Ruth 3

Ruth 3:1

One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, "My daughter, should I not seek a resting place for you, that it may be well with you?

Ruth 3:1 · BSB

Ruth 3:2

Now is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been working, a relative of ours? In fact, tonight he is winnowing barley on the threshing floor.

Ruth 3:2 · BSB

he winnoweth It is probable that the winnowing of grain was effected by taking up a portion of the corn in a sieve , 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 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 Palestine.

Ruth 3:3

Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

Ruth 3:3 · BSB

Ruth 3:4

When he lies down, note the place where he lies. Then go in and uncover his feet, and lie down, and he will explain to you what you should do."

Ruth 3:4 · BSB

Ruth 3:6

So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.

Ruth 3:6 · BSB

Ruth 3:7

After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then Ruth went in secretly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.

Ruth 3:7 · BSB

went to lie Such was the simplicity of those early times , that the most wealthy persons looked after their own affairs , both at home and in the field. These threshing-floors were covered at top to keep off the rain , but lay open on all sides , that the wind might come in freely , for winnowing the corn; which being done , it is probable they were shut up at night , with doors fitted to them , that if any one lay there he might be kept warm , and the corn be secured from robbers.

Ruth 3:9

"Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she replied. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer."

Ruth 3:9 · BSB

Ruth 3:10

Then Boaz said, "May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

Ruth 3:10 · BSB

Ruth 3:11

And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.

Ruth 3:11 · BSB

Ruth 3:12

Yes, it is true that I am a kinsman-redeemer, but there is a redeemer nearer than I.

Ruth 3:12 · BSB

Ruth 3:13

Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning."

Ruth 3:13 · BSB

Ruth 3:14

So she lay down at his feet until morning, but she got up before anyone else could recognize her. Then Boaz said, "Do not let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor."

Ruth 3:14 · BSB

Ruth 3:15

And he told her, "Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out." When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

Ruth 3:15 · BSB

veil or sheet , or apron , The word mitpachath has been variously rendered. The LXX translate it נוסיזשלב , an apron , and Vulgate , pallium , a cloak. By the circumstances of the story , it must have been of a considerable size; and accordingly Dr. Shaw thinks it was no other than the hyke , the finer sort of which , such as are still worn by ladies and persons of distinction among the Arabs , he takes to answer to the נונכןע , or robe , of the ancient Greeks.

six measures The quantity of this barley is uncertain. The Targum renders it , shith sein , "six seahs." A seah contained about two gallons and a half , six of which must have been a very heavy load for a woman , and so the Targumist thought , for he adds , "And she received strength from the Lord to carry it."

Ruth 3:16

When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then Ruth told her all that Boaz had done for her.

Ruth 3:16 · BSB

Ruth 3:18

"Wait, my daughter," said Naomi, "until you find out how things go, for he will not rest unless he has resolved the matter today."

Ruth 3:18 · BSB