Ruth 2:18

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 2:18

And she took it up ,.... The ephah of barley, into her arms, or on her shoulders: and went into the city ; the city of Bethlehem: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned : she set it down before her, and she looked at it with admiration, that she should glean so much in one day: and she brought forth ; not Naomi, as Josephus F11 Antiqu l. 5. c. 9. sect. 2. represents it, who understood it as if she brought forth some food her neighbours had brought her, part of which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 2:18

And gave to her that she had reserved - As Ruth had received a distinct portion at dinner-time, of which she had more than she could eat, Rth 2:14; it appears she brought the rest home to her mother-in-law, as is here related. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 2:18

EXPOSITION And she lifted it up, and went into the city: and her mother-in-law beheld what she had gleaned. She likewise brought forth, and gave to her, what she had left over after she was satisfied. It would be with gratitude and pride that Ruth would let her heavy burden slip off into the hands of Naomi. It would be with gratitude and wonder that Naomi would behold the precious load. Other gentle emotions would stir within the mother-in-law's hungry heart when her beloved... 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

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ruth 2:17-23

4. Ruth’s blessing of Naomi physically 2:17-23At the end of the day’s work Ruth beat out and winnowed the grain she had gleaned. She had collected about three-fifths of a bushel of barley, "the equivalent of at least half a month’s wages in one day" (Ruth 2:17). [Note: Hubbard, p. 179. Cf. Huey, p. 532.] Ruth also took the food she had left over from lunch back to Naomi (Ruth 2:18; cf. Ruth 2:14).Naomi twice blessed Ruth’s benefactor (Ruth 2:19-20). She prayed that Yahweh would bless Boaz who... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 2:1-23

Ruth the Gleaner1. Boaz] (’quickness’) was a kinsman of Elimelech’s. We are not informed of the precise degree of relationship. Here and at Ruth 3:2 he is designated an ’acquaintance.’ It is by no means certain that we are to think of him as a mighty man of wealth’; the phrase here employed sometimes points out a capable, active man (1 Kings 11:28; Nehemiah 11:14). The Targum is of course wrong in explaining it by ’a man strong in the Law’—an explanation which reminds us of Apollos, ’mighty in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ruth 2:1-23

Ruth 2:7 I do not hear Ruth stand upon the terms of her better education, or wealthy parentage; but now that God hath called her to want, she scorns not to lay her hand unto all homely services, and thinks it no disparagement to find her bread in other men's fields. Bishop Hall. 'American girls,' says Mr. Kipling in From Sea to Sea (i. p. 6), 'develop greatly when a catastrophe arrives, and the man of many millions goes up or goes down, and his daughters take to stenography or typewriting. I... read more

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