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Ver. 6. And the servant.] He gives a ready answer, a good account, Rationem cum domino crebro putet, saith Cato concerning a steward. It is the Moabitish damsel.] He commendeth her for her virtues, little thinking that shortly she should be his mistress. This was fair, and not ordinary. Vituperant homines quam collaudant promptius. Malignity and morosity reigneth everywhere. De Re Rust, cap. v. V er. 7. I pray you, let me glean.] [See Trapp on “Ru 2:2”] And gather after the reapers.] She thrust not herself in before or among the reapers as an impudent, bold housewife, pretending that now God’s barn door was open, and she might take where she could, &c., but begged leave to follow after them, to gather up the loose ears. This was her honesty, modesty, and humility, to her great commendation. And hath continued even from the morning.] “Not slothful in business,” (Romans 12:11) but assiduous and constant at it. (Ecclesiastes 10:18) This is praiseworthy, -in a minister especially, who is bidden to be instant, or to stand over his work, to stand close to it, (2 Timothy 4:2) to live and die upon it. Oportet Episcopum conscionantem mori, said Bishop Juell. Until now, that she tarried a little in the house.] For necessary repast and repose, in the heat of the day. Excepa modica sessione eius in tugurio; so Munster rendereth it. επιστηθι.
Ver. 8. Hearest thou not, my daughter?] q.d., Hear and heed what I say to thee; be advised by me. Audite senem iuvenes, &c. Neither showed Boaz his love “in word or in tongue only”—such love is good cheap—“but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) Abide here fast by my maidens.] Who were there, either as reapers, binders, or takers: or if they gleaned, it was for themselves, because they were poor and indigent.
Ver. 9. Go thou after them.] Mercy is not miserly: charity is no churl. Love is full of good works. This age aboundeth with mouth mercy, (James 3:15,16) but a little handful were better than a great many such mouthfuls. That they should not touch thee.] With a wanton touch, as young men are apt to do, or otherwise wrong thee. Let masters of families make Nebuchadnezzar’s law, that nothing be said or done, by those under their charge, against the God of heaven. Drink of that which the young men have drawn.] Not without hard labour in those hot and high countries: the courtesy, therefore, was the greater.
Ver. 10. Then she fell on her face, &c.] Here shine forth her humility, modesty, and many other graces: she was, as Gualther saith of the Lady Jane Gray, Pietatis, prudentiae, et modestiae delicium. Yea, caelum quoddam lucidissimis virtutum stellis exornatum, as Bucholcer saith of Joseph. All the people of her city soon knew that she was a very virtuous woman, (Ruth 3:11) and hence it was that she found so much favour, for true goodnass is very lovely: οττι καλον φιλον εστι. That thou shouldest take knowledge of me.] Non sum dignus, Domine, quem diligas, saith Augustine. Every saint may say with admiration as he did in John 14:22, “Lord, how is it that thou hast manifested thyself to us, and not unto the world?” Rutha tanquam lucidum speculum multarum virtutum nobis proponitur. -Lavater.
Ver. 11. It hath fully been showed me.] Her faith to God and love to her mother-in-law was much noted and noticed. See 1 Thessalonians 1:8. Fame followeth virtue, as the shadow doth the body, at the heels. “Since thou hast been precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable.” (Isaiah 43:4) By faith those “elders obtained a good report,” (Hebrews 11:2) as Abel, who, “being dead, yet speaketh,” or, is spoken of, as some render it, (Hebrews 11:4) and as Abraham, who forsook all, and followed God into a strange country; so did this daughter of Abraham, and was famous for it, yea, renowned. See Psalms 37:6 112:6. All that thou hast done unto thy mother-ln-law.] A sure sign of thy true love to thy late husband, and how greatly thou prizest holiness in his mother, a happy instrument of thy conversion. Ruth was lovely, and therefore loved: Ut ameris amabilis esto. “If there be any virtue, if any praise.”— Philippians 4:8.
