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Ruth 2

ืจื•ืช ืคืจืง ื‘ืณ

Section: ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ยท ื—ืžืฉ ืžื’ื™ืœื•ืช | Book: Ruth | Chapter: 2 of 4 | Day: 613 of 742

Date: October 17, 2027


ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Ruth 2 is a chapter built around a single, theologically charged word: mikreh. The narrator frames Ruthโ€™s first day of gleaning with the deliberately paradoxical phrase โ€œvayiker mikreha chelkat ha-sadeh le-Voazโ€ โ€” โ€œher chance chanced upon the portion of field belonging to Boaz.โ€ In a book that elsewhere names God sparingly and lets its characters invoke Him through blessings rather than receive direct theophanies, this doubled root k-r-h is the authorโ€™s quiet declaration that the action unfolding is anything but random. The structure of the chapter reinforces the point. It opens with a birdโ€™s-eye narratorial introduction of Boaz as an ish gibbor chayil of Elimelechโ€™s family, then narrows to Ruthโ€™s request to go glean, then zooms into the field itself, tracks Ruth and Boaz through a single day of harvest, and finally returns to the domestic space where Naomi receives both the barley and the news. The chapter is a narrative chiasm whose fulcrum is the encounter between Ruth and Boaz at the seudah, and whose opening and closing frame is the relationship of Ruth and Naomi.

The halachic infrastructure underneath the story is Vayikra 19:9-10 and Devarim 24:19 โ€” the laws of leket, shikhchah, and peah. Ruth is a Moabite widow, but she is also one of the aniyim to whom the Torah grants legal entitlement to the corners and droppings of the field. Chazalโ€™s insistence that Ruth converted fully is not a pious overlay on the text; it is the legal precondition for the entire chapter. Rashi, citing Shabbat 113b, reads Ruthโ€™s gleaning conduct as a sustained portrait of tzniut and refinement โ€” she took only two stalks at a time, gathered standing ears while standing but bent to sitting for fallen ones, refused to lift her skirts. Boazโ€™s foreman reports this refinement to him (โ€œand she has come and stood from the morning until now, this her sitting in the house a littleโ€), and it is this โ€” not her striking appearance, which the text pointedly does not mention โ€” that draws Boazโ€™s attention. The chapter thus dramatizes a Torah ideal: the halachic structures of poor-relief are not shameful handouts but the dignified medium through which chesed flows between classes and between nations.

The dialogue between Ruth and Boaz is the heart of the chapter, and it is structured as a meeting of two forms of chesed. Ruthโ€™s is chesed toward the living and the dead, expressed in her cleaving to Naomi and to Naomiโ€™s God (1:16-17). Boazโ€™s is chesed toward a stranger, expressed in expansive hospitality that quietly overrides normal gleaner protocol: he calls her โ€œbiti,โ€ offers her drawn water (ordinarily the drawersโ€™ privilege), feeds her parched grain from his own hand, and instructs his workers to leave stalks for her deliberately among the bundles. His blessing โ€” โ€œyeshalem Hashem paโ€™aleych u-tehi maskurtekh shleimah me-im Hashem Elohei Yisrael asher bat lachasot tachat kenafavโ€ โ€” is one of the great theological sentences in Nach. It names God as the paymaster, casts Ruthโ€™s conversion as a deliberate seeking of shelter, and deploys the image of wings that Chazal will later read both as the wings of the Shekhinah and as a premonition of the kanfei kanaf of the tallit under which the convert literally stands. Rashi, drawing on Bava Batra 91a, identifies Boaz with Ivtzan the judge, which is why Chazal (Berakhot 63a) can attribute to him the beit-din-level innovation of greeting with Godโ€™s name: โ€œHashem imakhem.โ€ In a period described by Sefer Shoftim as one in which every man did what was right in his own eyes, Boazโ€™s greeting places God back at the center of ordinary social exchange.

