Ruth 3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:6

And she went down unto the floor ,.... From the city of Bethlehem, from her mother-in-law's house there, to the threshingfloor of Boaz, which was at some distance from it, and lower: and did according to all that her mother in law bade her ; both before she went, and after: she washed and anointed herself, and put on her best clothes before she went down, and when she was there took care not to make herself known to any, especially to Boaz, and marked the place where he lay down after he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:7

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry ,.... Having ate and drank freely, though not to excess; and innocent mirth was always allowed in the time of harvest, and of the vintage, and of gathering the fruits of the earth, see Judges 9:27 or "his heart was good"; he was in a good frame and disposition of mind, praising God for his goodness to him, and to his people; so the Targum,"and his heart was good, and he blessed the name of the Lord who had received his prayer, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:8

And it came to pass at midnight ,.... So long Boaz slept without knowledge of any person being at his feet, and so long Ruth had lain there; but awaking, and perceiving something at his feet, which pressed them, it made him look about and feel, and so affected him: that the man was afraid ; though a man, and a man of spirit, he was afraid, a panic seized him, not knowing but it might be a spectre, a spirit, or a demon, as Jarchi; and such an instance we have in history F19 Alex. ab... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:9

And he said, who art thou ?.... He spoke quick and short, as one displeased, or however surprised and frightened, just coming out of sleep, and in the night: and she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid ; that had gleaned in his fields with his maidens, and with whom he had conversed there, and knew her by name: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid ; which seems to account for the reason of her uncovering his feet, or turning up the skirt of his garment that was upon them; not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:10

And he said, blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter ,.... Instead of calling her an immodest woman for laying herself down at his feet, and a bold impudent woman, she being poor, to ask marriage of him; and instead of being angry with her, and chiding and reproving her for disturbing and frightening him in the night, he blesses her, and pray's to God to bless her, and prosper her in what she had engaged, and in a kind and loving manner calls her his daughter: for thou hast showed more... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:11

And now, my daughter, fear not ,.... Either of being forced and defiled, to which he had exposed herself by lying down at a man's feet, or of being reproached as an immodest woman for so doing, or of being despised as a poor woman, and of not succeeding in her suit and enterprise: and I will do to thee all that thou requirest ; which could be done according to the law of God, and without injury to another person after mentioned: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:12

And now it is true, that I am thy near kinsman ,.... Her husband and he being brothers' sons, so own cousins: howbeit, there is a kinsman nearer than I , who was, the Jews say F23 Midrash Ruth, ut supra. (31. 4. & 34. 2) Jarchi in loc. , the brother of her husband's father, and so his uncle, which was a nearer relation than an own cousin. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:13

Tarry this day ,.... Or lodge here tonight, where she was; this he said not from any design upon her, but for her own safety and honour, that she might not be exposed to danger or disgrace, by returning home at such an unseasonable time of night. The first letter in the word for "tarry" is larger than usual in the Hebrew text; which may be done to raise the attention of the reader, to observe it as a thing very singular, that a widow should lodge with a man without any diminution of her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:14

And she lay at his feet until the morning ,.... In the same place where she first lay herself down: and she rose up before one could know another , because of the darkness, as the Targum, it not being yet break of day: and he said, let it not be known that a woman came into the floor , to whom he spoke these words is not said, perhaps to Ruth, whom he might call to arise so early as she did, before one could know another, and distinguish a man from a woman; and so sent her away, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:15

Also he said ,.... Which seems to confirm the first sense, that what he had said before was to Ruth, beside which he also said to her what follows: bring the vail which thou hast upon thee, and hold it ; by which it appears that he rose also thus early, since he ordered her to bring her vail to him, and hold it with both her hands, while he filled it from the heap of corn: this vail was either what she wore on her head, as women used to do, or a coverlet she brought with her to cover... read more

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