Ruth 3:8

8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

Ruth 3:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 3:8

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

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 of an apparition, which seemed to put off clothes, and place itself in a bed where a man lay

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.

F19 Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 9.

Ruth 3:8 In-Context

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.

7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.

8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.

9 He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative."

10 Then he said, "May you be blessed of the LORD , my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "twisted himself"