Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 2:17
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
17. she beat out ] Cf. Jdg 6:11.
an ephah ] Approximately equivalent to our bushel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And beat out that she had gleaned – Namely, with a stick, as the word implies (compare Deu 24:20; Isa 27:12). This method is still commonly practiced. Ruth gleaned enough to support herself and her mother-in-law for five days Exo 16:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Rth 2:17
So she gleaned in the field until even.
Persevering labour
1. Gleaners in gospel-fields should continue in their gleaning work from morning to evening. How many are but half Sabbath folk, that can spare to spend a morning in Sabbath service, but are for their pastimes after that! Ruth was none of those lazy gleaners.
2. Though God be very bountiful to us, yet will He have us to use all the means in a way of subserviency to His bounty. God will give us at the second-hand what He would not give us at first-hand; He will give us grace and knowledge by the use of the means, which He gives not immediately from Himself. God sells all for labour, saith Hesiod. (C. Ness.)
Labour
I. no labour is too insignificant for love. So she gleaned. She was of a good family, accustomed to a life of ease and plenty. That which she does now is anything but dignified.
1. A work for the commonest powers.
2. A work for the commonest people.
3. A work whose results bear no comparison to the expenditure of labour.
4. A work in which is redone that which has been considered as done.
Men measure the worth of work by its conspicuousness. The real worth of work lies in meeting the necessity for its existence, and the motive which inspires it. Two lives depend upon her toil–then her work has worth; she loves the woman for whom she toils–then her work has dignity. Her love consecrates lowest means for highest ends.
II. no results of labour are too insignificant for care. She beat out that she had gleaned.(S. B. Rees.)
The successful gleaner
1. Ruth was a gleaner; and so should we be. The Bible is that field. Search the Scriptures; glean there. Pick up every grain, for it contains precious nourishment. No matter how many gleaners; there is food enough for all.
2. Alas, how many careless ones there are, who never glean at all! They loiter all the day of their life idle. And so, when night comes, they sink into eternity with nothing done.
3. Others, again, begin when Ruth leaves off, at even. All the bright and sunny portion of their lives they give to the world.
4. Ruth began gleaning in the morning. She felt that every hour must be employed; that every moment was precious. She laboured diligently. May we make Gods Word our daily study! (Bp. Oxenden.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 17. An ephah of barley.] Not less than seven gallons and a half; a good day’s work. On Hebrew measures of capacity, See Clarke on Ex 16:16.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
An ephah is thought to contain about a bushel. See Exo 16:36; Lev 5:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. and beat out that she hadgleanedWhen the quantity of grain was small, it was beat outby means of a stick.
an ephahsupposed tocontain about a bushel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So she gleaned in the field until even,…. An instance of her great diligence and industry, attending to this mean employment constantly from morning tonight:
and beat out that she had gleaned: she did not bind up her gleanings in a bundle, and carry it home on her head, as gleaners with us do, but she beat it out with a staff in the field, where she gleaned it, and winnowed it, very probably in the threshingfloor of Boaz; by which means what she had gleaned was brought into a lesser size and weight, and was a lighter burden to carry home:
and it was an ephah of barley; or three seahs of barley, as the Targum; which, according to Bishop Cumberland i, was six gallons, and three pints, and three solid inches: an omer is said to be the tenth part of an ephah, and, made into bread, was as much as a man could eat in one day, Ex 16:16, so that Ruth got enough in one day, for herself and her mother-in-law, which would last five days at least. This was a great deal for one woman to pick up, ear by ear, in one day; and must be accounted for, not only by her diligence and industry, but by the favour shown her by the reapers, under the direction of Boaz, who suffered her to glean among the sheaves, and let fall handfuls for her to pick up.
i Of Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 3. p. 64.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thus Ruth gleaned till the evening in the field; and when she knocked out the ears, she had about an ephah (about 20-25 lbs.) of barley.
Rth 2:18 This she brought to her mother-in-law in the city, and “ drew out (sc., from her pocket, as the Chaldee has correctly supplied) what she had left from her sufficiency, ” i.e., of the parched corn which Boaz had reached her (Rth 2:14).
