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Ruth 3

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Noemi seeks a home
1 After she was returned to her mother in law, Noemi said to her: My daughter, I will seek rest for you, and will provide that it may be well with you. 2 This Booz, with whose maids you were joined in the field, is our near kinsman, and behold this night he extract barley in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash yourself therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your best garments, and go down to the barnfloor: but let not the man see you, till he shall get done eating and drinking. 4 And when he shall go to sleep, mark the place where he sleeps: and you shall go in, and lift up the clothes where he is covered towards his feet, and you shall lay yourself down there: and he will tell you what you must do. 5 She answered: Whatsoever you shall command, I will do. 6 And she went down to the barnfloor, and did all that her mother in law had bid her.


Booz discovers Ruth at his bedside
7 And when Booz had eaten, and drunk, and was merry, he went to sleep by the heap of sheaves, and she came softly and uncovering his feet, laid herself down. 8 And behold, when it was now midnight the man was afraid, and troubled: and he saw a woman lying at his feet, 9 And he said to her: Who are you? And she answered: I am Ruth your handmaid: spread your coverlet over your servant, for you are a near kinsman. 10 And he said: Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter, and your latter kindness has surpassed the former: because you have not followed young men either poor or rich. 11 Fear not therefore, but whatsoever you shall say to me I will do to you. For all the people that dwell within the gates of my city, know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 Neither do I deny myself to be near of kin, but there is another nearer than I. 13 Rest this night: and when morning comes, if he will take you by the right of kindred, all is well: but if he will not, I will undoubtedly take you, as the Lord lives: sleep till the morning. 14 So she slept at his feet till the night was going off. And she arose before men could know one another, and Booz said: Beware lest any man know that you came here. 15 And again he said: Spread your mantle, where you are covered, and hold it with both hands. And when she spread it and held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it upon her. And she carried it and went into the city,


Ruth tells Noemi of Booz's gifts
16 And she came to her mother in law; who said to her: What have you done, daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said: Behold he has given me six measures of barley: for he said: I will not have you return empty to your mother in law. 18 And Noemi said: Wait my daughter, till we see what end the thing will have. For the man will not rest until he have accomplished what he has said.
 
 
Commentary for Ruth 3
 
3:1-4 The custom in Israel was that the master held a great feast on the threshing floor for his boys and for his winnowers, and he slept on the threshing floor, abstaining from the embraces of women that night. The same thing happened at sheep-shearing and after the grape harvest. (Hugh of St. Cher Com Ruth)

3:7-14 Some say that Noemi had not sinned herself, because she was seeking to revive the name of the dead man through the law of matrimony. However, the opposite seems rather to 		be true, because the method of looking for a husband here was not good (that is to say in the dark), and also because there was a closer relative than Booz, who ought to have been the first to be asked, and so someone would be hard done by unless his voluntarily ceded his rights in Law. It is on account of all this that Booz told Ruth that she should conceal what she did. Ruth however, who was newly converted to Judaism and did not know what the Law about matrimony required, nor about the means of going about it, except for what Noemi taught her, was totally excused. (Nicholas of Lyra Com Ruth)


Josephus on Ruth

3. It was not many days before Booz, after the barley was winnowed, slept in his thrashing-floor. When Naomi was informed of this circumstance she contrived it so that Ruth should lie down by him, for she thought it might be for their advantage that he should discourse with the girl. Accordingly she sent the damsel to sleep at his feet; who went as she bade her, for she did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any command of her mother-in-law. And at first she lay concealed from Booz, as he was fast asleep; but when he awaked about midnight, and perceived a woman lying by him, he asked who she was; - and when she told him her name, and desired that he whom she owned for her lord would excuse her, he then said no more; but in the morning, before the servants began to set about their work, he awaked her, and bid her take as much barley as she was able to carry, and go to her mother-in-law before any body there should see that she had lain down by him, because it was but prudent to avoid any reproach that might arise on that account, especially when there had been nothing done that was ill. But as to the main point she aimed at, the matter should rest here, - "He that is nearer of kin than I am, shall be asked whether he wants to take thee to wife: if he says he does, thou shalt follow him; but if he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law."
4. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were very glad of it, out of the hope they had that Booz would make provision for them.
 
 
 
 
 
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