1By Naomi's instruction, 6Ruth layeth herself in the night at the feet of Boaz; who acknowledgeth the duty of a kinsman, but telleth her of one who had a prior claim. 14He sendeth her home in the morning with six measures of barley.
1THEN Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek 1rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
1 That is, endeavor to provide a good match for thee? Intimating that it was wholly her duty to do it. See such questions Ruth 2 on verse 9. Also in the following verse.
2And now is not Boaz of our 2kindred, with whose maidens thou 3wast? Behold, he winnoweth 4barley to night in the threshingfloor.
2 Hebr. properly, is not Boaz our acquaintance? See Ruth 2 on verse 1 and verse 20 there.
3 To glean ears; Ruth 2:8, 22, 23.
4 Hebr. the threshingfloor of barley, that is, the barley, which is on the threshingfloor.
3Wash thyself therefore, and 5anoint thee, and put thy 6raiment 7upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
5 With sweet-smelling oil, as was customary in the countries of the east. See 2 Sam. 12:20; 14:2; 2 Chron. 28:15: Psalm 104:15; Mat. 6:17.
6 Namely, the best, which you have.
7 Hebr. on thee, over thee.
4And it shall be, when he 8lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt 9go in, and 10uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
8 To sleep.
9 This advice and counsel, according to the outward appearance, seem not to be honest, but Naomi, knowing the piety and honesty of Boaz and Ruth, as also considering Boaz his age, doubted not but that Boaz would deal honesty and wisely in this business; as he also did, so that Naomi was not deceived or mistaken in her confidence. Concerning the scandal, Naomi knew prudently to avoid that by the circumstance of time and place, as also Boaz himself. See verse 14.
10 Or, lift up the clothes that are on. The Hebrew word is also found in verses 7, 8, 14. Likewise Dan. 10:6.
5And 11she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
11 Ruth answered.
6¶And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was 12merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
12 Hebr. good. As Judges 16:25. See there.
8¶And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and 13turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
13 Or, turned himself hither and back again or hither and thither.
9And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: 14spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near 15kinsman.
14 That is, take me under thy protection, as an husband doth his wife. Compare above Ruth 2 on verse 12. Or, thy hem, border, namely, of thy garment.
15 See Ruth 2 on verse 20.
10And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou 16hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
16 The meaning is: that which thou doest now, is yet better than the former, which thou didst to thy deceased husband and thy mother in law Naomi. See Ruth 1:8; 2:11.
11And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the 17city of my people doth know that thou art a 18virtuous woman.
17 Hebr. gate. See Gen. 22 on verse 17.
18 Or, courageous.
12And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
14¶And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before 19one could know another. And he said, 20Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
19 Hebr. the man his neighbour.
20 As Boaz had a good conscience before God, so he would also keep a good name and repute among the people.
15Also he said, Bring the 21vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
21 Or, apron, wherewith the women cover the forepart of their body.
16And when she came to her mother in law, she said, 22Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
22 It was yet so dark that the one could not distinctly know the other, as is said, verse 14; although Naomi might have perceived by the burden that she carried, that she was but young, so that she, after the custom of the elderly people, called her daughter.
17And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.