Rth 2:19-20 The mother inquired, “ where hast thou gleaned to-day, and where wroughtest thou? ” and praised the benefactor, who, as she conjecture from the quantity of barley collected and the food brought home, had taken notice of Ruth: “ blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee! ” When she heard the name of the man, Boaz, she saw that this relative of her husband had been chosen by God to be a benefactor of herself and Ruth, and exclaimed, “ Blessed be he of the Lord, that he has not left off (withdrawn) his favour towards the living and the dead! ” On see Gen 24:27. This verb is construed with a double accusative here; for cannot be a preposition, as in that case would be used like in Gen. l.c. “ The living, ” etc., forms a second object: as regards (with regard to) the living and the dead, in which Naomi thought of herself and Ruth, and of her husband and sons, to whom God still showed himself gracious, even after their death, through His care for their widows. In order to enlighten Ruth still further upon the matter, she added, “ The man (Boaz) is our relative, and one of our redeemers. ” He “ stands near to us, ” sc., by relationship. , a defective form for , which is found in several MSS and editions. On the significance of the gol, or redeemer, see at Lev 25:26, Lev 25:48-49, and the introduction to Ruth 3.
Rth 2:21 Ruth proceeded to inform her of his kindness: , “ also (know) that he said to me, Keep with my people, till the harvest is all ended. ” The masculine , for which we should rather expect the feminine in accordance with Rth 2:8, Rth 2:22, Rth 2:23, is quite in place as the more comprehensive gender, as a designation of the reapers generally, both male and female; and the expression in this connection in the sense of my is more exact than the possessive pronoun: the people who belong to my house, as distinguished from the people of other masters.
Rth 2:22 Naomi declared herself fully satisfied with this, because Ruth would be thereby secured from insults, which she might receive when gleaning in strange fields. “ That they meet thee not, ” lit. “that they do not fall upon thee.” signifies to fall upon a person, to smite and ill-treat him.
Rth 2:23 After this Ruth kept with the maidens of Boaz during the whole of the barley and wheat harvests gleaning ears of corn, and lived with her mother-in-law, sc., when she returned in the evening from the field. In this last remark there is a tacit allusion to the fact that a change took place for Ruth when the harvest was over.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Ruth’s Report to Naomi. | B. C. 1312. |
17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And 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 she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? 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. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.
Here, I. Ruth finishes her day’s work, v. 17. 1. She took care not to lose time, for she gleaned until evening. We must not be weary of well-doing, because in due season we shall reap. She did not make an excuse to sit still, or go home, till the evening. Let us work the works of him that sent us, while it is day. She scarcely used, much less did she abuse, the kindness of Boaz; for, though he ordered his servants to leave handfuls for her, she continued to glean the scattered ears. 2. She took care not to lose what she had gathered, but threshed it herself, that she might the more easily carry it home, and might have it ready for use. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, and so loseth the benefit of it, but the substance of a diligent man is precious, Prov. xii. 27. Ruth had gathered it ear by ear, but, when she had put it all together, it was an ephah of barley, about four pecks. Many a little makes a great deal. It is an encouragement to industry that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. When she had got her corn into as little compass as she could, she took it up herself, and carried it into the city, though, had she asked them, it is likely some of Boaz’s servants would have done that for her. We should study to be as little as possible troublesome to those that are kind to us. She did not think it either too hard or too mean a service to carry her corn herself into the city, but was rather pleased with what she had gotten by her own industry, and careful to secure it; and let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained, 2 John 8.
II. She paid her respects to her mother-in-law, went straight home to her and did not go to converse with Boaz’s servants, showed her what she had gleaned, that she might see she had not been idle.
1. She entertained her with what she had left of the good dinner Boaz had given her. She gave to her what she had reserved, after she was sufficed (v. 18), which refers to v. 14. If she had any thing better than another, her mother should have part with her. Thus, having shown industry abroad, she showed piety at home; so children’s maintaining their parents is called (1 Tim. v. 4), and it is part of the honour due to them by the fifth commandment, Matt. xv. 6.
