Ruth 3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:16

And when she came to her mother in law ,.... To Naomi, in Bethlehem: she said, who art thou, my daughter ? it being near dusk, she could not discern her, or perhaps she put the question before she opened the door and saw her; though one would think, if Ruth had called to her, she would have known her voice: rather therefore the particle may be rendered, "what" or "how" F3 מי את "quid egisti?" V. L. "quid tibi?" Tigurine version; so R. Jonah in Aben Ezra, & Abendana in loc.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:17

And she said, these six measures of barley gave he me ,.... Which she laid down before her, which was a proof of his kindness to her, that she was acceptable to him, and had well sped; of these six measures, see 3:15 which by some are allegorically interpreted of six blessings that should be bestowed upon her, as the spirit of wisdom, understanding, &c.; as Isaiah 11:2 so Jarchi; or of six persons that should spring from her, as David, Daniel, and his companions, and the King... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:18

Then, said she, sit still, my daughter ,.... Keep at home, say nothing of this affair to any person, be easy about it, take no other steps in it, wait the issue of it: until thou know how the matter will fall ; not that she thought it was a chance matter, a fortuitous and contingent event with respect to God; for all decrees come from heaven, as Aben Ezra on the text says, and particularly marriages are decreed in heaven, and come about according to such decrees; so the Targum,"sit, my... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3

Naomi's advice to Ruth, how to procure herself a marriage with Boaz, Rth 3:1-5. She acts according to her mother-in-law's direction, and is kindly received by Boaz, who promises to marry her, should her nearer kinsman refuse, Rth 3:6-13. He gives her six measures of barley, and sends her away privately to her mother-in-law, who augurs favorably of the issue of the plan she had laid, Rth 3:14-18. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:1

Shall I not seek rest for thee - That is, Shall I not endeavor to procure thee a proper husband? See Rth 1:9, and the observations at the end of that chapter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:2

He winnoweth barley tonight - It is very likely that the winnowing of grain was effected by taking up, in a broad thin vessel or sieve, a portion of the corn, and letting it down slowly in the wind; thus the grain would, by its own weight, fall in one place, while the chaff, etc., would be carried to a distance by the wind. It is said here that this was done at night; probably what was threshed out in the day was winnowed in the evening, when the sea breeze set in, which was common in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:3

Wash thyself , therefore - She made Ruth put on her best dress, that Boaz might, in the course of the day, be the more attracted by her person, and be the better disposed to receive her as Naomi wished. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:4

Uncover his feet , and lay thee down - It is said that women in the East, when going to the bed of their lawful husbands, through modesty, and in token of subjection, go to the bed's foot, and gently raising the clothes, creep under them up to their place. See Calmet. On the whole, we must say, had not Boaz been a person of extraordinary piety, prudence, and continence, this experiment might have been fatal to Ruth. We cannot easily account for this transaction, probably Naomi... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:7

When Boaz had eaten and drunk - The Targum adds, "He blessed the name of the Lord, who had heard his prayer, and removed famine from the land of Israel." Went to lie down - As the threshing-floors of the Eastern nations are in general in the open air, it is very likely that the owner or some confidential person continued in the fields till the grain was secured, having a tent in the place where the corn was threshed and winnowed. Boaz seems to have acted thus. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 3:8

The man was afraid , and turned himself - The verb ילפת yillapheth , which we render he turned himself, has puzzled even the Targumist, who translates the clause thus: "The man trembled, and his flesh became like a (boiled) turnip through fear." It is fully evident Boaz had no intimation of the present proceedings. To this verse the Targumist adds much; he says, "Boaz subdued his concupiscence, and acted towards her as Joseph did to the Egyptian wife of his master, and as... read more

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