Ruth 2:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 2:17-23

Here, I. Ruth finishes her day's work, Ruth 2:17. 1. She took care not to lose time, for she gleaned until evening. We must not be weary of well-doing, because in due season we shall reap. She did not make an excuse to sit still, or go home, till the evening. Let us work the works of him that sent us, while it is day. She scarcely used, much less did she abuse, the kindness of Boaz; for, though he ordered his servants to leave handfuls for her, she continued to glean the scattered ears. 2. She... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 2:17

So she gleaned in the field until even ,.... An instance of her great diligence and industry, attending to this mean employment constantly from morning tonight: and beat out that she had gleaned : she did not bind up her gleanings in a bundle, and carry it home on her head, as gleaners with us do, but she beat it out with a staff in the field, where she gleaned it, and winnowed it, very probably in the threshingfloor of Boaz; by which means what she had gleaned was brought into a lesser... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 2:17

An ephah of barley - Not less than seven gallons and a half; a good day's work. On Hebrew measures of capacity, see the note on Exodus 16:16 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:10-17

The harvest-field again. Let us return to the Oriental harvest-field. Harvest-fields in general are lively scenes. Emphatically so in the East, where bright weather may be calculated on with almost absolute certainty. Pleasantry and work go hand in hand. Dr. W. M. Thomson, speaking of Phitistia, says, "When the fog dispersed, the whole plain appeared to be dotted over with harvesting parties; men reaping, women and children gleaning and gathering the grain into bundles, or taking care of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:15-17

Liberality to the poor. The customs recorded in these chapters remain—many of them—to the present day. As to gleaning , Robinson says, "The way led us through open fields, where the people were in the midst of the wheat-harvest. The beautiful tracts of grain were full of reapers of the Henady Arabs, and also of gleaners almost as numerous. These were mostly women; and this department seemed almost as important as the reaping itself, since the latter is done in so slovenly a manner, that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:17

And she gleaned in the field until the evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Gathering together her various sheaves, lots, or bundles (see Ruth 2:7 ), she threshed them with some suitable rod or simple 'flail' ( flagellum ), which she had either brought with her in the morning, as part of her equipment as a gleaner, or had obtained at the hut; or perhaps, like many others, she would make use of a convenient stone. Speaking of the village of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 2:17

And beat out that she had gleaned - Namely, with a stick, as the word implies (compare Deuteronomy 24:20; Isaiah 27:12). This method is still commonly practiced. Ruth gleaned enough to support herself and her mother-in-law for five days Exodus 16:16. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 2:17-18

Ruth 2:17-18. An ephah About a bushel of our measure. Gave to her what she had reserved At dinner, after she had eaten, and was sufficed Or satisfied. This shows Ruth’s care of her mother-in-law, whom she had in her mind when she was feasted with the reapers with more than she could eat, and therefore brought what she left home for her refreshment. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ruth 2:1-23

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ruth 2:17

ephah. See App-51 . read more

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