2. She gave her an account of her day’s work, and how a kind providence had favoured her in it, which made it very comfortable to her; for the gleanings that a righteous man hath are better than the harvests of many wicked, Ps. xxxvii. 16. (1.) Naomi asked her where she had been: Where hast thou gleaned to-day? Note, Parents should take care to enquire into the ways of their children, how, and where, and in what company they spend their time. This may prevent many extravagancies which children, left to themselves, run into, by which they bring both themselves and their parents to shame. If we are not our brethren’s, yet surely we are our children’s keepers: and we know what a son Adonijah proved, that had never been chidden. Parents should examine their children, not to frighten nor discourage them, not 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 in the close of every day, “Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvements have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done or obtained that will turn to a good account?” (2.) Ruth gave her a particular account of the kindness she had received from Boaz (v. 19) and the hopes she had of further kindness from him, he having ordered her to attend his servants throughout all the harvest, v. 21. Note, Children should look upon themselves as accountable to their parents and to those that are over them, and not think it a disparagement to them to be examined; let them do that which is good, and they shall have praise of the same. Ruth told her mother what kindness Boaz had shown her, that she might take some occasion or another to acknowledge it and return him thanks; but she did not tell her how Boaz had commended her, v. 11. Humility teaches us, not only not to praise ourselves, but not to be forward to publish others’ praises of us. (3.) We are here told what Naomi said to it. [1.] She prayed heartily for him that had been her daughter’s benefactor, even before she knew who it was (v. 19): Blessed be he, whoever he was, that did take knowledge of thee, shooting the arrow of prayer at a venture. But more particularly when she was told who it was (v. 20): Blessed be he of the Lord. Note, The poor must pray for those that are kind and liberal to them, and thus requite them, when they are not capable of making them any other requital. Let the loins of the poor bless those that refresh them, Job 29:13; Job 31:20. And he that hears the cries of the poor against their oppressors (Exod. xxii. 27), it may be hoped, will hear the prayers of the poor for their benefactors. She now remembered the former kindnesses Boaz had shown to her husband and sons, and joins those to this: he has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. If we generously show kindness even to those that seem to have forgotten our former favours, perhaps it may help to revive the remembrance even of those which seem buried. [2.] She acquainted Ruth with the relation their family was in to Boaz: The man is near of kin to us. It should seem she had been so long in Moab that she had forgotten her kindred in the land of Israel, till by this providence God brought it to her mind. At least she had not told Ruth of it, though it might have been some encouragement to a young proselyte. Unlike to humble Naomi are many, who, though fallen into decay themselves, are continually boasting of their great relations. Nay, Observe the chain of thought here, and in it a chain of providences, bringing about what was designed concerning Ruth. Ruth names Boaz as one that had been kind to her. Naomi bethinks herself who that should be, and presently recollects herself: “The man is near of kin to us; now that I hear his name, I remember him very well.” This thought brings in another: “He is our next kinsman, our goel, that has the right to redeem our estate that was mortgaged, and therefore from him we may expect further kindness. He is the likeliest man in all Bethlehem to set us up.” Thus God brings things to our mind, sometimes on a sudden, that prove to have a wonderful tendency to our good. [3.] She appointed Ruth to continue her attendance in the fields of Boaz (v. 22): “Let them not meet thee in any other field, for that will be construed a contempt of his courtesy.” Our blessed Saviour is our Goel; it is he that has a right to redeem. If we expect to receive benefit by him, let us closely adhere to him, and his fields, and his family; let us not go to the world and its fields for that which is to be had with him only, and which he has encouraged us to expect from him. Has the Lord dealt bountifully with us? Let us not be found in any other field, nor seek for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. Tradesmen take it ill if those that are in their books go to another shop. We lose divine favours if we slight them. Some think Naomi gave her daughter-in-law a tacit rebuke; she had spoken (v. 21) of keeping fast by the young men. “Nay,” said Naomi (v. 22), “It is good that thou go out with his maidens; they are fitter company for thee than the young men.” But they are too critical. Ruth spoke of the young men because they were the principal labourers, and to them Boaz had given directions concerning her; and Naomi takes it for granted that, while she attended the young men, her society would be with the maidens, as was fit. Ruth dutifully observed her mother’s directions; she continued to glean, to the end, not only of barley-harvest, but of the wheat-harvest, which followed it, that she might gather food in harvest to serve for winter, Prov. vi. 6-8. She also kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, with whom she afterwards cultivated an acquaintance, which might do her service, v. 23. But she constantly came to her mother at night in due time, as became a virtuous woman, that was for working days, and not for merry nights. And when the harvest was ended (as bishop Patrick expounds it) she did not gad abroad, but kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land, and we know what a disgrace her vanity ended in. Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her, and we shall find afterwards what preferment her humility and industry ended in. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? Honour is before him.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Naomi Contemplating, vs. 17-23
Ruth certainly was not lazy. She worked right on through the heat of the day, and evidently did not quit until the reapers quit for the day. Her gleaning turned out excellently. When she threshed her grain it amounted to an ephah, which is a little more than three pecks, or three fourths bushel. The reapers evidently had let fall quite a few handfuls on purpose. When it was brought to Naomi she had, it seems, taken out-for their evening meal, which is indicated by the words, “after she was sufficed.” Still, Naomi was astounded. She knew it was impossible that anyone should be able to glean so much unless some special provision had been made, that someone had “taken knowledge of” her, (Php_4:19).
