Ruth 2:9 Kommentar

There is scarcely any chapter in all the sacred history that stoops so low as this to take cognizance of so mean a person as Ruth, a poor Moabitish widow, so mean an action as her gleaning corn in a neighbour's field, and the minute circumstances thereof. But all this was in order to her being grafted into the line of Christ and taken in among his ancestors, that she might be a figure of the espousals of the Gentile church to Christ, Isa 54:1. This makes the story remarkable; and many of the passages of it are instructive and very improvable. Here we have, I. Ruth's humility and industry in gleaming corn, Providence directing her to Boaz's field (Rut 2:1-3). II. The great favour which Boaz showed to her in many instances (Rut 2:4-16). III. The return of Ruth to her mother-in-law (Rut 2:18-23).

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 2 In this chapter we have an account of Ruth's gleaning corn in the fields of Boaz, a relation of Naomi, Rut 2:1, and of Boaz coming to his reapers, whom he saluted in a very kind manner; and observing a woman gleaning after them, inquired of them who she was, and they informed him, Rut 2:4, upon which he addressed himself to her, and gave her leave to glean in his field, and desired her to go nowhere else, and bid her eat and drink with his servants, Rut 2:8 and gave directions to his servants to let her glean, and to let fall some of the handfuls on purpose, that she might gather them up, Rut 2:15 and then an account is given of her returning to her mother-in-law with her gleanings, to whom she related where she had gleaned, who was owner of the field, and what he had said to her, upon which Naomi gave her advice, Rut 2:18.

Let thine eyes be upon the field that they do reap, and go thou after them,.... And gather up the loose ears of corn dropped and left by them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? do her no hurt, or offer any incivility or rudeness to her, or even play any wanton tricks with her, as is too common with young persons in the fields at harvest time. This charge he now gave in her hearing, or however suggests that he would, and therefore she might depend upon it she should have no molestation nor any affront given her: and when thou art athirst: as at such a season of the year, and in the field at such work, and in those hot countries, was frequently the case: go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn; which they had fetched from wells and fountains in or near the city, and had put into bottles, pitchers, &c. for the use of the reapers and gatherers; we read of the well of Bethlehem, Sa2 23:15 now she is ordered to go to these vessels, and drink when she pleased, without asking leave of any; and Boaz no doubt gave it in charge to his young men not to hinder her.

Ruth goes to glean in the field of Boaz, Rut 2:1-3. Boaz finds her, and inquires who she is, Rut 2:4-7. He speaks kindly to her, gives her permission to follow his reapers, and orders them to use her well, Rut 2:8-16. She returns in the evening to Naomi, and tells her of her fare; from whom she receives encouragement and advice, Rut 2:17-23.

The young men that they shall not touch thee - This was peculiarly necessary, as she was a stranger and unprotected.

RUTH GLEANS IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ. (Rut 2:1-3) Ruth . . . said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean--The right of gleaning was conferred by a positive law on the widow, the poor, and the stranger (see on Lev 19:9 and Deu 24:19). But liberty to glean behind the reapers [Rut 2:3] was not a right that could be claimed; it was a privilege granted or refused according to the good will or favor of the owner.

go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn--Gleaners were sometimes allowed, by kind and charitable masters, to partake of the refreshments provided for the reapers. The vessels alluded to were skin bottles, filled with water--and the bread was soaked in vinegar (Rut 2:14); a kind of poor, weak wine, sometimes mingled with a little olive oil--very cooling, as would be required in harvest-time. This grateful refection is still used in the harvest-field.

Ruth Gleans in the Field of Boaz - Ruth 2 Ruth went to the field to glean ears of corn, for the purpose of procuring support for herself and her mother-in-law, and came by chance to the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who, when he heard that she had come with Naomi from Moabitis, spoke kindly to her, and gave her permission not only to glean ears in his field and even among the sheaves, but to appease her hunger and thirst with the food and drink of his reapers (vv. 1-16), so that in the evening she returned to her mother-in-law with a plentiful gleaning, and told her of the gracious reception she had met with from this man, and then learned from her that Boaz was a relation of her own (Rut 2:17-23).