Albert Barnes Commentary Ruth 2
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ruth 2
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ruth 2
"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband`s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz." — Ruth 2:1 (ASV)
A kinsman - More literally “an acquaintance”; this term, used here (and in its feminine form in Ruth 3:2), denotes a person with whom one is intimately acquainted, a near relation. The next kinsman of (Ruth 2:20 and following) גאל gā’al — is a wholly different word.
Boaz - Commonly taken to mean, “strength is in him” (Compare to 1 Kings 7:21).
"And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house." — Ruth 2:7 (ASV)
The house - The shed or booth where they took their meals, and were sheltered from the sun in the heat of the day .
"Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens." — Ruth 2:8 (ASV)
The grammatical forms of the verbs “go hence” and “abide” are unique and Chaldaic. They are supposed to indicate the dialect used at Bethlehem in the time of Boaz.
"Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn." — Ruth 2:9 (ASV)
After them - that is, “after my maidens.” The fields not being divided by hedges, but only by unplowed ridges, it would be easy for her to stray from Boaz’s land without being aware of it, and so find herself among strangers where Boaz could not protect her.
"Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?" — Ruth 2:10 (ASV)
She fell on her face— With the reverence customary in the East (compare Genesis 33:3, and the marginal reference).
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