Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 3:8
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
8. and turned himself ] A reflexive from of the verb, which means ‘to grasp with a twisting motion’; the verb occurs again only in Jdg 16:29 (‘took hold of’), Job 6:18 (‘are turned aside’ mg.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 Jdg 16:29.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. The man was afraid, and turned himself] The verb yillapheth, which we render he turned himself, has puzzled even the Targumist, who translates the clause thus: “The man trembled, and his flesh became like a (boiled) turnip through fear.” It is fully evident Boaz had no intimation of the present proceedings. To this verse the Targumist adds much; he says, “Boaz subdued his concupiscence, and acted towards her as Joseph did to the Egyptian wife of his master, and as Pelatiel, the son of Laish the pious, did to Michal, the daughter of Saul, the wife of David, who put a sword between Michal and himself, because he would not approach to her.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At midnight; he did not discover her sooner, though she did not uncover his feet, being it seems in a deep sleep, as is usual after feasts, and she doing no more that her mother commanded her, and using no words or gestures which might provoke his lust; wherein she showed her temperance and modesty, and that what she did was only by her mothers instigation and advice, which plainly appeared from her desire expressed, Rth 3:9, which he knew, she being a stranger, was unacquainted with. And this was the reason why Boaz was not in the least offended with her, but only commends her virtue, without any reflection upon her for this fact.
Turned himself; from the place where he lay, he raised and turned himself towards the feet, to learn who or what was there. Or, he was troubled, or afraid, or wondered; for the Hebrew word being but once used, is diversely rendered.
A woman lay at his feet; which he might understand, either by some glimmerings of light which were after midnight, which discovered her; or rather, by her voice, or out of her own mouth, who being asked, told him so much in general, before he made particular inquiry.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass at midnight,…. So long Boaz slept without knowledge of any person being at his feet, and so long Ruth had lain there; but awaking, and perceiving something at his feet, which pressed them, it made him look about and feel, and so affected him,
that the man was afraid; though a man, and a man of spirit, he was afraid, a panic seized him, not knowing but it might be a spectre, a spirit, or a demon, as Jarchi; and such an instance we have in history s of an apparition, which seemed to put off clothes, and place itself in a bed where a man lay, c.
and turned himself to see who it was:
and, behold, a woman lay at his feet; which he knew by putting his hand upon her head, as Jarchi thinks, and so knew her by her headdress, or vail; or rather by her voice, as Aben Ezra, and who supposes the moon might shine, and he might be able to discern she had no beard, as well as also discover her by her clothes.
s Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
About midnight the man was startled, namely, because on awaking he observed that there was some one lying at his feet; and he “bent himself” forward, or on one side, to feel who was lying there, “ and behold a woman was lying at his feet. ” is accus. loci.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(8) Was afraid.Was startled. See the use of the word in Gen. 27:33.
Turned.Literally, bent himself. (Comp. Jdg. 16:29.) He wakes with a start, and in turning sees a woman at his feet.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. The man was afraid Finding the covering of his feet removed, he feared that robbers might have entered his floor; but not knowing what was the matter he turned himself, that is, bent over or forward, to see and feel who or what the intruder was.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And it came about at midnight, that the man was fearful, and turned himself, and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.’
By this time it would be quite dark, and thus when Boaz awoke, and was conscious of someone lying at his feet he was a little apprehensive. Turning he noted that it was a woman. Not being able to tell who the woman was in the dimness it seemed to him quite out of place. Possibly the thought sprang though his mind that someone was trying to compromise him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. (9) And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
It is for the most part midnight in the soul, when first the Lord Jesus is revealed to the heart of a poor sinner. Here, as in the former instance, we have the most decided evidence, that the subject is intended to be spiritual: for we find the Lord expressing his covenant love And redemption unto his people, under the very figure here made use of, when having described our lost estate, under the similitude of aim infant east out to perish from its birth, the Lord saith, I spread my skirt over thee, and thou becamest mine. Eze 16:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
Ver. 8. That the man was afraid. ] Timor est constrictio cordis ex sensu mali instantis. Fear is a passion of the soul, shrinking in itself from some imminent evil. The Greeks call it , quasi ligamentum, a bond: quasi gelu astringit, saith Nazianzen, it binds up the heart as a frost doth the earth. Boaz might possibly fear that it was some evil spirit that had assumed a body, and got to bed to him. Alexander from Alexandria a telleth of such things that have happened. And another writeth of a gallant, who meeting with a beautiful dame, and having enjoyed his fleshly desires of her, found her in the morning to be the dead body of one that he had formerly sinned with, which had been acted by the devil all night, and left dead again in the morning.
And turned himself.
a Lib. ii. cap. 9; lib. iv. cap. 19.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rth 3:8-9. At midnight He did not discover her sooner; the man was afraid Feeling something unusual at his feet. Behold a woman lay at his feet He perceived by her clothes, and, when she spake, by her voice, that it was a woman. Spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid A kind of proverbial expression, signifying, Take me to be thy wife, and perform the duty of a husband to me. From this answer of Ruth, and from what Boaz says in the two following verses, it is plain that she had no design of any thing but what was honest and lawful.