The chapterโ€™s closing movement is equally deliberate. Ruth returns to the city with an ephah of barley โ€” a striking quantity that Ibn Ezra pauses over and that the Midrash reads as itself a signal of providential abundance. She gives Naomi her leftover kali from the meal, a small gesture of honoring the mother-in-law that mirrors in miniature the dayโ€™s larger economy of chesed. Naomiโ€™s response is one of the bookโ€™s climactic blessings: โ€œBarukh hu la-Hashem asher lo azav chasdo et ha-chayyim ve-et ha-metim.โ€ Here Naomi does two crucial things. She identifies Boazโ€™s human chesed as a vehicle of Godโ€™s chesed โ€” the same God whom in chapter 1 she had accused of dealing bitterly with her now returns to her speech as a God who has not abandoned His loyalty. And she introduces for the first time the word that will drive the plot forward: โ€œkarov lanu ha-ish, mi-goโ€™aleinu hu.โ€ The seed of geulah is planted. Naomiโ€™s practical correction of Ruthโ€™s gender confusion at the end โ€” not neโ€™arim but naโ€™arot, lest she be molested in another field โ€” is both halachically precise and narratively poignant: the Moabite is still learning the contours of Israelite life, and Naomi is her guide. The final verse, โ€œva-teshev et chamotah,โ€ returns the narrative to the mother-in-law whose loyalty Ruth chose in chapter 1, setting the stage for the midnight initiative that Naomi will launch in chapter 3.


ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ืžืœื‘ื™โ€ื

Malbim approaches Ruth 2 with his characteristic assumption that the biblical text contains no waste and no true repetition, and that apparent redundancy is always a window into precision. The chapterโ€™s opening verse โ€” โ€œulnaomi moda le-ishah, ish gibbor chayilโ€ โ€” he reads as the narrator preempting a question the attentive reader would otherwise raise: if Naomi had a wealthy relative, why is she letting her daughter-in-law go out to glean with the poor? Malbimโ€™s answer recasts Naomiโ€™s silence as a double dignity. She refuses to impose on Boaz as a petitioner; she prefers to receive from God through the Torah-mandated channel of leket rather than from Boaz through the socially compromising channel of charity; and she may well suspect that Boazโ€™s ultimate role will be as goโ€™el, not as almoner. From this single hermeneutical move Malbim establishes the key he will use throughout the chapter: every apparent silence or redundancy is a calibration, and the calibration is almost always halachic. When Ruth asks permission to glean โ€œba-sadehโ€ (the field, not a vineyard, no dangerous climbing), โ€œba-shibolimโ€ (leket, not the scrum of peah), โ€œafter one in whose eyes I find favorโ€ (only where welcomed, not where exposed to abuse), Malbim reads each qualifier as a deliberate self-protective filter drawn up by a woman โ€” in Chazalโ€™s account, a Moabite princess โ€” who has voluntarily taken on the posture of the poor and is calibrating how to do so without losing either dignity or safety.

Malbimโ€™s theological signature in this chapter is his reading of โ€œvayiker mikreha.โ€ Mikreh, he stipulates, is technically that which is not necessitated by the ordinary chain of causes โ€” the very category that a rigorous philosophical theology might deny exists. Yet the narrator names it as mikreh precisely to flag that this is hashgachah operating outside the normal causal web, the same theological genre signaled by Eliezerโ€™s โ€œhakreh na lefanai ha-yom.โ€ When God intends an outcome of national and messianic magnitude โ€” here the birth of the Davidic line through the meeting of Ruth and Boaz โ€” He sometimes bypasses the chain of secondary causes and produces the outcome as sheer โ€œchance.โ€ The word mikreh thus becomes, in Malbimโ€™s reading, a technical term of hashgachic grammar, and Ruth 2 becomes a case study in how providence wears the costume of coincidence. This framing illuminates everything that follows. Boazโ€™s โ€œHashem imakhemโ€ is a halachic enactment by his beit din (Malbim, with the Gemara in Berakhot, makes Boaz the legislator); the greeting carries Godโ€™s name precisely because, in an era in which โ€œish ha-yashar be-einav yaโ€™aseh,โ€ re-anchoring every social encounter to God was the parnasโ€™s task. His careful instructions to Ruth are parsed by Malbim as three distinct halachic concessions: โ€œdo not rebuke herโ€ releases her from suspicion of theft even when she gleans among sheaves; โ€œshol tashollu lah min ha-tzevatimโ€ instructs the workers to deliberately leave stalks in the guise of shikhchah so that what is functionally charity becomes legally her gleanerโ€™s entitlement; โ€œal tigโ€™aru vahโ€ preserves her dignity in the manner of her gathering. Boaz is engineering halachic cover for generosity so that Ruth receives as an insider, not as a dependent.

