Albert Barnes Commentary Ruth 3
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ruth 3
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ruth 3
"And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor." — Ruth 3:2 (ASV)
Behold, he winnoweth barley ... - The simple manners of Boaz and his times are here before us. This “mighty man of wealth” assists personally in the winnowing of his barley, which lies in a great heap on the floor (Ruth 3:15), and sleeps in the open threshing-floor to protect his grain from depredation.
Tonight - For the sake of the breeze which springs up at sunset, and greatly facilitates the “cleansing” (separation) of the grain tossed up across the wind.
"And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do." — Ruth 3:4 (ASV)
Uncover his feet - Rather, “the place of his feet;” the foot of his bed, as we should say. So also (Ruth 3:7–8).
"And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet." — Ruth 3:8 (ASV)
Turned himself - Rather, “bent forward,” so as to feel what it was which was at his feet. The same word is translated “took hold of,” in (Judges 16:29).
"And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." — Ruth 3:9 (ASV)
Spread thy skirt ... - The phrase indicates receiving and acknowledging her as a wife.
"And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich." — Ruth 3:10 (ASV)
Thou hast shewed more kindness ... - Literally, “You have made your last kindness better than the first.” Her last kindness was her willingness to accept Boaz for her husband, advanced in years as he was.
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