Ver. 12. The Lord recompense thy work.] Though Ruth lacked the world’s wealth, yet she lacked not good works, such as God regarded and rewarded too. Many Papists, and some as silly, have shrunk up good works to a hand-breadth, to giving of alms. Ruth had no alms to give, and yet her work was with the Lord, who heard this good man’s prayer for her, and gave her a full reward, yet not of merit, but of free grace and fatherly love, as a father rewardeth his son that serveth him. And a full reward be given thee.] Fiat merces tua solida. It was so when she became his wife, which he little thought of, when he thus heartily prayed for her, but especially when she came to heaven; whither that proud merit monger never came who said, Caelum gratis non accipiam, If I may not earn heaven, I will never have it of free gift. Let us “look to ourselves that we lose not the things that we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (2 John 1:8) Under whose wings thou art come to trust.] A metaphor usual in Scripture, from young birds hovering and covering under the dam’s wings. Ruth “coming to God, believed that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Fides est quae te pullastram, Christum gallinam facit, ut sub pennis eius speres; nam salus in pennis eius. Vatab. Luther.
Ver. 13. Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord.] May I be so happy as still to continue high in thy love and favour, though I be never so unworthy. See 2 Samuel 16:4. [See Trapp on “2Sa 16:4”] For that thou hast comforted me,] viz., By thy praising me, praying for me, and speaking kindly unto me. “ Οργης νοσουσης εισιν ιατροι λογοι.’’— Aeschylus. Comfortable words “do good like a medicine.” To thine handmaid.] He had called her “daughter”: she thinks not the better of herself for that; she is his “handmaid” still, yea, she addeth, “Though I be not like one of thy handmaidens.” Habeas me tibi commendatam.
Ver. 14. And Boaz said unto her.] Here gratiarum actio erat ad plus dandum invitatio. Ruth’s thankfulness was rewarded with more kindness. Efficacissimum genus est rogandi, gratias agere, saith Pliny. As a little water poured into the pump when the springs lie low, bringeth up a great deal more together with it; so is it here. And eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.] Here was plain fare. Nature is content with a little; and hunger hunteth not after delicates. And she sat beside the reapers.] She sat to a side, and did not thrust in saucily amongst them, though favoured. And he reached her parched corn.] Which was great dainties in those days (1 Samuel 17:17 2Sa 17:28). Now-a-days, what marvel is it that we die so fast? saith Seneca, qui tot mortibus vivimus, who do live by the death of so many other creatures. In Panegyr. Sept., εβουνισεν αυτη, He reached unto her by heaps.
Ver. 15. And when she was risen up to glean.] After thanks returned, first to God, and then to Boaz, she returneth to her labour. Eat she did to live, not live to eat. Boaz commanded his young men.] These he bound to the good behaviour, as being apt enough to be unruly. Reproach her not,] sc., By rebuking her (Ruth 2:16) as too forwardly.
Ver. 16. And let fall also some of the handfuls.] Boaz could have given her at first an ephah of barley, and it had been no more charge to him. But he will have her use her endeavours to gather, and glean, and beat out. And that labour of hers should be the price she should pay for it. So God gives knowledge and grace. The heathen could say, Dii laboribus omnia vendunt.
Ver. 17. Until even.] Strengthening herself to her labour, as that good housewife, (Proverbs 31:17) and laying her bones to work. About an ephah.] Almost a bushel, her back burden.
Ver. 18. And gave to her that she had reserved.] Ruth was not like that pamphagus παμφαγος, alldevouring Nabal, all whose logic was little enough to conclude for himself.
Ver. 19. Where hast thou gleaned today?] The recording of these small matters showeth how dear to God are his saints, and how he is taken with everything they say or do if not sinful.
Ver. 20. Blessed be he of the Lord.] As health is the poor man’s patrimony, so prayers are the poor man’s requital. To the living, and to the dead.] Dead Elimelech and Mahlon were after a sort gratified in Naomi and Ruth. God never leaveth off his kindness to his living and dead servants. Bless him therefore. The man is near of kin unto us.] This she had never told her till now. She delighted not to brag of her rich kindred.
Ver. 21. He said unto me also.] She further setteth forth his courtesy, but not a word of what he said in her commendation.
Ver. 22. It is good, my daughter.] Thus the elder woman must advise the younger, and say, “ Thesaurum cum virgo, tuum vas fictile servet, Ut fugias quae sunt noxia, tuta time.” That they meet thee not.] Or, Fall not upon thee, or solicit thee to folly. Vulgo dicitur castam esse quam nemo rogarit.
Ver. 23. So she kept fast.] According to her mother’s counsel, which she esteemed as an oracle.