The payoff of Malbimโ€™s method is his reading of Boazโ€™s blessing in verse 12. โ€œYeshalem Hashem paโ€™aleychโ€ and โ€œutehi maskurtekh shleimahโ€ are not poetic doubling but two precisely distinguished wages: the first is the piecework wage of the poโ€™el for the specific deed of chesed to Naomi, the second the standing wage of a sakhir who has contracted herself for a term of service โ€” which, in Ruthโ€™s case, is her conversion, by which she indentured herself to God โ€œkol yameha.โ€ Malbim then steps back into meta-reflection: why does the Torah speak of reward at all, when the mitzvah is its own reward? Because most people do not yet perceive the intrinsic joy of the act, and reward is the scaffolding that lifts them to that perception. โ€œAsher bat lachasot tachat kenafavโ€ is, then, not the means to a reward but itself the rewardโ€™s full content โ€” to have sheltered under Godโ€™s wings IS the maskuret shleimah. In the same precise register Malbim reads the meal (โ€œgoshi halomโ€ denoting elevation, Boaz offering whole lechem rather than broken pat so she can take some home, Ruth humbly sitting below rather than where he invited her) and even the closing mistranslation between neโ€™arim and naโ€™arot, which he reads as Ruthโ€™s residual Moabite sensibility not yet schooled in Jewish norms of tzniut โ€” hence the narratorโ€™s pointed use of โ€œRuth ha-Moaviahโ€ at that very moment, and hence Naomiโ€™s gentle correction. By chapterโ€™s end Malbim has turned Ruth 2 into something more than a beautiful story of chesed encountering chesed: it is a treatise on the mechanics of providence, showing how hashgachah operates through the deliberate halachic conduct of refined people, with the word mikreh on the surface and the hand of the God of Israel beneath.


ืคืจืง ื‘ืณ ยท Chapter 2

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืœึฐื ื‡ืขึณืžึดึžื™ ืžื•ึนื“ึธึฃืข ืœึฐืึดื™ืฉึธืึ—ื”ึผ ืึดึšื™ืฉื ื’ึดึผื‘ึผึฃื•ึนืจ ื—ึทึ”ื™ึดืœ ืžึดืžึดึผืฉึฐืืคึทึผึ–ื—ึทืช ืึฑืœึดื™ืžึถึ‘ืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึผืฉึฐืืžึ–ื•ึน ื‘ึนึผึฝืขึทื–ืƒ

English:

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husbandโ€™s side, a man of substance, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.

