Ruth 2:20. His kindness to the living and to the dead That is, the kindness which he formerly showed to my husband and his sons while they were living, he now continues to us their relicts. read more
2:1-4:22 START OF A NEW LIFE IN ISRAELRuth works in the field of Boaz (2:1-23)Back in Israel it soon became clear that God was in control of affairs in the lives of the two widows. According to Israelite law, when a farmer reaped his harvest he was not to send his workers through the field a second time to pick up the odd stalks of grain that the reapers dropped. These were to be left for the poor, who would follow the reapers and glean what grain they could (Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy... read more
kindness = lovingkindness. one of = he [is]. read more
Ruth 2:20. Naomi said—The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen— In the Hebrew, one of our redeemers; concerning whom, see Leviticus 25:25. Deu 25:5 together with what follows in the 4th chapter of this book. Naomi does not say that Boaz was the גאל goel, or redeemer; but one of the redeemers of her family; the reason is, that the right was not immediately in him, but only in default of some other refusing to fulfil it. See chap. Ruth 3:12. read more
20. the man is . . . one of our next kinsmen—Hebrew, "one of our redeemers," on whom it devolves to protect us, to purchase our lands, and marry you, the widow of his next kinsman. She said, "one of them," not that there were many in the same close relationship, but that he was a very near kinsman, one other individual only having the precedence. read more
4. Ruth’s blessing of Naomi physically 2:17-23At the end of the day’s work Ruth beat out and winnowed the grain she had gleaned. She had collected about three-fifths of a bushel of barley, "the equivalent of at least half a month’s wages in one day" (Ruth 2:17). [Note: Hubbard, p. 179. Cf. Huey, p. 532.] Ruth also took the food she had left over from lunch back to Naomi (Ruth 2:18; cf. Ruth 2:14).Naomi twice blessed Ruth’s benefactor (Ruth 2:19-20). She prayed that Yahweh would bless Boaz who... read more
Ruth the Gleaner1. Boaz] (’quickness’) was a kinsman of Elimelech’s. We are not informed of the precise degree of relationship. Here and at Ruth 3:2 he is designated an ’acquaintance.’ It is by no means certain that we are to think of him as a mighty man of wealth’; the phrase here employed sometimes points out a capable, active man (1 Kings 11:28; Nehemiah 11:14). The Targum is of course wrong in explaining it by ’a man strong in the Law’—an explanation which reminds us of Apollos, ’mighty in... read more
(19) Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.—Naomi easily perceives that the quantity of corn brought home is unusually large, and that therefore some special kindness must have been shown Her own, therefore, as well as her daughter’s thanks are due to this benefactor. read more
(20) Who hath not . . .—It is not clear whether the grammatical antecedent is God or Boaz. Either way a good sense is obtained. As our lost dear ones had kindness shown them of old, so we too now. If Boaz is the antecedent, it may seem curious that Naomi (knowing that she was dwelling near to a kinsman of her husband’s, and, further, one who had shown kindness before they departed to Moab) should not have made herself known to him. It is, at any rate, a proof of the independence of her... read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 2:19
Ruth 2:19. Where hast thou gleaned to-day? It is a good question to ask ourselves in the evening, “Where have I gleaned to-day?” What improvements have I made in grace or knowledge? What have I learned or done, which will turn to account? read more