Ruth 3:7

7 And when Boaz had eaten and (had) drunk, and was made more glad, and had gone to sleep beside the mound of sheaves, Ruth came, and hid herself; and when the cloth was uncovered from his feet, she casted down herself (and she turned back the cloak over his feet, and lay herself down).

Ruth 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 3:7

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry,
&c.] Having ate and drank freely, though not to excess; and innocent mirth was always allowed in the time of harvest, and of the vintage, and of gathering the fruits of the earth, see ( Judges 9:27 ) ( Isaiah 9:3 ) or "his heart was good"; he was in a good frame and disposition of mind, praising God for his goodness to him, and to his people; so the Targum,

``and his heart was good, and he blessed the name of the Lord who had received his prayer, and removed the famine from the land of Israel:''

he went to lie down at the heap of corn; in the threshingfloor, which had either been threshed out, or lay in sheaves to be threshed out: however, it seems probable that he had laid himself down on some of the straw of the corn threshed out, with his clothes on, covering his feet with the lower part of his garment; it being usual in those countries to wear long garments, which served to sleep in by nights, as well as to cover them by day; nor was it thought mean and unworthy of persons of note to sleep in such a place, and in such a manner as this ^F18. And it might be chosen for coolness in those hot countries. Jarchi thinks it was to preserve his corn from thieves; though it might be because it was late ere the festival was over, and too late to go home, and besides he was ready for his business the next morning:

and she came softly;
with stillness and quietness, as Jarchi, making as little noise as possible; or secretly, as the Targum, that no one might see her, and have knowledge of what she did:

and uncovered his feet;
turned up the skirt of the garment that was upon his feet, or removed whatever covering was laid on them:

and laid her down;
not on the side of him, which would have seemed immodest, but at his feet, perhaps across them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 "Nec pudor in stipula" Ovid. Fast. l. 1.

Ruth 3:7 In-Context

5 And Ruth answered, Whatever thing thou commandest to me, I shall do.

6 And she went down into the cornfloor (And she went down to the threshing floor), and did all things which her mother-in-law commanded to her.

7 And when Boaz had eaten and (had) drunk, and was made more glad, and had gone to sleep beside the mound of sheaves, Ruth came, and hid herself; and when the cloth was uncovered from his feet, she casted down herself (and she turned back the cloak over his feet, and lay herself down).

8 And lo! now at midnight, the man dreaded, and was troubled (And lo! at midnight, the man was startled, or was afraid, and he woke up from his sleep); and he saw a woman lying at his feet;

9 and he said to her, Who art thou? She answered, I am Ruth, thine handmaid; stretch forth thy cloth on thy servantess, for thou art nigh of kin. (and he said to her, Who art thou? She answered, I am Ruth, thy servantess; stretch forth thy cloak over thy servantess, for thou art my next of kin.)