Ruth 3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:1-2

Ruth 3:1-2. Shall I not seek rest for thee? A settlement in a house of thy own, and thereby rest in comfort and safety, under the care of a good husband. He winnoweth barley to-night This, it is probable, was commonly done in the evening, when the heat of the day was over, and cool breezes began to rise; in the thrashing-floor Which was in a place covered at the top, but open elsewhere, whither Ruth might easily come. And this work of winnowing corn was usually ended with a feast. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:3

Ruth 3:3. Put on thy raiment Thy best raiment. Make not thyself known In so familiar a way as thou mayest do hereafter. “It is not easy to tell,” says Dr. Dodd, “at this distance of time, and amid this difference of manners, why Naomi advised Ruth to this secret method of proceeding. One would have thought it better for her to have claimed publicly the right of redemption from Boaz; but, no doubt, Naomi, who was a pious woman, had sufficient reasons for her mode of proceeding; and being... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:4

Ruth 3:4. Uncover his feet Remove the clothes which are upon his feet; thereby to awake him; and lay thee down She was not to lie down by his side, for that would have been immodest, but at his feet, in the posture of an humble supplicant. Had Ruth acted in any respect that in those days was judged indecent or immodest, it is most likely she would have highly displeased such a grave person as Boaz appears to have been. What she did, however, seems to us indecent, and would certainly be a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:7

Ruth 3:7. And his heart was merry Hebrew, יישׂב לבו , iitab, libbo, his heart was good, that is, cheerful and thankful for the plenty which the Lord had sent. He went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn In his clothes, doubtless; not going as usual to his house and bed, but reposing himself here, for the sake of taking a little temporary rest, probably on the straw in the floor where his corn had been winnowed, to secure it from thieves till it could be laid up in his garner. For... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:8-9

Ruth 3:8-9. At midnight He did not discover her sooner; the man was afraid Feeling something unusual at his feet. Behold a woman lay at his feet He perceived by her clothes, and, when she spake, by her voice, that it was a woman. Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid A kind of proverbial expression, signifying, Take me to be thy wife, and perform the duty of a husband to me. From this answer of Ruth, and from what Boaz says in the two following verses, it is plain that she had... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:10

Ruth 3:10. More kindness in the latter end than in the beginning Both to thy deceased husband, the continuance of whose name and memory thou seekest, and to thy mother-in-law, whose commands thou hast punctually obeyed. The former kindness which Ruth had shown to the family of Boaz was in her love and fidelity to her husband, and her affectionate regard to her mother-in-law. But Boaz here commends her willingness to marry him, who was advanced in years, in order to raise up seed to her... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:11-13

Ruth 3:11-13. And now, my daughter, fear not No words can more evidently express any thing than this and the following verse do, that Ruth did nothing immodest. Howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer than I He does not absolutely refuse to grant her petition, but, influenced by a strict regard to the law of Moses, informs her that as there was a person nearer to her than himself, he could not properly take her to wife till that person had been consulted. If he will perform unto thee the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:14

Ruth 3:14. She lay at his feet till the morning Having no other design but only to implore his justice and kindness unto her deceased husband. He said, Let it not be known He takes care to preserve not only his conscience toward God, but his reputation and hers also among men. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 3:16-17

Ruth 3:16-17. Who art thou, my daughter? Or rather, Is it thou, my daughter? He said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law There is no mention made before of Boaz thus speaking to her, but it is not unusual for the sacred writers, in the relation of a fact or event, to omit many little circumstances which they occasionally mention afterward. It is likely that Boaz intended this corn chiefly for Naomi, as he was that day either about to marry Ruth himself, or to provide her another... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:1-18

Naomi’s plan (3:1-18)By the time reaping was over, the widows had put aside enough grain to last them till the next summer. But Naomi was concerned for Ruth’s future, and suggested that she marry (3:1).One difficulty was that Naomi had no sons still living; that is, there were no brothers of Ruth’s late husband whom Ruth could marry. Naomi therefore suggested Boaz, as he was apparently the closest living relative. In addition, he had shown some interest in Ruth. Naomi thought out a plan whereby... read more

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