13 Tarry H3885 this night, H3915 and it shall be in the morning, H1242 that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, H1350 well; H2896 let him do the kinsman's part: H1350 but if he will H2654 not do the part of a kinsman H1350 to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman H1350 to thee, as the LORD H3068 liveth: H2416 lie down H7901 until the morning. H1242
If brethren H251 dwell H3427 together, H3162 and one H259 of them die, H4191 and have no child, H1121 the wife H802 of the dead H4191 shall not marry without H2351 unto a stranger: H376 H2114 her husband's brother H2993 shall go in H935 unto her, and take H3947 her to him to wife, H802 and perform the duty of an husband's brother H2992 unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn H1060 which she beareth H3205 shall succeed H6965 in the name H8034 of his brother H251 which is dead, H4191 that his name H8034 be not put out H4229 of Israel. H3478 And if the man H376 like H2654 not to take H3947 his brother's wife, H2994 then let his brother's wife H2994 go up H5927 to the gate H8179 unto the elders, H2205 and say, H559 My husband's brother H2993 refuseth H3985 to raise up H6965 unto his brother H251 a name H8034 in Israel, H3478 he will H14 not perform the duty of my husband's brother. H2992 Then the elders H2205 of his city H5892 shall call H7121 him, and speak H1696 unto him: and if he stand H5975 to it, and say, H559 I like H2654 not to take H3947 her; Then shall his brother's wife H2994 come H5066 unto him in the presence H5869 of the elders, H2205 and loose H2502 his shoe H5275 from off his foot, H7272 and spit H3417 in his face, H6440 and shall answer H6030 and say, H559 So shall it be done H6213 unto that man H376 that will not build up H1129 his brother's H251 house. H1004
Saying, G3004 Master, G1320 Moses G3475 said, G2036 If G1437 a man G5100 die, G599 having G2192 no G3361 children, G5043 his G846 brother G80 shall marry G1918 his G846 wife, G1135 and G2532 raise up G450 seed G4690 unto his G846 brother. G80 Now G1161 there were G2258 with G3844 us G2254 seven G2033 brethren: G80 and G2532 the first, G4413 when he had married a wife, G1060 deceased, G5053 and, G2532 having G2192 no G3361 issue, G4690 left G863 his G846 wife G1135 unto his G846 brother: G80 Likewise G3668 the second G1208 also, G2532 and G2532 the third, G5154 unto G2193 the seventh. G2033 And G1161 last G5305 of all G3956 the woman G1135 died G599 also. G2532
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ruth 3
Commentary on Ruth 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ru 3:1-13. By Naomi's Instructions, Ruth Lies at Boaz's Feet, Who Acknowledges the Duty of a Kinsman.
2. he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor—The winnowing process is performed by throwing up the grain, after being trodden down, against the wind with a shovel. The threshing-floor, which was commonly on the harvest-field, was carefully leveled with a large cylindric roller and consolidated with chalk, that weeds might not spring up, and that it might not chop with drought. The farmer usually remained all night in harvest-time on the threshing-floor, not only for the protection of his valuable grain, but for the winnowing. That operation was performed in the evening to catch the breezes which blow after the close of a hot day, and which continue for the most part of the night. This duty at so important a season the master undertakes himself; and, accordingly, in the simplicity of ancient manners, Boaz, a person of considerable wealth and high rank, laid himself down to sleep on the barn floor, at the end of the heap of barley he had been winnowing.
4. go in, and uncover his feet and lay thee down—Singular as these directions may appear to us, there was no impropriety in them, according to the simplicity of rural manners in Beth-lehem. In ordinary circumstances these would have seemed indecorous to the world; but in the case of Ruth, it was a method, doubtless conformable to prevailing usage, of reminding Boaz of the duty which devolved on him as the kinsman of her deceased husband. Boaz probably slept upon a mat or skin; Ruth lay crosswise at his feet—a position in which Eastern servants frequently sleep in the same chamber or tent with their master; and if they want a covering, custom allows them that benefit from part of the covering on their master's bed. Resting, as the Orientals do at night, in the same clothes they wear during the day, there was no indelicacy in a stranger, or even a woman, putting the extremity of this cover over her.
9. I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman—She had already drawn part of the mantle over her; and she asked him now to do it, that the act might become his own. To spread a skirt over one is, in the East, a symbolical action denoting protection. To this day in many parts of the East, to say of anyone that he put his skirt over a woman, is synonymous with saying that he married her; and at all the marriages of the modern Jews and Hindus, one part of the ceremony is for the bridegroom to put a silken or cotton cloak around his bride.
15. Bring the veil that thou hast upon thee, and hold it—Eastern veils are large sheets—those of ladies being of red silk; but the poorer or common class of women wear them of blue, or blue and white striped linen or cotton. They are wrapped round the head, so as to conceal the whole face except one eye.
17. six measures of barley—Hebrew, "six seahs," a seah contained about two gallons and a half, six of which must have been rather a heavy load for a woman.