Ruth 2:13

_THEN SHE FELL ON HER FACE, AND BOWED HERSELF TO THE GROUND, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY HAVE I FOUND GRACE IN THINE EYES, THAT THOU SHOULDEST TAKE KNOWLEDGE OF ME, SEEING I AM A STRANGER?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

4-16 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...

Verse Ruth 2:13. _NOT LIKE UNTO ONE OF THINE HAND-MAIDENS._] I am as unworthy of thy regards as any of thine own maidservants, and yet thou showest me distinguished kindness....

EXPOSITION RUTH 2:10 RUTH did not seize the opportunity for bewailing the hardship of the lot to which she had been reduced, and which now constrained her to undertake a species of work which at one time she little anticipated. With beautiful humility and modesty, and in the profoundest gratitude, she accepted wonderingly the kindness of Boaz. AND SHE FELL ON HER FACE. A rather remarkable expression, physiologically viewed. Her face was part of herself. How then could she fall on it? It was part of that which fell, and yet she is said to fall _upon _(עַל) it, as if it had been underneath the self-hood that fell. It was what was undermost as she bowed herself, so that the pressure of the sum-total of the body fell on it as she gracefully stooped. AND PROSTRATED HERSELF TO THE GROUND. Thus completing, and

THEN SHE SAID, LET ME FIND FAVOUR IN THY SIGHT, MY LORD,.... Or rather, since she had found favour in his sight already: the words are to be considered, not as a wish for it, but as acknowledging it, and expressing her faith and confidence, that she should for time to come find favour in his sight, and have other instances of it; for so the words may be rendered, "I shall find favour" z, for which she gives the following reasons: FOR THAT THOU HAST COMFORTED ME, AND FOR THAT THOU HAST SPOKEN FRIENDLY UNTO THINE HANDMAID; had spoken in her commendation, and wished her all happiness here and hereafter; said kind and comfortable words to her, to her very heart, as in Isaiah 40:2 which were cheering, refreshing, and reviving to her: THOUGH I BE NOT LIKE UNTO ONE OF THINE HANDMAIDENS; not worthy to be one of them, or to be ranked with them, being meaner than t

CHAPTER 2 GLEANING IN THE FIELD _ 1. Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:1)_ 2. Grace shown to Ruth by Boaz (Ruth 2:4) 3. Ruth hears concerning Boaz (Ruth 2:18) Boaz comes now upon the scene. His name means “in Him is strength.” He is called “a mighty man of wealth.” As the kinsman-redeemer he is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one in whom there is strength, the rich one. Ruth knows at first little of him and the coming relationship with the wealthy one. Boaz is related to Elimelech, whose name “my God is king” is typical of Israel's faith. Through Elimelech only Naomi (the nation Israel) has a claim on Boaz. And she can only lay claim through Ruth. Even so Israel has a claim on the ble

THE MEETING OF BOAZ AND RUTH. Naomi's kinsman quite a different word from the near kinsman (goë l) of Ruth 2:20 is introduced in Heb. words which sometimes denoted a wealthy man, and sometimes a valiant man, so that a peaceful farmer like Boaz is characterised in the same terms as warriors like Gideon and Jephthah (Judges 6:12; Judges 11:1). The name Boaz may mean in Him is strength. Ruth 2:2. It was a custom, and it became a law, in Israel that the poor, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow should be permitted to glean in the harvest fields (Deuteronomy 24:19

FRIENDLY. to the heart. THOUGH. BE NOT. Or, Oh that. might be....

_comforted … spoken kindly unto_ The same words in Isaiah 40:1-2. See on Judges 19:3. _though I be not_ As a stranger Ruth is not like one of his handmaidens; she has no right to expect such friendly treatment....

THOUGH I BE NOT LIKE UNTO ONE OF THY HANDMAIDENS— Nothing can be more amiable than this humility of Ruth. Extolling the favour of Boaz to her to the utmost, she, as it were, annihilates herself; professing, that, stranger as she was, and of an idolatrous country, she considered herself as far inferior in condition to one of his meanest maid-servants. Blessed are they who humble themselves, for they shall be exalted! Houbigant renders this passage, _would I might be one of thy handmaids!_...