Introduction
Overview
Ruth 3 . 1 , By Naomi’s instruction; Ruth 3 . 5 , Ruth lies at Boaz’s feet; Ruth 3 . 8 , Boaz acknowledges the right of a kinsman; Ruth 3 . 14 , He sends her away with six measures of barley.
shall I not . Ruth 1 . 9 , 1 Corinthians 7 . 36 , 1 Timothy 5 . 8 , 1 Timothy 5 . 14
may be . Genesis 40 . 14 , Deuteronomy 4 . 40 , Psalm 128 . 2 , Jeremiah 22 . 15 , Jeremiah 22 . 16
Reciprocal . Genesis 2 . 18 . good Deuteronomy 5 . 29 . that it might Ephesians 6 . 3 . General
is not Boaz . Ruth 2 . 20-23 , Deuteronomy 25 . 5 , Deuteronomy 25 . 6 , Hebrews 2 . 11-14
with whose . Ruth 2 . 8 , Ruth 2 . 23
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.
Reciprocal . Leviticus 25 . 25 . General Ruth 2 . 1 . kinsman
anoint thee . 2 Samuel 14 . 2 , Psalm 104 . 15 , Ecclesiastes 9 . 8 , Matthew 6 . 17
put thy . Esther 5 . 1 , 1 Timothy 2 . 9 , 1 Timothy 2 . 10
Reciprocal . 2 Samuel 12 . 20 . anointed Ezekiel 23 . 40 . thou didst Luke 7 . 46 . General
uncover his feet . or , lift up the clothes that are on his feet , 1 Thessalonians 5 . 22
and did . Exodus 20 . 12 , Proverbs 1 . 8 , John 2 . 5 , John 15 . 14
his heart . Genesis 43 . 34 , Judges 16 . 25 , Judges 19 . 6 , Judges 19 . 9 , Judges 19 . 22 , 2 Samuel 13 . 28 , Esther 1 . 10 , Psalm 104 . 15 , Ecclesiastes 2 . 24 , Ecclesiastes 3 . 12 , Ecclesiastes 3 . 13 , Ecclesiastes 8 . 15 , Ecclesiastes 9 . 7 , Ecclesiastes 10 . 19 , 1 Corinthians 10 . 31 , Ephesians 5 . 18
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 . Ruth 2 . 10-13] , 1 Samuel 25 . 41 , Luke 14 . 11
spread therefore . Hebrew "spread thy wing;" the emblem of protection; and a metaphor taken from the young of fowls , which run under the wings of their mother from birds of prey. Even to the present day , when a Jew marries a woman , he throws the skirts of his talith over her , to signify that he has taken her under his protection. Ezekiel 16 . 8
a near kinsman . or , one that has right to redeem , Ruth 3 . 12 , Ruth 2 . 20
Reciprocal . Leviticus 25 . 25 . General Deuteronomy 22 . 30 . discover Deuteronomy 25 . 5 . husband's brother
Blessed . Ruth 2 . 4 , Ruth 2 . 20 , 1 Corinthians 13 . 4 , 1 Corinthians 13 . 5
at the beginning . Ruth 1 . 8
Reciprocal . Genesis 14 . 18 . the most Genesis 14 . 19 . Blessed be Genesis 24 . 31 . thou Judges 17 . 2 . Blessed 1 Samuel 15 . 13 . Blessed 2 Samuel 2 . 5 . Blessed
city . Heb. gate , Proverbs 12 . 4 , Proverbs 31 . 10 , Proverbs 31 . 29-31
Reciprocal . Ruth 4 . 13 . Boaz Philippians 4 . 8 . virtue 2 Peter 1 . 3 . virtue
there is . Ruth 4 . 1 , Matthew 7 . 12 , 1 Thessalonians 4 . 6
Reciprocal . Leviticus 25 . 25 . General Ruth 2 . 1 . kinsman Ruth 3 . 9 . a near kinsman Ruth 4 . 5 . to raise up
if he will . Ruth 2 . 20 , Ruth 4 . 5 , Deuteronomy 25 . 5-9, Matthew 22 . 24-27
the Lord liveth . Judges 8 . 19 , Jeremiah 4 . 2 , 2 Corinthians 1 . 23 , Hebrews 6 . 16
Reciprocal . Job 27 . 2 . God liveth
Let it not . Ecclesiastes 7 . 1 , Romans 12 . 17 , Romans 14 . 16 , 1 Corinthians 10 . 32 , 2 Corinthians 8 . 21 , 1 Thessalonians 5 . 22 , 1 Peter 2 . 12
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.
he measured . Isaiah 32 . 8; Galatians 6 . 10
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."
Reciprocal . Isaiah 3 . 23 . veils
Who art thou . Or , as the Vulgate renders , Quid egisti filiȧ "What hast thou done , my daughter?" Ruth 3 . 16
Sit still . Psalm 37 . 3-5 , Isaiah 28 . 16 , Isaiah 30 . 7
Reciprocal . Psalm 132 . 4 . give sleep