1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
"A significant theological point emerges here. Earlier Naomi had wished for these same things ( Ruth 1:8-9). Here human means (i.e, Naomi’s plan) carry out something previously understood to be in Yahweh’s province. In response to providentially given opportunity, Naomi began to answer her own prayer! Thus she models one way in which divine and human actions work together: believers are not to wait passively for events to happen; rather, they must seize the initiative when an opportunity presents itself. They assume that God presents the opportunity." (Rubert L. Hubbard, p199.) "The [barley] harvest being over Naomi now decided that it was time to act- [to let Ruth make her own feelings known to him]. She had no doubt observed with interest Boaz’s continued generosity towards Ruth, and it had encouraged her to think that he might not be averse to marrying her. So she approached Ruth informing her that her intention was to ‘seek rest’ for her so that her future might be secure. She then gave instructions to Ruth about what she ought to do… This eating and drinking would probably be part of the [reapers’] celebrations [of which Ruth had a part] because the harvest had been safely gathered in. It was not to be interrupted.” (Peter Pett)
Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security [Menuchah, or rest] for you,” “that is, ‘shall I not endeavor to procure thee a proper husband?” Adam Clarke)— “‘that it may be well with thee?’ The house of her husband was called the Menuchah of the wife—that is to say, the asylum of rest and protection. The orphanage is the Menuchah of the orphan. All homes, Christian institutions, asylums founded in the spirit of Christ and for the use of Christ, might be appropriately termed Menuchahs—… asylums of security,…There was a certain land promised to Israel. In the hope of attaining that land Israel lived and toiled for many a year. What would Israel call that promised land? The Menuchah. To reach that Menuchah was the hope of Israel; to stand upon the soil of that promised Canaan was to be sure of the nearness and protection of the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Then, in its highest religious meaning, the Menuchah signifies the peace, favour, rest and protection of God. Jesus Christ said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will be your Menuchah—I will give you rest’—sabbatic rest, complete peace, infinite reconciliation, the harmony in which there is no discord, the rest unbroken by a dream, undisturbed by any fear in the night-watches.” (Joseph Parker)
Like father Abraham (Hebrews 11:10), Ruth did nor seek the earthly but the heavenly Menuchah, whose builder and maker is God.
Boaz was a near relative. “In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.” “This was a level plot of ground of a circular shape, generally about fifty feet in diameter, and beaten down to a hard, smooth surface.” (Daniel Wheden) “The winnowing was performed by throwing up the grain with a fork against the wind, by which the broken straw and chaff were dispersed, and the grain fell to the ground. The grain was afterwards passed through a sieve to separate the morsels of earth and other impurities, and it then underwent a final purification by being tossed up with wooden scoops or short-handled shovels, such as we see figured in the monuments of Egypt.” — Kitto
“This duty at so important a season the master undertakes himself; and, accordingly, in the simplicity of ancient manners, Boaz, a person of considerable wealth and high rank, laid himself down to sleep on the barn floor, at the end of the heap of barley he had been winnowing…” (Jameison-Faussett-Brown) to protect the harvest.
“The plan Naomi proposed was in harmony with Israel’s laws and social conventions. She was not suggesting anything improper much less immoral.” (Allen P. Ross) This was a feast day, but the meeting was to be private. Verses 3-4 sound like a private seducing to the carnal ears, but this was a righteous act. It is likely that it was a public affair. “There being a solemn feast this evening [on the end of the harvest of barley], as is very probably thought, and the master of the feast having invited his labouring people to it, and Ruth among the rest, it is likely that both she and the rest did put themselves into their best dress upon that occasion, as the manner is even at this day; and so he had opportunity enough to see her. ‘Make not thyself known unto the man,’ to wit, not in so familiar a way,” (Matthew Poole) but rather make it known to him that your hope of Menuchah is in him alone. You have no eyes for any other. Due to Boaz’s great reputation, she trusted completely in his judgment. ”Uncover his feet— remove the clothes that were upon his feet; thereby to awaken him. And he will tell thee what to do— what course thou shalt take to obtain that marriage which belongs unto thee.” (John Wesley)
5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
“Thus the precept ran, ‘If brethren dwell together, and one of them die and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.’ And observe what follows: ‘And it shall be that the first-born which she beareth, shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.’ See Deuteronomy 25:5-10. And if the Reader will consult the whole passage, he will see that the object was considered so important, that the refusal subjected the man which objected to do the brother's part to an opprobrious name in Israel. I do not detain the Reader in this place, with adding the sweet spiritual truths which arise out of it, in reference to our blessed brother, the Lord Jesus Christ, these will meet us in their proper place, before we close our observations on this chapter. But what I am chiefly desirous of at this time, in opening the view of Ruth's conduct and Naomi's advice, is to remove from the mind of the Christian Reader every idea of indelicacy and improper behaviour in Naomi's counsel to Ruth. It is worthy remark, that this law was considered so universally binding and so sacredly attended to, that it was not lost sight of in the days of our blessed Lord. See Matthew 22:23-24.” (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary)
The barley has been harvested. Jesus is the firstfuits. He will one day be on the threshing floor separating the wheat from the chaff. It will be too late on that Day. Wash and anoint yourself and make your desires known to Him now in a private meeting. He will tell you what you ought to do.
