The Pulpit Commentary — Ruth — Section 56

lrnd noticed that he looked on Ruth with longing eyes. 2. It is also reasonable to suppose that, fro,n some cause or other, Boaz felt himself under an unconquerable spell of reticence. The cause seems to be revealed in his use again and again of the fatherly expression, My daugliter, as applied to Ruth. He was evidently well advanced in years. This seems to have been the soil on which his insuperable diffidence grew. How to get this diffidence plucked up by the roots was the problem which the solicitous Naomi set herself to solve. 3. There was only one way, as it appeared to her, in which Boaz's mind could be set free from the spell which put a seal on bis lips. That was to bring Ruth into such relationship to him that he would learn her true sentiments on the one hand, and feel put upon his honour on the other. Naomi, to effect this consummation, took advantage of a time-honoured custom, which had come down from very remote and primitive times, and was still in full force among the Hebrews. She thought of the Levirate law. This was a law that gave a widow, if an heiress, the right to claim, from the nearest of kin to her deceased husband, conjugal assistance in the management of her estate. The nearest of kin, if thus appealed to for the purpose indicated, had a right to refuse the widow's claim, provided he was willing to submit to certain indignities and unpleasant formalities, such as being stripped of one of his shoes, and then twitted and hooted as Barefoot (Deut. xxv. 5-10). But if it should happen to be the case that his feel- ings were the reverse of repugnance, then the act of compliance would be at once the highest meed of respect which could be paid to the memory of the deceased, and the greatest gratification that could be enjoyed by the living. In the case of Ruth and Boaz, two just conclusions had been arrived at by Naomi. One had reference to Ruth, and was to the effect that, while it would be impossible for her to initiate action that might be regarded as terminating on herself, it would yet be both possible for and becoming in her to undertake the initiation of action that had for its aim what was due to the name and honour of her deceased husband. The other had reference to Boaz, and was to the effect that his diffidence, otherwise unconquerable, would be conquered if he were put upon his honour, and saw his way clear to discharge a duty to a deceased kinsman. 4. We must, in addition, suppose that Naomi, in making arrangement for the midrught interview, had unfaltering confidence in the incor- ruptible innocence of Ruth, and in the incontaminable purity of Boaz. 5. We are likewise entitled to assume that the method of claiming a kinsman's interposition, which she laid down for her daughter-in-law's guidance, was no gratuitous invention of her own. It is natural to regard it as having been the normal and accredited formula of procedure that was in use in II society," for the irutiation of such measures as were requisite in the application of the Levirate law. 6. It is on this assump- tion alone that we can account for the fact that no apology was made by Ruth, and that no surprise was expressed by Boaz. Instead of surprise, there was only devout admiration of Ruth's entire demeanour in relation to her deceased husband. He said, " Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter; thou hast made thy latter kindness better than the former, in not going after any young man, whether poor or rich." It is her kindness to the deceased, not her kindness to himself, of which he speaks. The kindness she was showing after her husband's decease was, in Boaz's estimation, still greater than the kindness she had showed him, or had been able to show him, during his life. A woman, so attractive and so capable as she, might have readily found among the young men many open doors to rest, and ease, and affluence. But she did not for one moment wish to avail herself of any of these openings. She wished to do honour to the name and memory of her lamented Machlon, more espe- cially in her capacity as the prospective heiress of his property. 7. We may be sure, however, that Naomi would never have availed herself of the customs that had got ..xed by "use and wont" in relation to the Levirate law, unless she had been certain that it would be in accordance with the deepest desires of both her friends that they should get together in life. In the lig·ht of these remarks we may now re-read tho entire chapter, interposing, as we go along the successive verses, whatever expository or practical remark may seem to he called for. Vor. 1.