When Naomi learned who it was that had so befriended Ruth it seems wheels began turning in her head. She knew that the Lord was showing them special favor and blessing the legacy of the family of the dead Elimelech. With the death of both his sons Elimelech was left without an heir to bear his name, but Naomi could see hope. Boaz was a near kinsman who had the right of redemption. He could do much to set things right for Naomi and Ruth and for the dead.
Consequently Naomi concurred with Boaz in instructing Ruth to continue with his reapers, alongside the maidens who worked with the reapers tying up the sheaves, etc. And so Ruth did as instructed, going all through barley harvest with them, then continuing through the harvest of the wheat, also.
Learn from this chapter 1) God’s people should be willing to work and allow Him to guide them to the right place; 2) all the “happenings” in a saved person’s life will be according to the will of Christ if one is faithful; 3) godly persons speak with courtesy and friendliness to those they meet; 4) Christian behavior begets respect from most people; 5) keeping with the right company will bring the greatest blessing.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Ruth Returns to Naomi Rth. 2:17-23
17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 And 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 she had reserved after she was sufficed.
19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The mans name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.
12.
How much is an ephah? Rth. 2:17
An ephah equals three pecks and three pints. It was almost a bushel. This standard of measure was popular throughout much of Israels history. When the children of Israel received manna in the wilderness, the portion given to each person was counted as a tenth part of an ephah (Exo. 16:36). Since one-tenth of this amount was sufficient for an individuals need of manna, Ruths portion from her gleaning was considerably more than a days supply of grain. She was quite evidently industrious and achieved a great deal from her days work.
13.
Why was Ruth reserving some grain? Rth. 2:18
The writer of Proverbs wisely counseled a young man to put a knife to his throat when he went to eat with a ruler. Otherwise, he might be tempted to plunge into the abundant provisions and make a spectacle of himself. He would thus show his greediness and offend his host (Pro. 23:1; Pro. 23:3). Such conduct was not becoming to any person, and it was especially so with Ruth since she was a woman and a foreigner. Consequently, she did not eat all of the parched grain which was provided for her. Furthermore, she must have been thinking about Naomi. Her unselfish and loving character prompted her to save some of the delicacies for her mother-in-law.
14.
How was God showing kindness to the dead? Rth. 2:20
What was done to Ruth and Naomi was also done to Mahlon and Chilion. Naomi admits it was kindness done to her and to Ruth, the living. God was showing kindness to Elimelech and his sons inasmuch as He was caring for their widows. The property was still in the name of Elimelech, and Ruth was still known as the wife of Mahlon. The kindness of Boaz to Ruth was a remembrance of both the living and the dead.
15.
What is the meaning of next kinsmen? Rth. 2:20 b
There were three ways in which redemption was specified in Lev. 25:25 ff. The first case was this: if a man became poor and sold his property, his nearest redeemer was to come and release what his brother had sold. He was to buy it back from the purchaser and restore it to its former possessor. The nearest kinsman was the relative upon whom this obligation rested. The second case was this: if one had no redeemer, either because there were no relatives upon whom the obligation rested or because they were all too poor and he had earned and acquired sufficient to redeem it, he was to calculate the years of purchase and return the surplus to the man who had bought it. He gave as much as was paid for the years which still remained up to the next year of jubilee. Thus, the original owner might come into possession of it again. The third case was this: if a man had not earned as much as was required to make compensation for the recovery of the land, what he had sold was to remain in the possession of the buyer till the year of jubilee and then it was to go out. It was to become free again, so that the impoverished seller could enter into possession with compensation. Since the near kinsman was also to marry the widow of a brother, the two transactionsredemption of the land and marriage of the surviving wifebecame inextricably associated.