The narrator introduces Boaz at the chapter's opening, before the plot requires him. Rashi cites the Talmudic tradition (Bava Batra 91a) that Elimelech, Salmon (father of Boaz), the anonymous kinsman of chapter 4, and Naomi's father were all sons of Nachshon ben Aminadav -- yet their ancestral merit did not shield the household from the consequences of leaving Eretz Yisrael. Ibn Ezra parses the grammar and repeats the identification of Boaz with Ivtzan the judge. Malbim reads the verse as preempting a reader's question: if Naomi had a wealthy relative, why did she not seek his help? Because she preferred to receive through the Torah-sanctioned channel of leket rather than as a charity petitioner.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื•ื“ืข. ืงืจื•ื‘. ื‘ืŸ ืื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืืœื™ืžืœืš ื”ื™ื”. ืืžืจื• ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–ื›ืจื•ื ื ืœื‘ืจื›ื”, ืืœื™ืžืœืš ื•ืฉืœืžื•ืŸ ืื‘ื™ ื‘ืขื– ื•ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืืœืžื•ื ื™ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ื•ืื‘ื™ ื ืขืžื™ ื›ื•ืœื ื‘ื ื™ ื ื—ืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืขืžื™ื ื“ื‘ ื”ื™ื•, ื•ืœื ื”ื•ืขื™ืœื” ืœื”ื ื–ื›ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื ื‘ืฆืืชื ืžืืจืฅ ืœื—ื•ืฆื” ืœืืจืฅ:
A kinsman. A relative; he was the son of Elimelech's brother. Our Rabbis of blessed memory said, 'Elimelech, and Salmon the father of Boaz, and the anonymous kinsman, and the father of Naomi, were all sons of Nachshon ben Aminadav (Bava Batra 91a). Yet the merit of their fathers did not avail them when they left the Land of Yisrael to go abroad.'
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืžื•ื“ืข. ืงืจื•ื‘ ื™ื“ื•ืข, ื›ืžื• ื•ืžื•ื“ืข ืœื‘ื™ื ื” ืชืงืจื. ืœืื™ืฉื”. ืžืืช ืื™ืฉื”, ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืœืž'ื“ ื›ืžื• ืืžืจื™ ืœื™ ืื—ื™ ื”ื•ื. ื‘ื•ืขื–. ืืžืจื• ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–'ืœ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ืฆืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ืคื˜ ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ.
Moda: a known relative, as in 'and understanding you shall call a familiar friend' (Mishlei 7:4). 'Le-ishah' -- belonging to her husband; the lamed here is as in 'say of me, he is my brother' (Bereishit 20:13). Boaz: our Rabbis of blessed memory said that he is Ivtzan, who was a judge of Israel.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืœื ืขืžื™ ืžื•ื“ืข ืœืื™ืฉื”. ื™ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื™ ืฉื”ื’ื ืฉื ืขืžื™ ืœืคื™ ืขื ื™ื” ืขืชื” ื”ื™ื” ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœื” ืื ื”ื™ืชื” ืžื‘ืงืฉืช ืžืฉืขืŸ ืœื—ื ืžื‘ื•ืขื– ืงืจื•ื‘ื” ื”ืขืฉื™ืจ, ื‘ื—ืจื” ื™ื•ืชืจ ืฉื›ืœืชื” ืชื‘ื™ื ืœื—ืžื” ืžืœืงื˜ ืขื ื™ื™ื ืฉื–ื›ืชื” ืœื” ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ืืœื• ื”ื™ื ืคืจื ืกืชื” ืžืžืชื ืช ื”' ื‘ืขืช ืขื•ื ื™, ืžืœืคื ื•ืช ืœืงื‘ืœ ื—ืกื“ ืžืงืจื•ื‘ื” ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ืžื›ื™ืจื” ื‘ืขืช ืขืฉืจื” ื•ื‘ื•ืฉื” ืœื’ืœื•ืช