31 And Naomi her mother-in-law saith to her, 'My daughter, do not I seek for thee rest, that it may be well with thee? 2 and now, is not Boaz of our acquaintance, with whose young women thou hast been? lo, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of barley to-night, 3 and thou hast bathed, and anointed thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and gone down to the threshing-floor; let not thyself be known to the man till he complete to eat and to drink; 4 and it cometh to pass when he lieth down, that thou hast known the place where he lieth down, and hast gone in, and uncovered his feet, and lain down,—and he doth declare to thee that which thou dost do.' 5 And she saith unto her, 'All that thou sayest—I do.'
6 And she goeth down 'to' the threshing-floor, and doth according to all that her mother-in-law commanded her 7 And Boaz eateth and drinketh, and his heart is glad; and he goeth in to lie down at the end of the heap; and she cometh in gently, and uncovereth his feet, and lieth down. 8 And it cometh to pass, at the middle of the night, that the man trembleth, and turneth himself, and lo, a woman is lying at his feet. 9 And he saith, 'Who 'art' thou?' and she saith, 'I 'am' Ruth thy handmaid, and thou hast spread thy skirt over thy handmaid, for thou 'art' a redeemer.' 10 And he saith, 'Blessed 'art' thou of Jehovah, my daughter; thou hast dealt more kindly at the latter end than at the beginning—not to go after the young men, either poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not, all that thou sayest I do to thee, for all the gate of my people doth know that thou 'art' a virtuous woman. 12 And now, surely, true, that I 'am' a redeemer, but also there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Lodge to night, and it hath been in the morning, if he doth redeem thee, well: he redeemeth; and if he delight not to redeem thee, then I have redeemed thee—I; Jehovah liveth! lie down till the morning.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ruth 3:1-13
Commentary on Ruth 3:1-5
(Read Ruth 3:1-5)
The married state should be a rest, as much as any thing upon earth can be so, as it ought to fix the affections and form a connexion for life. Therefore it should be engaged in with great seriousness, with earnest prayers for direction, for the blessing of God, and with regard to his precepts. Parents should carefully advise their children in this important concern, that it may be well with them as to their souls. Be it always remembered, That is best for us which is best for our souls. The course Naomi advised appears strange to us; but it was according to the laws and usages of Israel. If the proposed measure had borne the appearance of evil, Naomi would not have advised it. Law and custom gave Ruth, who was now proselyted to the true religion, a legal claim upon Boaz. It was customary for widows to assert this claim, Deuteronomy 25:5-10. But this is not recorded for imitation in other times, and is not to be judged by modern rules. And if there had been any evil in it, Ruth was a woman of too much virtue and too much sense to have listened to it.
Commentary on Ruth 3:6-13
(Read Ruth 3:6-13)
What in one age or nation would be improper, is not always so in another age or another nation. Being a judge of Israel, Boaz would tell Ruth what she should do; also whether he had the right of redemption, and what methods must be taken, and what rites used, in order to accomplishing her marriage with him or another person. The conduct of Boaz calls for the highest praise. He attempted not to take advantage of Ruth; he did not disdain her as a poor, destitute stranger, nor suspect her of any ill intentions. He spoke honourably of her as a virtuous woman, made her a promise, and as soon as the morning arrived, sent her away with a present to her mother-in-law. Boaz made his promise conditional, for there was a kinsman nearer than he, to whom the right of redemption belonged.