16.
How long did the gleaning continue? Rth. 2:23
Barley harvest was early spring (March, April). Wheat harvest was in the summer. Altogether harvest lasted from three to four months. These were important events in the lives of this agricultural people. The plagues which came on Egypt were identified in time by the condition of the crops. When the plague of hail came on Egypt, the flax and the barley was smitten for the barley was in the ear and the flax was boiled (Exo. 9:31). At the same time a note was made of the season because the wheat and the rie were not smitten: because they were not grown up (Exo. 9:32). These people were accustomed to noting time by making reference to the progress of their crops. Such activities as the harvesting of the grain were very important to the lives of these people.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(17) Beat out.That is, she threshed it herself, so as to save the labour of carrying away the straw. She then found she had an ephah, that is, rather more than four pecks.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Beat out had gleaned This process is often witnessed by the modern traveller in the East. In passing a harvest field near Gaza, Robinson observes: “Several women were beating out with a stick handfuls of the grain which they seemed to have gleaned.” About an ephah About a bushel and a half, a large amount for a gleaner to gather in a single day.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ So she gleaned in the field until evening, and she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.’
So Ruth continued to glean diligently until nightfall, after which she beat out what she had gleaned, and it came to about an ephah of barley. Due to the generosity and kindness of Boaz it was far more than she could have expected as a gleaner. An ephah was a vessel large enough to hold a small woman (Zec 5:6-10).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rth 2:17. So she gleaned in the fieldand beat out that she had gleaned Ruth availed herself of the goodness of Boaz. She gleaned all the day; and then, according to the custom of those times, she beat out, with a rod, the corn, which produced her an ephah. See Exo 16:36.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
So do all laborers in the vineyard remain in their employment until .the evening of their day; and when the even of life is come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, call the laborers. Blessed Jesus! grant, when the evening of my day is come, and thou commandest me to return, that I may be of that happy number, whom the voice from heaven pronounced to be blessed. See Rev 14:13 . It is evident how diligent Ruth had been, for an ephah is not less than between three and four pecks, forty omens: see Exo 16:36 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rth 2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
Ver. 17. Until even. ] Strengthening herself to her labour, as that good housewife, Pro 31:17 and laying her bones to work.
About an ephah.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ephah. See App-51.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
she gleaned: Pro 31:27
ephah: Exo 16:36, Eze 45:11, Eze 45:12
Reciprocal: Gen 24:15 – pitcher
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE DILIGENT GLEANER
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
Rth 2:17
I. Notice, first, the good providence of God as illustrated in the story of Ruth and Naomi.Who was more forlorn than Naomi when she set out, penniless and a widow, both her sons dead, to return into the land of Judah? God finds the widow friends, He finds the oppressed and solitary a Ruth to stay by them, a Boaz to see that they have their rights. He is a never-failing helper in the time of trouble.
II. Notice from this history the blessing which waits upon piety for those who are kind and affectionate and helpful in their homes.Ruth was but a daughter-in-law, yet she acted the part of a real daughter to the widowed and childless Naomi. She clave to her in her trouble, she worked for her in her poverty, and she was rewarded even on earth.
III. Ruth is also an example of maidenly modesty, purity, steadiness of conduct.She kept fast by the maidens of Boaz unto the end of the barley harvest and wheat harvest.
IV. Notice the diligence of Ruth.She gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she gleaned; it was a good days work, bringing with it a good recompense of reward. Ruth invites us to use all diligence to make our calling and election sure. God has set us in His field, the world, and set us there to glean, to gather up as we are able the precious seed. There is much for every one to do, and the time is short.
Canon Rawnsley.
Illustrations
(1) If we would glean a heap, we must be content with a little at a time. It is wonderful what may be done by never passing by a thing that is worth preserving. We have trampled under foot during our life that which, if saved, would have done much to make a golden age for ourselves. No one can gleam well who is not able to persevere. If we mean to succeed, we must go on long after we are weary. We shall glean with greater care and industry if we remember that we must live for ever on the results of this life. If men did but think they gather gold for a crown or iron for fetters, they would be more careful what they pick up.