-There is something radically wrong in every home which is not a" rest" to its inmates; 11ml life without a home is em.rihaticully a life of unrest.  64 THE BOOK OF RUTJt. ten. tu. 1-16. Vers. 2----4.-Naomi's solicitude for her devoted daughter-in-law is beautiful !lnd mot~ilrly. But the form into which it ran and took _shape con never recur m th~ m1d~t of the culture an~ customs of Euro~ean society. Even the method of wmnowmg the golden gram of the harvest-field, as referred to in ver. 2 is antique and obsolete. So, too, is the method which Boaz adopted to watch over his cereal treasures. ·He constituted himself his own watchman and police- man. Ver. 5.-Ruth's confidence in Naomi'!l kindness and wi~dom is noteworthy. It wns no upstart prepossession and blindfold feeling. Naomi had earned it by a longs continued course of prudence and sympathy. Boaz too had earned n correspond- ing confidence, and hence she did not hesitate to intrust herself to his honour. She felt that she was safe. Vers. 6, 7.-The expression " his heart was merry" just means that he felt physic- ally comfortable, and ready for quiet and sound repose. Ver. 8.-When it is said that" the man was afraid, and turned liimself," the meaning of the latter clause, as it stands in King James's version, would require some modification. The idea is not that Boaz turned from one side to another, It is that, having started in a fright, in consequence of the presence, to his indis- tinct consciousness, of something unusual about his feet, he raised himself up and bent forward to feel what it was. Ver. 9.-His touch had satisfied him that it was a woman who was at his feet. Who was she? Ruth at once declared herself no doubt in accents of sweet modesty. The statement with which she follows up the declaration of herself is variously inter- preted. In King James's version there are two departures from literality. 1. The word sldrt is not a literal rendering of the Hebrew term. Wings is the proper trans- lation. 2. The entreaty S'fread therefore is also a departure from literality. The verb is not in the imperative, but in the affirmative-And tlwu hast spread. It i1;1 Ruth's own interpretation of the position of affairs. She had come to Judrea to take shelter under the wi,ngs of Jehovah; and Boaz had, on his part, in harmony with the heavenly kindness of Jehovah, spread over her his wings of terrestrial kindness. She thus does not speak at all of Boaz's sk-irt, or slcirts. There was beautiful delicacy in her representation. She did not need to enter into particular details. Her posi- tion, viewed in the light of custom, explained the whole case. Vers. 10, 11.-" And now, my daughter, fear not ''-give not thyself any anxiou:3 concern in reference to the result. "All the people in the gate of my city know that thou art a virtuous woman." Yes, she was virtuous; and yet she was much more. She was endowed with all the ca:pabuities which fitted her for the position she was willing to occupy (see the Exposition). Ver. 12.-Note the highly honourable character of Boaz. Ther~ was one nearer in kinship to Ruth than himself. This person, therefore, must receive the first offer. Had the case come before Boaz as simply one of personal affection, he. would in _all probability have made no reference to the nearer kinsman. But as it had come before him in its relation to the deceased, and connected itself with Ruth because of her relation to the deceased, he felt that he must act in strictest honour. There were rights of property at stake, as well as affectio1;1s of the heart, and Boaz coul~ be no party to deprive any one of such rights. Still we need not doubt. that his heart thrilled at the thought that the rights involved would not prove an msurmountable barrier between himself and Ruth. Ver. 13.-Boaz's mind still runs on the lines of a kinsman's duty. There was hence something that might be thrUBt in between the desires of his heart and thi, object toward whom they trembled. , Ver. 14.-Boaz was d~sirous to guard the fair name and fame of Ruth, as well us to keep untarnished his own unsullied reputation. . ..· Ver. 15.-He wished that Naomi might have some tangible evidence of his satis- faction. Ver. 16.-The question Jt/w art thou1 sprang from Naomi's hope thut the entire scheme would issue in success. . Ver. 17.-Tlie present was, in one point of view, inconsiderable; but, in unotbe,• point of view, it we.a a mo;;t suitable gift from one who desired indeed to show sym · CH. !II. 1-18.] THE IlOOK OF RUTH. 55