ืœืคื ื™ื• ืžื—ืกื•ืจื”. ื•ื‘ืฉื’ื ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืœื‘ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ื’ืืœ ืืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ื•ืืช ืจื•ืช ืื”ื•ื‘ืชื”. ื•ืœื‘ืœ ื ืืžืจ ืฉืœื›ืŸ ืœื ืคื ืชื” ืืœ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื™ืจืื” ืฉื™ืฉื™ื‘ ืคื ื™ื” ืจื™ืงื, ืข'ื– ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืฉื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ื™ื” ืžื ื”ืœ ืื•ืชื” ื‘ืœื—ื, ืื ืžืฆื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื•ื“ืข ื•ืžื›ื™ืจ ื•ืื•ื”ื‘ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœื ืขืžื™ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœืื™ืฉื” -- ื•ืขื–'ื ื•ืœื ืขืžื™ ืžื•ื“ืข ืœืื™ืฉื” (ื•ืžื•ื“ืข ืจ'ืœ ืื•ื”ื‘ื” ื•ืžื›ื™ืจื” ื”ื™ื˜ื‘, ืœื ืื— ืจื—ื•ืง) -- ื•ื’ื ื”ื™ื” ืžืžืฉืคื—ืช ืืœื™ืžืœืš, ื•ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื—ื™ืœ, ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจืชื™ (ื‘ืค' ื™ืชืจื• ื™'ื— ื›'ื”) ืฉืฉื ืื ืฉื™ ื—ื™ืœ ื›ื•ืœืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืžื“ื•ืช ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ื•ื‘ื›ืœืœื ื”ื ื“ื™ื‘ื•ืช ื•ืฉื ืืช ื”ื‘ืฆืข, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื ื•ื“ืข ื‘ืฉื ืฉืขื–'ื ื•ืฉืžื• ื‘ื•ืขื–. ื•ื'ื› ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžืขืœื™ื ืขื™ื ื™ื• ืžืฉืืจ ื‘ืฉืจื•.
The verse informs us that, although Naomi in her current poverty could have sought relief from her wealthy relative Boaz, she preferred that her daughter-in-law provide bread through the gleaning of the poor that the Torah granted her -- as though her sustenance came as a gift from God in time of need -- rather than turn to Boaz to receive his favor. She was ashamed to disclose her destitution to a relative who had known her in her prosperity; and in her heart she already hoped he would redeem the field and marry Ruth. Lest one say she avoided him only because she feared he would rebuff her, the narrator emphasizes that Boaz was in fact well disposed toward her, both as a known kinsman and intimate (the word moda denotes a close acquaintance, not a distant relation). He was also from Elimelech's family, he was personally a gibbor chayil -- which I have explained elsewhere (Yitro 18:25) encompasses all the good traits, including generosity and contempt for dishonest gain -- and he was a renowned man of name, as it says 'and his name was Boaz.' Such a man would surely not turn his eyes from his own flesh and blood.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืจื•ึผืช ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืึฒื‘ึดื™ึธึผื” ืึถืœึพื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืึตืœึฐื›ึธื”ึพื ึธึผื ื”ึทืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ื•ึทืึฒืœึทืงึณึผื˜ึธื” ื‘ึทืฉึดึผืื‘ึณึผืœึดื™ื ืึทื—ึทืจ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึถืžึฐืฆึธืึพื—ึตืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืขึตื™ื ึธื™ื• ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึธื”ึผ ืœึฐื›ึดื™ ื‘ึดืชึดึผื™ืƒ

