Ruth 3:14

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before a man could know his neighbour; and Booz said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

Ruth 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

Ruth 3:14

And she lay at his feet until the morning
In the same place where she first lay herself down:

and she rose up before one could know another,
because of the darkness, as the Targum, it not being yet break of day:

and he said, let it not be known that a woman came into the floor,
to whom he spoke these words is not said, perhaps to Ruth, whom he might call to arise so early as she did, before one could know another, and distinguish a man from a woman; and so sent her away, and bid her be cautious, as much as in her lay, that it might not be known she had been there; for though they were both conscious of their purity and chastity, yet it became them to be careful of their good name, and to prevent scandal upon them, or hinder the nearer kinsman from doing his part, who might refuse upon hearing that Boaz and Ruth had been together; or this was said to his young men, as the Targum adds, charging them to let no one know of it; which is not so likely: it is the sense of some Jewish writers ^F1, that Boaz said this in his heart, in an ejaculatory prayer to God, entreating that affair might be a secret, that it might not be known that a woman had been in the floor that night, lest the name of God should be blasphemed, and he and Ruth be wrongfully reproached.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 Midrash Ruth, fol. 34. 14. so some in Abendana in Miclol Yophi in loc.

Ruth 3:14 In-Context

12 And now I am truly akin to thee; nevertheless there is a kinsman nearer than I.

13 Lodge for the night, and it shall be in the morning, if he will do the part of a kinsman to thee, well—let him do it: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, I will do the kinsman's part to thee, the Lord lives; lie down till the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before a man could know his neighbour; and Booz said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 And he said to her, Bring the apron that is upon thee: and she held it, and he measured six measures of barley, and put them upon her, and she went into the city.

16 And Ruth went in to her mother-in-law, and she said to her, daughter! and told her all that the man had done to her.