Ruth 2:3-13

3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather [grain] behind the harvesters. She happened^[a] to be in the portion of land belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech's family.

4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, "The Lord be with you." "The Lord bless you," they replied.

5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, "Whose young woman is this?"

6 The servant answered, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.

7 She asked, 'Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?' She came and has remained from early morning until now, except that she rested a little in the shelter."^[b]

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter.^[c] Don't go and gather [grain] in another field, and don't leave this one, but stay here close to my young women.

9 See which field they are harvesting, and follow [them]. Haven't I ordered the young men not to touch you?^[d] When you are thirsty, go and drink from the jars the young men have filled."

10 She bowed with her face to the ground and said to him, "Why are you so kind to notice me, although I am a foreigner?"

11 Boaz answered her, "Everything you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband's death has been fully reported to me: [how] you left your father and mother, and the land of your birth, and [how] you came to a people you didn't previously know.

12 May the Lord reward you for what you have done, and may you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."

13 "My lord," she said, "you have been so kind to me, for you have comforted and encouraged^[e] your slave, although I am not like one of your female servants."

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Ruth 2:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 2

In this chapter we have an account of Ruth's gleaning corn in the fields of Boaz, a relation of Naomi, Ru 2:1-3, and of Boaz coming to his reapers, whom he saluted in a very kind manner; and observing a woman gleaning after them, inquired of them who she was, and they informed him, Ru 2:4-9, upon which he addressed himself to her, and gave her leave to glean in his field, and desired her to go nowhere else, and bid her eat and drink with his servants, Ru 2:8-14 and gave directions to his servants to let her glean, and to let fall some of the handfuls on purpose, that she might gather them up, Ru 2:15-17 and then an account is given of her returning to her mother-in-law with her gleanings, to whom she related where she had gleaned, who was owner of the field, and what he had said to her, upon which Naomi gave her advice, Ru 2:18-23.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 5

[a]. Pr 16:33; 20:24
[b]. LXX reads until evening she has not stopped in the field; Vg reads now and she did not return to the house; Hb uncertain
[c]. Lit Haven't you heard, my daughter?
[d]. Either sexual or physical harassment
[e]. Lit and spoken to the heart of

Ruth 2:3-13

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Ruth 2:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 2

Footnotes 5