(8) Was afraid.—Was startled. See the use of the word in Genesis 27:33.Turned.—Literally, bent himself. (Comp. Judges 16:29.) He wakes with a start, and in turning sees a woman at his feet. read more
The Message of the Book of Ruth Ruth 3:9 In speaking of the message which this little book has for us, we shall treat it as conveying to us a message of redemption. Looked at in this light the book has, I think, these things to tell us: I. It tells us that the range of God's grace is ever wider than our conception of it. The book of Ruth shows us how one who was a member of an idolatrous people, one who was a Gentile, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger from the covenant of... read more
THE HAZARDOUS PLANRuth 3:1-18HOPE came to Naomi when Ruth returned with the ephah of barley and her story of the rich man’s hearty greeting. God was remembering His handmaiden; He had not shut up His tender mercies. Through His favour Boaz had been moved to kindness, and the house of Elimelech would yet be raised from the dust. The woman’s heart, clinging to its last hope, was encouraged. Naomi was loud in her praises of Jehovah and of the man who had with such pious readiness befriended Ruth.... read more
CHAPTER 3 At the Feet of Boaz 1. Naomi instructs Ruth (Ruth 3:1-5 ) 2. At his feet (Ruth 3:6-7 ) 3. The discovery (Ruth 3:8-13 ) 4. The six measures of barley (Ruth 3:14-17 ) 5. He will not rest until he have finished the thing (Ruth 3:18 ) What follows in the realization of redemption must be connected with Leviticus 25:0 , the law concerning the redemption of an inheritance and the other law about the marriage of a brother-in-law as given in Deuteronomy 25:5-12 . See the... read more
RUTH CLAIMING THE PROTECTION OFBOAZ (vv. 1-18) The time had now come for Naomi to give pertinent advice to Ruth.She seeks security (or "rest") for her daughter-in-law, reminding her that Boaz is their relative (vv. 1-2).She knew that Boaz was winnowing barley in his threshing floor, and would be sleeping that night at the floor.Therefore she told Ruth to wash and anoint herself, be clothed in her best garment and go down to the threshing floor, but wait until Boaz had laid down to sleep... read more
A BLESSED BRIDE Ruth 3:1 The rest Naomi would secure for Ruth is that of a husband and a home. Threshing-floors were commonly on the field where the grain was reaped, the process consisting in throwing it against the evening wind, the farmer remaining all night on the field for that purpose as well as to protect his property. Ruth 3:3-6 The indelicacy of these verses is removed by the fact that it was the custom thus to remind a kinsman of his duty in such a case. The openness of the... read more
Ruth 3:0 1. Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2. And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley [though a mighty man of wealth, still a workman] to night [for the sake of the breeze] in the threshingfloor. 3. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor; but make not thyself known unto the man, until he... read more
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. (9) 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. It is for the most part midnight in the soul, when first the Lord Jesus is revealed to the heart of a poor sinner. Here, as in the former instance, we have the most decided evidence, that the subject is intended to be spiritual:... read more
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). read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:1-18
The Appeal to Boaz1. Marriages are always arranged by the parents in Eastern lands; here, of course, the mother-in-law must intervene.2-7. Grain is winnowed in the evening, to avoid the heat of the day and take advantage of the cool sea-wind, which blows in Palestine from 4 p.m. to half-an-hour before sunset. As a rule the threshing floor, which is an open space of clean, hard, dry ground, is on an elevated spot. But at Beth-lehem it was necessary to go ’down’ to it, because the town is on the... read more