Ruth 3:11

_AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER, FEAR NOT; I WILL DO TO THEE ALL THAT THOU REQUIREST: FOR ALL THE CITY OF MY PEOPLE DOTH KNOW THAT THOU ART A VIRTUOUS WOMAN._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

6-13 What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. Being a judge of Israel, Boaz would tell Ruth what she should do; also whether he had the right of redemption, and what methods must be taken, and what rites used, in order to accomplishing her marriage with him or another person. The conduct of Boaz calls for the highest praise. He attempted not to take advantage of Ruth; he did not disdain her as a poor, destitute stranger, nor suspect her of any ill intentions. He spoke honourably of her as a virtuous woman, made her a promise, and as soon as the morning arrived, sent her away with a present to her mother-in-law. Boaz made his promise conditional, for there was a kinsman nearer than he, to whom the right of redemption belonged....

EXPOSITION RUTH 3:1 AND NAOMI, HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, SAID TO HER, MY DAUGHTER, SHALL NOT I SEEK OUT FOR THEE A REST, THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE? When Ruth had nothing more to do on the harvest-fields, where Boaz appeared daily, and was unremittingly gracious to her, she may have fallen into a pensive mood. Naomi was quick to note the varying '_nuances_'_ _of feeling, and said "_My _daughter, shall I not seek out for thee a rest?" The expression _rest_, or _resting-place_, though in itself of generic import, was, when used in such circumstances as environed Ruth, quite specific in application, and would be at once understood. It was _a home _to which Naomi pointed, a home for her daughter's heart. In such a home, if warm and pure, there would be repose for the affections. "That it may be well with thee," or

AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER, FEAR NOT,.... Either of being forced and defiled, to which he had exposed herself by lying down at a man's feet, or of being reproached as an immodest woman for so doing, or of being despised as a poor woman, and of not succeeding in her suit and enterprise: AND I WILL DO TO THEE ALL THAT THOU REQUIREST; which could be done according to the law of God, and without injury to another person after mentioned: FOR ALL THE CITY OF MY PEOPLE DOTH KNOW THAT THOU ART A VIRTUOUS WOMAN; or righteous, as the Targum; a good woman, possessed of grace and virtue, having every agreeable qualification to recommend to the marriage state; and therefore, should they come to the knowledge of the step taken to obtain it, will never reproach thee for it, nor blame me for marrying a person, though poor, of such an excellent character, which, by her conduct and behaviour, was universally...

CHAPTER 3 AT THE FEET OF BOAZ _ 1. Naomi instructs Ruth (Ruth 3:1)_ 2. At his feet (Ruth 3:6) 3. The discovery (Ruth 3:8) 4. The six measures of barley (Ruth 3:14) 5. He will not rest until he have finished the thing (Ruth 3:18) What follows in the realization of redemption must be connected with Leviticus 25, the law concerning the redemption of an inheritance and the other law about the marriage of a brother-in-law as given in...

RUTH 3. BOAZ AS A GOË L. Elimelech and his two sons were dead. Would any member of the family have enough right and proper feeling to save his name from extinction? The nearest relative was in this case silent and inactive. But, with the originality of love, Naomi devised a plan not merely for the redemption of her late husband's estate and the continuation of the family succession, but for the happy settlement of Ruth in a Judæ an home. Ignorant of the customs of Bethlehem, Ruth follows her mother-in-law's instructions to the letter. According to the sentiment of the time there was nothing immodest or unwomanly in their bold and unusual line of action. Rightly understood, it was only a gentle and delicate way of appealing to a kinsman's chivalry; and Ruth did not appeal in vain. Ruth 3:1. Better a resting-place (_mg._); the beautiful Heb. word (_mĕ? nûḥ?â_) has much the same ass

THOU REQUIREST. thou shalt say. Some codices, with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, add "unto me". CITY. Hebrew gate, put by Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Part) for the people assembling there....

_I will do to thee all that thou sayest_ Note Ruth 3:4 -he will tell thee what thou shalt do"; but Ruth herself suggested what Boaz was to tell. The coincidence was guided by Jehovah's good providence. _all the city_, lit. _gate_ In ancient times the gate was a place of resort for conversation and business and the administration of justice; cf. Ruth 4:1; Ruth 4:11; Genesis 23:10; Genesis 34:20; Job 29:7; Pro

_Ruth Speaks to Boaz Ruth 3:6-13_ 6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 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. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness, inasmuch as thou followest not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12

THE APPEAL TO BOAZ 1. Marriages are always arranged by the parents in Eastern lands; here, of course, the mother-in-law must intervene. 2-7. Grain is winnowed in the evening, to avoid the heat of the day and take advantage of the cool sea-wind, which blows in Palestine from 4 p.m. to half-an-hour before sunset. As a rule the threshing floor, which is an open space of clean, hard, dry ground, is on an elevated spot. But at Beth-lehem it was necessary to go 'down' to it, because the town is on the summit of the ridge and higher than any of the surrounding eminences. Ruth is to wash and anoint herself and put on the _simlah_, the long outer robe of ceremony, for this was to be a formal and important visit. Every precaution, too, was to be taken to ensure Boaz being in a genial frame of mind; the day's work was to be at an end, and he was to have eaten and drunk: cp. Genesis 27