8, 9. said Boaz unto Ruth, . . . bide here fast by my maidens—The reaping was performed by women while the assortment of sheaves was the duty of men-servants. The same division of harvest labor obtains in Syria still. Boaz not only granted to Ruth the full privilege of gleaning after his reapers, but provided for her personal comfort. read more
2. The maidservant of Boaz 2:8-13Boaz called Ruth his daughter (Ruth 2:8) because she was considerably younger than he (Ruth 3:10) and because of his affection for her. He explained why he felt as he did for her in the following verses. Normally the poor migrated from field to field to glean. However, Boaz graciously made Ruth one of his maidservants (Ruth 2:8-9; Ruth 2:13), so she would not leave his field, and so he could provide for her needs more easily and fully."Boaz is hereby instituting... 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
(8) My daughter.—This address suggests that Boaz was no longer a young man; clearly the account he had heard of Ruth, both from his servant and from general report, as well as her appearance and behaviour and doubtless a feeling of pity at her condition, had prepossessed him in her favour.Abide her fast by my maidens.—Literally, cleave to (Genesis 2:24). The true courtesy of Boaz’s character shows itself in the mention of the maidens. He will not have the stranger even run the chance of... read more
Ruth 2:7 I do not hear Ruth stand upon the terms of her better education, or wealthy parentage; but now that God hath called her to want, she scorns not to lay her hand unto all homely services, and thinks it no disparagement to find her bread in other men's fields. Bishop Hall. 'American girls,' says Mr. Kipling in From Sea to Sea (i. p. 6), 'develop greatly when a catastrophe arrives, and the man of many millions goes up or goes down, and his daughters take to stenography or typewriting. I... read more
2IN THE FIELD OF BOAZRuth 1:19-22; Ruth 2:1-23WEARY and footsore the two travellers reached Bethlehem at length, and "all the city was moved about them." Though ten years had elapsed, many yet remembered as if it had been yesterday the season of terrible famine and the departure of the emigrants. Now the women lingering at the well, when they see the strangers approaching, say as they look in the face of the elder one, "Is this Naomi?" What a change is here! With husband and sons, hoping for... read more
CHAPTER 2 Gleaning in the Field 1. Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:1-3 ) 2. Grace shown to Ruth by Boaz (Ruth 2:4-17 ) 3. Ruth hears concerning Boaz (Ruth 2:18-23 ) Boaz comes now upon the scene. His name means “in Him is strength.” He is called “a mighty man of wealth.” As the kinsman-redeemer he is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one in whom there is strength, the rich one. Ruth knows at first little of him and the coming relationship with the wealthy... read more
RUTH AND THE MAN OF GREAT WEALTH (vv. 1-23) Verse 1 of this chapter introduces us to Boaz, a man of great wealth who is clearly a type of the Lord Jesus. Besides being wealthy, he was a close relative of Naomi, though at this time Ruth did not know it.The Lord Jesus has a close relationship to Israel too, though Israel has for centuries ignored this, not realizing that all their blessings depend on this Redeemer. Ruth, with lovely energy of faith, desiring support for her mother-in-law as... read more
BACK TO THE HOMELAND Ruth 1:0 This beautiful story is an event occurring during the Judges (Ruth 1:1 ), but separated from the former to give prominence to the genealogical record with which it concludes (Ruth 4:18-22 ), showing Ruth an ancestress of David and hence of Jesus Christ. The story is so simply told that it needs only the briefest comments. Elimelech and his family are called “Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah” (1:2) for the reason that Ephrath was originally the name of Bethlehem... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ruth 2:8
BOAZ WELCOMES RUTH AND INSTRUCTS HER"Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens. Let thine eye be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou an athirst, go unto the vessels and drink of that which the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto... read more