a name among that people, from whence, by the addition ofm/i to it (which was very common) came Tobiah. Rasi saith he was the brother of Elimelech; but there is no reason to believe this: for, when it had been proper to mention his name in the next chapter, ver. 1. we only.read that Boaz called him Peloni almoni (Ho, such a one), which vsere words used when they called any. one indifferently. But if he ivillnot do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth.] He confirms his promise to her with an oath, that, if the other person refused, he would marry her. Lie down until the morning.’] Having given her this security, and thereby quieted her mind, he bids her take a little bodily rest; which was very needful, having been, no doubt, full of restless and anxious thoughts, \vhat would become of her all the former part of the night..< Vqx.&. And site lay at his feet until the morning. ~] In the same place where she lay down at first; having no other design, but only humbly to implore his justice and. kindness unto her deceased husband.. And she rose up before one coirfd know another.] That is, before it was light; so that if any body had seen her, they could not have known who she was.,. * And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.] Some think he spake this to his servants: but they were not yet stirring; and if they were, they could not discover whether she was man or woman. It was spoken therefore to her, whom he would.have to be careful both of her own fame and of his; for, as Joseplms here notes, Great caution is to be used to. prevent such rumours, especially when there is some ground for them, koI pokier Inl ytyov6ai.
Ruth 3:15
Also he said, Bring the veil that thou hast upon, thee, and hold it. The Hebrew word mitpacath is variously interpreted, it signifying any kind of covering. TheLXX. translate it 7rcp#wjua, by which they seem to have meant that which we call an apron, or a kirtle, which is bound about one. The Vulgar, pallium; but it is by us most properly rendered a veil; which modest women were wont to throw over their heads, to cover their faces. • And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her.] He would not let her go away without somo token of his love to her; and nothing was more ready at hand in the thrashing-floor than the corn that lay there. It is not certain how much this measure contained, but, no doubt, in the whole, he gave her as much as she could well carry; and was so kind also, as himself to lay it upon her shoulder. Some, fancy that this load was too heavy for her, but barley is far lighter than wheat: and the Chaldee paraphrast hero saith, " Strength was given hcr’from before the Lord to bear it.". And then adds, iS Immediately there was a prophecy, that from her should proceed six righteous persons;" each of which should be blessed with six benedictions; " David, Daniel, his three companions, and the king Messiah.",.. •’ And she went into the city.] The Chaldee saith, Boaz went into the city; and the Hebrew favours this interpretation. For the word for went is in the masculine gender, as in the next words it is in the feminine. Ver. 1G. And when she came to her mother-in-laio, she said, Wlio art thou, my daughter?] It was so early in the morning when she returned home, that Naomi-could not well discern who it was that desired the gate might be opened; but perceived it was a woman, whom she calls her daughter, as they used to do in civility, it appears, by Boaz’s language, ver. 10. But the Vulgar takes it quite otherwise, that she asked her, What hast thou done, my daughter? That is, how hast thou succeeded? And, indeed, the answer favours this; and the Hebrew words will bear it, if mi be interpreted not who, but xvhat. •, ■ And she told her all that the man had done to her.] How kindly he had treated her; and what promises he had made her, **"’ • -:.
Ruth 3:17
And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me. Then she shewed her the present he made her. For he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.] Without some token of my affection. Some imagine barley (which is not so valuable with us as wheat) was too mean a thing to bestow upon hen But they do not consider, that in those 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 the New. See.2 Sam. xvii. 28. 2 Kings iv. 42. And in the gospel we read of barley-loaves, wherewith Christ fed the multitude; particularly John vi. 9. And, indeed, Pliny, saith this was the most ancient food. (Antiquissimum in cibis Hordcura, lib. xviii. Nat. Hist. cap. 7.)
Ruth 3:18
Then said she, Sit still, my daughter. She bids her trouble herself no farther, for she had done enough. Until thou know how the matter ivillfall.] But wait and expect, till she saw the issue: which the Targum expresses piously, in this manner, Till thou knowest hoiv this matter will be determined from heaven, and wonderfully disposed. /’* -, / For the man will not be in rest till he have finished the thing this day.] She knew him so well to be a man of his word, that he would immediately go about the business, according to his promise, (ver. 14.)’.;