(2) This incident illustrates the dignity of all honest work. It is well to remind ourselves of this in an age which is often ashamed of work. There are people who cultivate flabbiness. They are happy if only they can pass themselves off as genteel and above the suspicion of work. In society they ignore the factory or the shop. They are ashamed of their trade. It is a bad thing for society when men or women shrink from acknowledging the glory and necessity of work. But in a time when wealth is the only idol, it is not to be wondered at that work should be thought of in shamefaced fashion, for the necessity of work hints the possibility of poverty; and where wealth is worshipped poverty is an unpardonable sin. But this genteel affectation of idleness is not a mere modern vice. It was rife in Solomons day, and the wise king satirised it in words which are full of delicate and suggestive irony: Better is he that worketh and hath a servant than he that honoureth himself and hath no bread.
(3) This incident in Boazs barley field has a beautiful application to Bible study. Too many Christians never practise a careful gleaning of the inspired Word. In fact, to such careless readers a large and precious portion of the Word is as utterly unknown territory as the headwaters of the Nile. They never search the Scriptures. But when we patiently go through the wonderful domain of truth with open eye bent down humbly to seek for the hidden treasures, Oh! what handfuls of fresh promises and fertile suggestions, and marvellous teachings are dropped in our path. We pick up a truth never dreamed of in many an out-of-the-way passage. In some historical incident, or some neglected verse of prophecy, or some dry chapter about Jewish rites and ceremonies we find a whole sheaf of Divine teaching. God never put one page in His Book without a purpose.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Rth 2:17-18. An ephah About a bushel of our measure. Gave to her what she had reserved At dinner, after she had eaten, and was sufficed Or satisfied. This shows Ruths care of her mother-in-law, whom she had in her mind when she was feasted with the reapers with more than she could eat, and therefore brought what she left home for her refreshment.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4. Ruth’s blessing of Naomi physically 2:17-23
At the end of the day’s work Ruth beat out and winnowed the grain she had gleaned. She had collected about three-fifths of a bushel of barley, "the equivalent of at least half a month’s wages in one day" (Rth 2:17). [Note: Hubbard, p. 179. Cf. Huey, p. 532.] Ruth also took the food she had left over from lunch back to Naomi (Rth 2:18; cf. Rth 2:14).
Naomi twice blessed Ruth’s benefactor (Rth 2:19-20). She prayed that Yahweh would bless Boaz who had been a source of blessing to her and Ruth. Every prayer in this book is a prayer of blessing, and God answered every one of them. [Note: Hals, pp. 4, 7.] She also identified Boaz’s kindness as loyal love (Heb. hesed, Rth 2:20). Previously she had asked God to deal "kindly" (hesed) with Ruth and Orpah for dealing kindly with her husband, her sons, and herself (Rth 1:8). Boaz had proved to be God’s agent in extending kindness to Naomi and Ruth, and indirectly to their husbands (Rth 2:20).
"For Naomi, who at 1.20-21 delivers a scathing indictment of Yahweh as her oppressor, to declare the munificence of his hesed conduct at 2.20 without any redress is to scuttle the plot and reduce everything that follows to a disappointing anticlimax. The vindication of Yahweh is not to be found in the utterances of Naomi but in the utterances of the women in 4.14 to whom Naomi addressed her indictment in 1.20-21." [Note: B. Rebera, "Yahweh or Boaz? Ruth 2:20 Reconsidered," The Bible Translator 36 (1985):324.]
The beauty of Ruth’s character shines forth in Rth 2:21. She did not view her relationship with Boaz as a way out of her own responsibility to provide for herself and her aged mother-in-law. Instead she rejoiced that she could continue to discharge her duty in safety.
The wheat harvest followed the barley harvest by a month and a half (Rth 2:23). The Feast of Unleavened Bread in late March or early April inaugurated the barley harvest. The Feast of Firstfruits seven weeks later in late May or early June terminated the wheat harvest. Ruth must have been out in the fields for six or seven weeks. [Note: See Block, p. 677.]
Chapter 2 marks God’s initial blessing on Ruth for her faith in Yahweh. She received blessing and became a channel of blessing to Naomi. So far God’s blessing had been the provision of food and safety. These blessings came through Boaz, another channel of blessing, because of his faith in Yahweh seen in his fear of God and his love for people. Still more abundant and more significant blessing was yet to come.