English:

Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, โ€œI would like to go to the fields and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone who may show me kindness.โ€ โ€œYes, daughter, go,โ€ she replied;

Ruth proposes to glean; Naomi consents. Rashi reads 'after one in whose eyes I will find favor' as: after someone who will not rebuke me. Ibn Ezra offers two grammatical readings of the pronoun. Malbim draws a detailed character portrait: Ruth was in fact a Moabite princess (per Chazal), yet chose to lower herself to gleaning with the poor; she insisted her aristocratic mother-in-law not come along; and every phrase of her request reveals a careful moral calibration -- she chose the field (not the dangerous vineyards), leket (not the scrum of peah), and only fields where she would be welcomed.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืœื›ื” ื ื ื”ืฉื“ื”. ืœืื—ื“ ืžืฉื“ื•ืช ืื ืฉื™ ื”ืขื™ืจ ืื—ืจื™ ืื—ื“ ืžื”ื 'ืืฉืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•', ืฉืœื ื™ื’ืขืจ ื‘ื™: ื•ืืœืงื˜ื” ื‘ืฉื‘ืœื™ื ืื—ืจ ืืฉืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•. ืื—ืจ ืžื™ ืืฉืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•:
Let me go now to the field. To one of the fields of the people of the city, after one of them, 'in whose eyes I will find favor,' so that he will not rebuke me. And glean among the stalks, behind one in whose eyes I will find favor. After someone in whose eyes I will find favor.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืื—ืจ ืืฉืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•. ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื™'ื• ืฉื‘ ืืœ ื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ, ื•ื”ื˜ืขื ืื•ืœื™ ื™ื”ื™ื”. ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ืขืชื™ ืฉื”ื•ื™'ื• ืฉื‘ ืืœ ื‘ืขืœ ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื•ืื ืœื ื ื–ื›ืจ, ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื™ืงืจ ืžืงืจื”, ื•ื˜ืขืžื• ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ืงืจื”.
After him in whose sight I shall find favor. Some say the vav (in 'after whom I shall find favor in HIS eyes') refers back to Boaz mentioned earlier, meaning 'perhaps it will be him.' In my opinion the vav refers to whoever the owner of the field turns out to be, even though he is not named -- on account of 'and her chance happened,' i.e., 'it so happened.'
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ ืจื•ืช. ืžืกืคืจ ืฆื“ืงืช ืจื•ืช ื•ื˜ื™ื‘ ืžื“ื•ืชื™ื”, ืฉื”ื’ื ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืืžื•ื ื” ืขืœื™ ืชื•ืœืข ื•ืœื“ืขืช ื—ื–'ืœ ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ืช ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘, ื”ืกื›ื™ืžื” ืœืœื›ืช ืœืœืงื•ื˜ ื›ืื—ื“ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื. ื‘] ืฉืœื ื—ืคืฆื” ืฉื’ื ื—ืžื•ืชื” ืชืœืš ืขืžื”, ืฉื“ื™ ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืœืžื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื ื•ื“ืขื” ื‘ืขื™ืจ ื”ื–ืืช ืœื’ื‘ืจืช ื•ืขืฉื™ืจื”, ื•ืงื‘ืœื” ืข'ืข ืฉื”ื™ื ืชืœืš ื‘ืฉืื™ืŸ ืžื›ื™ืจื™ื ืื•ืชื”, ืฉืขื–'ื ื•ืชืืžืจ ืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื”, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื”ื™ื ืžืžื“ื™ื ื” ืื—ืจืช ื•ืœื ืชื‘ื•ืฉ, ื•ื”ื™ื ืชืคืจื ืก ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชื” ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“. ื•ืืžืจื” ืืœื›ื” ื ื ื”ืฉื“ื”, ืจ'ืœ ืœื ื‘ื›ืจื ืฉื™ืฉ ืฉื ืกื›ื ื” ืœืขืœื•ืช ื‘ืื™ืœื ื•ืช, ื•ืืžืจื” ื•ืืœืงื˜ื” ื‘ืฉื‘ืœื™ื, ืจ'ืœ ืฉืœื ืชืงื— ืจืง ืœืงื˜, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ืžืงืคื™ื“ื™ื ืข'ื– ืฉื™ืฉ ืฉื“ื•ืช ื”ืจื‘ื” ื•ื›'ื ืžืœืงื˜ ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“, ืžืฉื'ื› ืคืื” ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื—ื•ื˜ืฃ ืžื—ื‘ืจื•, ืฉื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื ืฆ'ื˜ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื—ืœืง ื•ื' ืื•ืžืจ ืœื‘ื•ื– ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ืœืžื™ ืฉืื•ืžืจ ืœื‘ื•ื–, ื•ื'ื› ื™ื‘ื•ื–ื• ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ื‘ื–ืจื•ืข ื›ื—ื ื•ืื ืชืจืฆื” ืœื‘ื•ื– ื™ืคื’ืขื• ื‘ื” ืžืจื™ ื ืคืฉ. ื•ื’ื ื‘ื”ืœืงื˜ ืืžืจื” ืื—ืจ ืืฉืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ืฉืื ืืจืื” ื‘ืขืœ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžื‘ื™ื˜ ืขืœื™ ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืจืขื” ืœื ืืœืงื˜ ืฉื, ืขื“ ืฉืืจืื” ืฉืžืฆืืชื™ ื—ืŸ ื•ืฉืœื ื™ื’ื™ืข ืœื™ ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ ืžื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ืื• ื™ืชืจ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื.
And Ruth said. The verse recounts Ruth's righteousness and the quality of her character. Though she had been raised among royalty -- according to Chazal she was a daughter of the king of Moab -- she was willing to go glean like any ordinary poor woman. Moreover, she did not want her mother-in-law to accompany her, for the disgrace was already excessive, Naomi being known in the city as a woman of standing and former wealth. Ruth took it upon herself to go where no one knew her, so that she might support her mother-in-law with dignity. This is why the verse emphasizes 'Ruth the Moabite' -- that as a foreigner she would not feel the shame. She said 'I will go to THE FIELD' -- not the vineyard, where climbing the trees is dangerous. 'And I will glean AMONG THE STALKS' -- that is, she would take only leket (the fallen stalks), which poor people do not fight over, since each one gleans in a different field. Peah, by contrast, is a scrum: everyone grabs from the other, because the halachah is that if ninety-nine say to distribute and one says to plunder, we heed the one who says to plunder. In a peah scramble the strong take by force, and anyone who tried to grab would collide with desperate and embittered rivals. Even regarding leket she stipulated 'after one in whose eyes I will find favor' -- meaning: if the owner looks upon me with a bad eye, I will not glean there, but only where I find favor and will suffer no shame from the reapers or the other poor.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึตึผืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึทืชึธึผื‘ื•ึนื ื•ึทืชึฐึผืœึทืงึตึผื˜ ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ ื”ึทืงึนึผืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ื•ึทื™ึดึผืงึถืจ ืžึดืงึฐืจึถื”ึธ ื—ึถืœึฐืงึทืช ื”ึทืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืœึฐื‘ึนืขึทื– ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืžึดืžึดึผืฉึฐืืคึทึผื—ึทืช ืึฑืœึดื™ืžึถืœึถืšึฐืƒ