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her. 7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet. 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, [spread your wing] for you are a close relative.” 10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 Also he said, “Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “Is that you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her. 17 And she said, “These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’”18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
“Ruth carried out Naomi’s instructions exactly, further demonstrating her loyal love to her mother-in-law, and encouraged Boaz to pursue the possibility of marriage. Boaz’s response to Ruth’s actions is as remarkable as what she did… Note that the threshingfloor was a public place and that these incidents all took place in the open. Both men and women were lying about the threshingfloor. Entire families were gathered there. There was not much privacy connected with such circumstances, but it was the custom of the day and was not considered immodest or even questionable. This was a happy family gathering in the spirit of a religious festival.” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable)
“Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.” (8) Boaz “turned himself- rather, ‘bent forward,’ so as to feel what it was which was at his feet. The same word is translated ‘took hold of,’ in Judges 16:29.” (Albert Barnes) Startled, he took hold of the supposed intruder. And behold Ruth is found resting at his feet. “Blessed truth indeed which even Naomi realizes, rest can only be found at the feet of the redeemer… [as Mary - Luke 10:39] ‘Who art thou?’ She answered, ‘I am Ruth.’ She owns all she is and prays that he may cover her, ” (Arno Gaebelein)— “’spread thy wing;’ the emblem of protection; and a metaphor taken from the young of fowls, which run under the wings of their mother from birds of prey. ‘Even to the present day, when a Jew marries a woman, he throws the skirts of his talith over her, to signify that he has taken her under his protection’ (Adam Clarke) (Ezekiel 16:8).” (R. A. Torrey) “for you are a close relative.”
“We find the Lord expressing His covenant love and redemption unto His people, under the very figure here made use of, when having described our lost estate, under the similitude of aim infant cast out to perish from its birth, the Lord saith, ‘I spread my skirt over thee, and thou becamest mine’. Ezekiel 16:8.” (Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary)
“Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning,” (10a) “Michaelis has seized the true meaning of these words: ‘The kindness which thou art showing to thy husband, now that he is gone, is still greater than what thou didst show to him while he lived.’” (The Pulpit Commentaries) — “in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.” (10b) “Now Boaz mentions this as an instance of her virtue, and of her great respect to her husband's family, that a woman of such amiable qualities, virtuous, young, and beautiful, who doubtless might have been married to a young man in her own country, or in Israel, but chose to marry the nearest of kin in her husband's family, to perpetuate his name and memory; the Jews say Boaz was now eighty years of age, and Ruth forty.” (John Gill) “We note, too, that this blessing follows immediately on the avowal of her name. His own feelings had already been attuned to due honour and respect for Ruth; he is prepared not only to discharge the duty of next of kin, but to do it in no perfunctory spirit, but with a sincere loyal affection.” (Matthew Poole) “And now, my daughter, do not fear." (11a) Perfect love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18) "I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.” (11b)
“Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.” etc. “Boaz promised to marry Ruth if the nearer kinsman chose not to exercise his right to do so … ‘then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives!’ ‘Not to carry through his commitment after invoking the Lord’s name would have been a violation of the third commandment ( Exod. 20:7).’ [Huey, p538.]” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable) So, this had been his intention all along, for he had done due diligence and discovered a closer relative who must first be given the opportunity to fulfill the role. He leaves the matter according to the law, as well as the providence, of Yahweh God of Israel.— “‘Lie down until the morning." There is not an unseemly hint in the entire passage. “She could not get into the city till the gates were opened.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
“Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” (14b) “Other people might have seen her and assumed that something bad was taking place.“ (Dr. Thomas Constable) “Also he said, ‘Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it.’ And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her.” (15a) “Rising while it was still dark, Ruth could without immodesty remove the veil from her face to receive in it the generous gift of barley for her and her mother-in-law. The word veil might be rendered apron or sheet, which in the case of poorer women, was linen or cotton and wrapped around the head so as almost entirely to conceal the face.” (James Gray) “He blesseth her as a father, encourages her as a friend, promises her as a kinsman, rewards her as a patron, and sends her away laden with hopes and gifts, no less chast, but more happy than she came. O admirable temperance, worthy the progenitor of Him, in whose lips and heart there was no guile!” (Bishop Hall)
“Sit still” etc. (18a) — “For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth [Literally Rahab Sits Still].” (Isaiah 30:7) “This narrative may encourage us to lay ourselves by faith at the feet of Christ: He is our near Kinsman; having taken our nature upon Him. He has the right to redeem. Let us seek to receive from Him His directions: Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? Acts 9:6. He will never blame us as doing this unseasonably. And let us earnestly desire and seek the same rest for our children and friends, that it may be well with them also.” (Matthew Henry) “‘The man will not be at rest until he have finished the thing this day.’ So it is with the Lord Christ, our near Kinsman; He will not be at rest till He has performed His faithful Word, and saved the soul from sin and death.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)