Ruth 2:21-3:13

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 2:21

And Ruth the Moabitess said, he said unto me also ,.... Besides the favours he has shown me already, he has given me reason to expect more, for he has given me this strict order: thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest ; both barley harvest and wheat harvest; his will was, that she kept following them, and gleaned after them, as long as both harvests lasted. The Septuagint version is, "with my maidens", and which agrees with 2:8 , where the order of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 2:21

Keep fast by my young men - The word הנערים hannearim should be translated servants, both the male and female being included in it; the latter especially, as we see in Rth 2:22, Rth 2:23. 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 2:21

And Ruth the Moabitess said. It seems to us rather remarkable that Ruth should be here again particularized formally as "the Moabitess." There is apparently no discoverable reason for the re-repetition. It is simply antique particularity, not amenable to any literary law—"the said Moabitess." There is a peculiar abruptness in the initial words of what follows:— Yea also he said to me. Carpzov and Wright understand them thus: "'Yea' blessed be he, 'for' he said to me." But the word blessed... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 2:21

Ruth 2:21. Thou shalt keep fast by my young men Or, young people, as the word נערים , negnarim, although of the masculine gender, here signifies, and particularly the maidens, to whom he bid her keep close, Ruth 2:8. And thus both the Seventy and the Chaldee expound it; and so Naomi, as appears by the next verse, understood it. Until they have ended all my harvest Both barley-harvest and wheat-harvest. She tells what kindness Boaz had showed her; but not how he had commended her.... 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 2:21

the Moabitess. See note on Ruth 1:4 , Ruth 1:22 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ruth 2:21

Ruth 2:21. Thou shalt keep fast by my young men— The word which we render young men, signifies all young people in general. We see by the following verse in what manner Naomi understood it. The LXX and Chaldee render it maidens, and so, doubtless, it should be read in our version. REFLECTIONS.—Ruth, having refreshed herself at dinner, returns again with diligence to her work, and at even, 1. She beats out and winnows the corn that she had gathered, which was between six and seven gallons of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ruth 2:21

21. all my harvest—both barley and wheat harvests. The latter was at the end of May or the beginning of June. read more

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