Ruth 2

1 erat autem vir Helimelech consanguineus homo potens et magnarum opum nomine Booz

2 dixitque Ruth Moabitis ad socrum suam si iubes vadam in agrum et colligam spicas quae metentium fugerint manus ubicumque clementis in me patris familias repperero gratiam cui illa respondit vade filia mi

3 abiit itaque et colligebat spicas post terga metentium accidit autem ut ager ille haberet dominum Booz qui erat de cognatione Helimelech

4 et ecce ipse veniebat de Bethleem dixitque messoribus Dominus vobiscum qui responderunt ei benedicat tibi Dominus

5 dixitque Booz iuveni qui messoribus praeerat cuius est haec puella

6 qui respondit haec est Moabitis quae venit cum Noemi de regione moabitide

7 et rogavit ut spicas colligeret remanentes sequens messorum vestigia et de mane usque nunc stat in agro et ne ad momentum quidem domum reversa est

8 et ait Booz ad Ruth audi filia ne vadas ad colligendum in alterum agrum nec recedas ab hoc loco sed iungere puellis meis

9 et ubi messuerint sequere mandavi enim pueris meis ut nemo tibi molestus sit sed etiam si sitieris vade ad sarcinulas et bibe aquas de quibus et pueri bibunt

10 quae cadens in faciem suam et adorans super terram dixit ad eum unde mihi hoc ut invenirem gratiam ante oculos tuos et nosse me dignareris peregrinam mulierem

11 cui ille respondit nuntiata sunt mihi omnia quae feceris socrui tuae post mortem viri tui et quod dereliqueris parentes tuos et terram in qua nata es et veneris ad populum quem ante nesciebas

12 reddat tibi Dominus pro opere tuo et plenam mercedem recipias a Domino Deo Israhel ad quem venisti et sub cuius confugisti alas

13 quae ait inveni gratiam ante oculos tuos domine mi qui consolatus es me et locutus es ad cor ancillae tuae quae non sum similis unius puellarum tuarum

14 dixitque ad eam Booz quando hora vescendi fuerit veni huc et comede panem et intingue buccellam tuam in aceto sedit itaque ad messorum latus et congessit pulentam sibi comeditque et saturata est et tulit reliquias

15 atque inde surrexit ut spicas ex more colligeret praecepit autem Booz pueris suis dicens etiam si vobiscum metere voluerit ne prohibeatis eam

16 et de vestris quoque manipulis proicite de industria et remanere permittite ut absque rubore colligat et colligentem nemo corripiat

17 collegit ergo in agro usque ad vesperam et quae collegerat virga caedens et excutiens invenit hordei quasi oephi mensuram id est tres modios

18 quos portans reversa est in civitatem et ostendit socrui suae insuper protulit et dedit ei de reliquiis cibi sui quo saturata fuerat

19 dixitque ei socrus ubi hodie collegisti et ubi fecisti opus sit benedictus qui misertus est tui indicavitque ei apud quem esset operata et nomen dixit viri quod Booz vocaretur

20 cui respondit Noemi benedictus sit a Domino quoniam eandem gratiam quam praebuerat vivis servavit et mortuis rursumque propinquus ait noster est homo

21 et Ruth hoc quoque inquit praecepit mihi ut tamdiu messoribus eius iungerer donec omnes segetes meterentur

22 cui dixit socrus melius est filia mi ut cum puellis eius exeas ad metendum ne in alieno agro quispiam resistat tibi

23 iuncta est itaque puellis Booz et tamdiu cum eis messuit donec hordea et triticum in horreis conderentur

Ruth 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz. (1-3) The kindness of Boaz to Ruth. (4-16) Ruth returns to her mother-in-law. (17-23)

Verses 1-3 Observe Ruth's humility. When Providence had made her poor, she cheerfully stoops to her lot. High spirits will rather starve than stoop; not so Ruth. Nay, it is her own proposal. She speaks humbly in her expectation of leave to glean. We may not demand kindness as a debt, but ask, and take it as a favour, though in a small matter. Ruth also was an example of industry. She loved not to eat the bread of idleness. This is an example to young people. Diligence promises well, both for this world and the other. We must not be shy of any honest employment. No labour is a reproach. Sin is a thing below us, but we must not think any thing else so, to which Providence call us. She was an example of regard to her mother, and of trust in Providence. God wisely orders what seem to us small events; and those that appear altogether uncertain, still are directed to serve his own glory, and the good of his people.

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 such good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another. Boaz inquired concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated. Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.

Verses 17-23 It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, ( 2 John. 1:8 ) should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves every night, Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account? When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in any other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them. Ruth dutifully observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, she kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, ( Genesis 34 ) . Ruth kept at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no other errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ended in preferment.

Chapter Summary

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.