Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 2:16
And let fall also [some] of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave [them], that she may glean [them], and rebuke her not.
16. the bundles ] Only here; in Assyr. the root ( abtu) means ‘to grasp’; in the Mishnah and Jewish Aram., ‘to bind.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16. let fall also some of thehandfuls of purpose for herThe gleaners in the East glean withmuch success; for a great quantity of corn is scattered in thereaping, as well as in their manner of carrying it. One may judge,then, of the large quantity which Ruth would gather in consequence ofthe liberal orders given to the servants. These extraordinary marksof favor were not only given from a kindly disposition, but fromregard to her good character and devoted attachment to her venerablerelative.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And let fall some of the handfuls on purpose for her,…. That is, when they had reaped an handful, instead of laying it in its proper order, to be taken up by those that gathered after them, or by themselves, in order to be bound up in sheaves, scatter it about, or let it fall where they reaped it:
and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not for taking them, as if she did a wrong thing.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. Handfuls of purpose for her “These directions of Boaz went far beyond the bounds of generosity and compassion for the poor, and show that he felt a peculiar interest in Ruth, with whose circumstances he was well acquainted, and who had won his heart by her humility, her faithful attachment to her mother in law, and her love to the God of Israel a fact important to notice in connection with the further course of the history.” Keil.
“ And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and do not rebuke her.”
He also commanded them, not only to allow her to glean among them, but also to ensure that she had plenty of gleanings by taking some of the barley stems out of their sheaves and dropping them in her path so that she could collect them up. And she was not to be rebuked for doing so. By this means he was ensuring that Naomi and Ruth would be well provided for in the coming months without appearing to be unnecessarily charitable. He was demonstrating that he was aware both of their needs and of their sense of pride, and of their feelings.
Rth 2:16 And let fall also [some] of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave [them], that she may glean [them], and rebuke her not.
Ver. 16. And let fall also some of the handfuls. ] Boaz could have given her at first an ephah of barley, and it had been no more charge to him. But he will have her use her endeavours to gather, and glean, and beat out. And that labour of hers should be the price she should pay for it. So God gives knowledge and grace. The heathen could say, Dii laboribus omnia vendunt.
of purpose = on purpose.
Deu 24:19-21, Psa 112:9, Pro 19:17, Mat 25:40, Rom 12:13, 2Co 8:5-11, Phm 1:7, Heb 6:10, 1Jo 3:17, 1Jo 3:18
Reciprocal: Lev 23:22 – General Jdg 15:4 – caught three
Rth 2:16. Let fall also some of the handfuls What an amiable picture of piety and virtue in private life have we here in Boaz! In the midst of riches he is laborious, diligent in husbandry, plain without luxury, delicacy, sloth, or pride. How affable, obliging, and kind to his servants! The Lord be with you, says he, even to his reapers. What an obliging humanity, as well as generosity, does he show when he desires Ruth not to go into any other field to glean, but to abide fast by his maidens, to eat and drink with them; and in the order he gives his reapers to let her glean even among the sheaves, and to let fall some of the handfuls on purpose for her, that she might gather them without being ashamed! What a noble pattern have we here to instruct us in what manner to bestow benefits, namely, so as to spare those whom we oblige the confusion of receiving, and ourselves the temptation of vain glory in giving.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments