4 Now behold , Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers , " May the Lord be with you." And they said to him, "May the Lord bless you." 5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers , "Whose young woman is this ?" 6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied , "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab . 7 "And she said , 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves .' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now ; she has been sitting in the house for a little while ." 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth , "Listen carefully , my daughter . Do not go to glean in another field ; furthermore , do not go on from this one , but stay here with my maids . 9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap , and go after them. Indeed , I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty , go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw ." 10 Then she fell on her face , bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner ?" 11 Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth , and came to a people that you did not previously know . 12 " May the Lord reward your work , and your wages be full from the Lord , the God of Israel , under whose wings you have come to seek refuge ." 13 Then she said , "I have found favor in your sight , my lord , for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant , though I am not like one of your maidservants ." 14 At mealtime e Boaz said to her, "Come here , that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar ." So she sat beside e the reapers ; and he served her roasted grain , and she ate and was satisfied and had some left . 15 When she rose to glean , Boaz commanded his servants , saying , "Let her glean even among the sheaves , and do not insult her. 16 "Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean , and do not rebuke her."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ruth 2:4-16
Commentary on Ruth 2:4-16
(Read Ruth 2:4-16)
The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and conditions; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families. True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them he prayed for them. They did not, as soon as he was out of hearing curse him, as some ill-natured servants that hate their master's eye, but they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go on well where there is such good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another. Boaz inquired concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated. Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.