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Ruth2

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

2And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

3And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

4And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.

5Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

6And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

7and 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.

8Then 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.

9Let 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.

10Then 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?

11And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.

12Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.

13Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.

14And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.

15And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.

16And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.

17So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.

18And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.

19And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.

20And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.

21And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field.

23So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ruth 2.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz. (1–3). The kindness of Boaz to Ruth. (4–16). Ruth returns to her mother-in-law. (17–23).

vv1-3

Observe Ruth's humility. When Providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. High spirits will rather starve than stoop; not so Ruth. Nay, it is her own proposal. She speaks humbly in her expectation of leave to glean. We may not demand kindness as a debt, but ask, and take it as a favour, though in a small matter. Ruth also was an example of industry. She loved not to eat the bread of idleness. This is an example to young people. Diligence promises well, both for this world and the other. We must not be shy of any honest employment. No labour is a reproach. Sin is a thing below us, but we must not think any thing else so, to which Providence call us. She was an example of regard to her mother, and of trust in Providence. God wisely orders what seem to us small events; and those that appear altogether uncertain, still are directed to serve his own glory, and the good of his people.

vv4-16

The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and conditions; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families. True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them he prayed for them. They did not, as soon as he was out of hearing curse him, as some ill-natured servants that hate their master's eye, but they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go on well where there is such good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another. Boaz inquired concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated. Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.

vv17-23

It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves every night, Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account? When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in any other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them. Ruth dutifully observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, she kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, Ge 34. Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in preferment.

Cross References

Ruth 2
v2Leviticus 19:9thematic

The Mosaic law establishing the poor and stranger's right to glean the corners of fields.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Explicit commandment protecting the stranger, fatherless, and widow's access to left-behind crops.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Leviticus 23:22thematic

Reiteration of the harvest law forbidding complete reaping to leave gleanings for the poor.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Psalms 36:7allusion

Metaphor of taking refuge under the shadow of God's wings parallel to Boaz's blessing.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Psalms 17:8allusion

The psalmist's plea to be hidden under the shadow of God's wings.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Leviticus 25:25thematic

Law of the kinsman redeemer (Goel) who has the right to redeem family property.

Supported by JFB

The levirate marriage law, outlining the duty of the next of kin to the widow.

Supported by JFB

v12Matthew 23:37thematic

Jesus' imagery of gathering children under wings, echoing the Lord God of Israel's wings.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Psalms 91:4thematic

Promise of finding trust and shelter under the feathers and wings of God.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22Proverbs 27:10thematic

Illustrates the wisdom of staying close to a proven friend (Boaz) and not forsaking his field.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Proverbs 13:20thematic

Associating with wise, godly companions (Boaz's maidens) instead of wandering into dangerous fields.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Psalms 105:15thematic

Use of 'touch' to mean harming or violating someone, matching Boaz's command.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v9Genesis 26:11thematic

Idiomatic warning that he who 'touches' this person will surely be put to death.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Genesis 18:2thematic

The posture of bowing low to the ground as a civil or religious sign of respect.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Matthew 1:5thematic

Genealogical confirmation of Boaz's place in the messianic lineage of David and Jesus.

v17Exodus 16:36thematic

An omer is defined as the tenth part of an ephah, providing scale for Ruth's yield.

Supported by JFB

v23Proverbs 31:13thematic

Thematic parallel of the virtuous woman who works willingly with her hands through the harvest.

Supported by Matthew Poole