Ruth 2:20

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 2:20

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, blessed be he of the Lord ,.... Or the Lord bless him with all kind of blessings, temporal and spiritual; and as he has blessed him already, may he be blessed more and more: who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead ; he had been kind to Elimelech and to his sons, who were now dead, and he continued his kindness to the reliefs of them, Naomi and Ruth, who were living, and was kind to them for the sake of the dead; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 2:20

To the living and to the dead - Naomi and Ruth were the living; and they were also the representatives of Elimelech and Mahlon, who were dead. Naomi was of the family; and Ruth, though not of the family, was a representative of one of its deceased branches, being the widow of Mahlon. One of our next kinsmen - מגאלינו miggoaleynu , of our redeemers, one who has the right to redeem the forfeited inheritance of the family. The word גאל goel signifies a near... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:18-23

Home from the harvest-field. Evening begins to draw her curtains around the little city of Bethlehem. Let us look on this picture , and on that . 1. "On this picture." See Naomi. She is wistfully and longingly looking out for her daughter-in-law's return. So many a matron looks, evening after evening, for the safe return of her husband, her son, her daughter. 2. "And on that." See Ruth toiling slowly along under her "ephah." Her strength is taxed; yet she is thankful for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:20

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed 'of' Yahveh be he who—. The expression is literally, "Blessed 'to' Yahveh be, he who," that is, "Blessed in relation to Yahveh be he who," or "Blessed be he! I carry the desire and prayer up to Yahveh," which just amounts, in meaning, to this: " Blessed ' by' Yahveh be he who." See other instances of the same construction in Genesis 14:19 , and Psalms 115:15 . Who has not let go his kindness to the living and to the dead. Some take these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:20

Kindred and kindness. When Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem they could scarcely have found friends there, but they found kinsmen. They do not seem, in their circumstances, to have sought assistance from relatives, or even to have brought themselves under the notice of such. Still, Naomi had not lost sight of Elimelech's family connections; and when the name of Boaz was mentioned, she recognized it as the name of one of her husband's nearest kindred. I. KINDRED IS A DIVINE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:20

"Who hath not left off his kindness to the living and the dead." The prayers of the poor for their helpers are very precious. Naomi remembers the former kindnesses that Boaz had shown to the husband of her youth and to her two boys. I. HERE IS CONTINUITY OF CHARACTER . Some leave off kindness because they meet with experiences of ingratitude and callousness. The once warm deep within them is frozen up by these wintry experiences. But as God continues his mercy through all... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 2:20

Blessed be he of the Lord ... - We may gather from Naomi’s allusion to the dead that both her husband and son had been faithful servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel. His kindness to the dead consisted in raising up (as Naomi hoped) an heir to perpetuate the name; and, in general, in His care for their widows.One of our next kinsmen - The word here is גאל gā'al, the redeemer, who had the right:(1) of redeeming the inheritance of the person;(2) of marrying the widow;(3) of avenging the death.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 2:20

Ruth 2:20. His kindness to the living and to the dead That is, the kindness which he formerly showed to my husband and his sons while they were living, he now continues to us their relicts. 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

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