Rth 3:5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. Ver. 5. All that thou sayest unto me I will do. ] The respect Ruth bare to her mother-in-law, and the hope of a good husband, made her thus submissive. Lyra and Carthusian seem to blame the counsel of Naomi, though they excuse the fact of Ruth, because a stranger, and a new convert. read more
Rth 3:6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. Ver. 6. And she went down unto the floor. ] Though a woman, and a stranger, yet she ventureth hard: where desire is, there nothing can hinder or abate the spirit, or daunt the heart. a a Bernard. read more
Rth 3:7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. Ver. 7. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk. ] More freely than ordinary; as at such a feast he might. God alloweth his people an honest affluence, and "there is a time to be merry." And his heart was merry. ] Heb., Good; that is, frolic and free from cares. At the end of the heap of corn. ] See Trapp on " Rth... read more
Rth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. Ver. 8. That the man was afraid. ] Timor est constrictio cordis ex sensu mali instantis. Fear is a passion of the soul, shrinking in itself from some imminent evil. The Greeks call it δειμα , quasi ligamentum, a bond: quasi gelu astringit, saith Nazianzen, it binds up the heart as a frost doth the earth. Boaz might possibly fear that it was some evil spirit that had... read more
Rth 3:9 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. Ver. 9. Spread therefore thy skirt. ] Tostatus thinketh that by this speech she desired him to lie with her; which is gross. Rather, hereby she desired him to marry her - see Ezekiel 16:8 , - and as a husband to nourish and cherish her; Eph 5:29 and he understandeth her no otherwise, as appeareth by his answer. For thou art a near... read more
Rth 3:10 And he said, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD, my daughter: [for] thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. Ver. 10. And he said, Blessed be thou, &c. ] He did not reproach her, for coming in that manner, and at that time of night, as a light housewife; nor harbour any evil suspicion of her, as unfit to make an honest man’s wife; but considering her former behavior, which was commendable,... read more
Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou [art] a virtuous woman. Ver. 11. And now, my daughter, fear not. ] That I will either reproach thee, or reject thee; mine affection is no whit alienated from thee by thy present practice; which though it hath a show of evil, yet I know that it proceedeth not from lightness or lust. I will do to thee all that thou requirest. ] The desires of the righteous shall... read more
Rth 3:12 And now it is true that I [am thy] near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. Ver. 12. And now it is true. ] He easily yieldeth to the truth of her allegation, as being φιλαληθης , a lover of truth - a title given to Arrian the historian - and a promoter of it, as it is said of Vespasian. Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. ] Whose first right unto thee I freely acknowledge, and to whom thou shouldst first have addressed thyself. This was justice, - to give to... read more
Rth 3:13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, [that] if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, [as] the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning. Ver. 13. Tarry this night. ] He saith not, Come up hither, for I mind to marry thee: but tarry till morning, lest thou suffer as a night walker, &c. Let none presume to leap into the married... read more
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John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ruth 3:4
Rth 3:4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. Ver. 4. And it shall be, when he lieth down. ] He lay on the floor, as best liked himself, without bed or pallet. Hollinshead saith, that some old men he knew who told of times in England, that if the good man of the house had a mattress, or flock-bed, and a sack of chaff to rest his head on,... read more