Ruth 3 Commentary

“And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. uncover: or, lift up the clothes that are on”

Sleepeth. People of fortune did not disdain to sleep among the corn.

“And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.”

Merry. Hebrew, “good,” yet by no means intoxicated. (Du Hamel; Menochius) — It was formerly the custom, as it is still in many places, (Haydock) to conclude the harvest with a feast; (Calmet) on which day Cato observes, that the men and oxen did not work. (De re Rust. c. 131.) Hence the vacuna of Ovid. (Fast. vi.) (Tirinus) — The pagans did this in honour of Jupiter and Ceres. But the true God had enjoined his people (Haydock) to offer the first-fruits to him, and to feast in his presence, Leviticus xxiii. 10., and Deuteronomy xxvi. 21. — Sheaves, either of corn or of straw. (Septuagint) — The Arabs and neighbouring nations still delight to rest upon the ground, with some clothes thrown over them. (Calmet)

“And it came to pass at midnight , that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. turned: or, took hold on”

Troubled. Hebrew may be rendered, “and turned himself, or felt,” &c. (Calmet) — He perceived something at his feet, when he awoke, and was in consternation, particularly when he perceived, through the glimmering light, a woman at his feet. (Haydock).

“And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. a near: or, one that hath right to redeem”

Kinsman. Hebrew, “a redeemer;” (Calmet) one bound to defend and to espouse a brother’s widow, if others more nearly akin refuse. (Haydock) — Ruth modestly admonishes him of this duty, and begs that he would take her to wife, (Calmet) as he might then have done without any other formality. (Serar. q. vii.) — We find a similar expression [in] Ezechiel xvi. 8., and Deuteronomy xxii. 80. Some think that she only asked for protection. The custom of the husband, stretching a part of his garment over his bride, was perhaps already established among the Hebrews. (Calmet) — Hebrew and Septuagint, “stretch thy wing over,” &c. Chaldean, “Let thy name be invoked upon thy handmaid, to take me to wife.” (Menochius; Isaias iv. 1.)

“And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.”

Thy latter kindness; viz., 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. (Challoner) Salien supposes about seventy years old. (Haydock) — The affection which Ruth had all along displayed towards her husband, deserved applause. (Calmet) — Much more did her present endeavours to comply with God’s law. (Worthington)

“And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. city: Heb. gate”

Woman. Virtuous here may denote, “strong, generous,” &c., Proverbs xxxi. 10. (Calmet) — But it includes the assemblage of all virtues. (Haydock).

“And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.”

Than I. The Jews think that he was brother of Elimelech, while Booz was only his nephew. But they might be in the same degree; the other being only older. (Calmet)

“Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if 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.”

Well. Hebrew tob. (Haydock) — Hence the Jews would translate, “If Tob will redeem thee, let him.” They say that Tob was the paternal uncle of Mahalon: but it is not probable that his proper name should be only here mentioned, and not [in] chap. iv. The Septuagint and Chaldean are conformable to the Vulgate and the opinion of the Jews is abandoned by most interpreters; (Calmet) and by the Protestants, “well, let him do the kinsman’s part.” (Haydock) — Liveth. Chaldean, “Bound by an oath, before the Lord, I say that I will fulfil my promise unto thee.”

“And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.”

Hither. The next kinsman might otherwise allege this as a pretext for not marrying her, (Salien) as people are but too apt to suspect the worst, though nothing amiss had passed between them. (Haydock) — Booz consulted his own as well as Ruth’s reputation: for the apostle admonishes us to abstain from every appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians v. 22. (Menochius)

“Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. vail: or, sheet, or, apron”

Mantle. The Syrian and Arabian ladies cover themselves all over with a large white veil, or piece of cloth, which has no holes, so that Ruth might conveniently carry the barley in it. — Measures is not in [the] Hebrew or Septuagint. Most people supply ephi. St. Jerome, who has translated six bushels, (allowing three to the ephi; chap. ii. 17,) has understood that Booz gave Ruth two ephi. If we explain it of six ephi, the burden would be great enough, consisting of 180 pints or pounds of barley. Bonfrere would supply six gomers, each of which consisted of only the tenth part of the ephi, or three pints, in all 18. But such a present seems too inconsiderable. We may therefore stick to St. Jerome, whose six measures (Calmet— modios, bushels; Haydock.) make about 60 pints; (Calmet) or, according to others, 160 pounds, which, though heavy, a woman might carry. The Septuagint insinuate, that Ruth carried the barley in her apron. (Menochius) — And. Hebrew, “he went.” But the text is probably corrupted. (Calmet)

“And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.”

What, &c. Hebrew, “Who art thou?” It was yet so dark that she did not know her. (Calmet)