Ruth 3:2-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 3:1-5

Here is, I. Naomi's care for her daughter's comfort is without doubt very commendable, and is recorded for imitation. She had no thoughts of marrying herself, Ruth 1:12. But, though she that was old had resolved upon a perpetual widowhood, yet she was far from the thoughts of confining her daughter-in-law to it, that was young. Age must not make itself a standard to youth. On the contrary, she is full of contrivance how to get her well married. Her wisdom projected that for her daughter which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:2

And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast ?.... He was, and her question supposes and concludes it, and which she observes, that Ruth might take notice of it, and encouragement from it; and the rather, since she had been admitted into the company and conversation of his maidens; and which was more, though not mentioned, into the company and conversation of himself, and whom Ruth knew full well; and who being, Naomi thought, the next nearest kinsman, and obliged by the... read more

John Gill

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

Wash thyself, therefore ,.... Thy flesh, as Ben Melech, that she might appear clean and neat, and free from all spots, and every thing that might occasion a disagreeable aspect, or an ill scent, and so be acceptable to the man proposed: and anoint thee ; not with aromatic ointments, as great personages, both men and women, used as Aben Ezra notes, but with common oil, Ruth being a poor widow that she might look sleek and smooth: and put thy raiment upon thee ; that is, her best... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:4

And it shall be, when he lieth down ,.... On the threshingfloor, under the open air, in order to sleep, and take rest: that thou shall mark the place where he shall lie ; the spot he shall lie on, and the direction in which he shall lie, whether east, west, &c.; that when the light shall be taken away, and the darkness of the night come on, she might pretty easily find the place where he lay: and thou shall go in and uncover his feet, and lay thee down ; go into the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 3:5

And she said unto her ,.... Having the highest opinion of her piety and prudence, and being confident she would never advise her to what was contrary to true religion and virtue: all that thou sayest unto me I will do ; observe every instruction and direction she gave her, and attend strictly to every circumstance pointed out to her, as she did; the word for "unto me" is one of those instances, the Masora observes, is not written but read; the letters of the word are not in the text,... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 3:1-18

Naomi's maternal solicitude. This is one of those paragraphs of Scripture which require delicate handling, but which, for that very reason, are full of suggestiveness that comes home to the bosom. Under strange, old-fashioned forms of things there was often much real virtue and true nobility of character. 1. It may be regarded as certain that while the harvest lasted Boaz and Ruth would be coming daily into contact with each other. 2. It may likewise be assumed as certain that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 3:2

And now is not Boaz, with whose young women thou wast, our relatives. Naomi opens her case. She had been studying Boaz all through the harvest season. She had been studying Ruth too. She saw unmistakable evidence of mutual responsiveness and attachment. And now she had a matured scheme in her head. Hence she brings up Boaz's name at once, and says, "Is he not our relative?" מוֹדַעַת , an abstract term used concretely, meaning literally" acquaintance," but here "relative," or "kinsman" (see... read more

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