English:

and off she went. She came and gleaned in a field, behind the reapers; and, as luck would have it, it was the piece of land belonging to Boaz, who was of Elimelechโ€™s family.

The pivotal verse of the chapter: Ruth's 'chance' brings her to Boaz's field. Rashi preserves the midrashic reading (Midrash Ruth and Shabbat 113b) that Ruth marked the roads before setting out, so as not to lose her way -- an image of her careful, wise preparation. Malbim offers a theological reading of 'mikreh' (chance): the very word signals that this is hashgachah operating through the appearance of randomness. When God wants to produce outcomes of national magnitude -- here, the Davidic line -- He bypasses the normal chain of secondary causes, just as Eliezer prayed 'hakreh na lefanai ha-yom.'
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืชืœืš ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืชืœืงื˜ ื‘ืฉื“ื”. ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ ืจื•ืช, ืขื“ ืœื ืื–ืœืช ืืชืช? ืฉื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ 'ื•ืชื‘ื•ื', ื•ืื—ืจ 'ื•ืชืœืงื˜'. ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืžืกืžื ืช ื”ื“ืจื›ื™ื ืงื“ื ืฉื ื›ื ืกื” ืœืฉื“ื”, ื•ื”ืœื›ื” ื•ื‘ืื” ื•ื—ื–ืจื” ืœืขื™ืจ ื›ื“ื™ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืกื™ืžื ื™ื ื•ืฆื™ื•ื ื™ื ืฉืœื ืชื˜ืขื” ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื™ืŸ ื•ืชื“ืข ืœืฉื•ื‘: ื•ื™ืงืจ ืžืงืจื”. ืœื‘ื ื‘ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื‘ืขื–:
So she went, and came and gleaned in the field. We find in Midrash Ruth the question: 'Before she had even gone she returned?' For the verse says 'and she came' and afterwards 'and she gleaned'. Rather, the Midrash explains: she was marking the roads before she entered the field, and she went and came and returned to the city in order to make signs and markings so that she would not stray on the paths and would know how to return. And her chance happened. To come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืœืš. ื•ืกืคืจ ืฉืœื ื”ืœื›ื” ื“ืจืš ืจื‘, ืจืง ืชื›ืฃ ืฉื”ืœื›ื” ื•ืชื‘ื•ื (ื‘ืฉื“ื”) ื•ืชืœืงื˜ ื‘ืฉื“ื”, ื›ื™ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉืœ ื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ื™ื” ืงืจื•ื‘ ืœื‘ื™ืชื”, ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ืฉื ืชื›ืฃ. ื•ื”ื’ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื‘ื•ืงืจ ืฉืื– ืžื—ืœืงื™ื ืคืื”, ื›ืž'ืฉ (ื‘ืค'ื“ ื“ืคืื”) ืฉืœืฉ ืื‘ืขื™ื•ืช ื‘ื™ื•ื, ืœื ื”ืœื›ื” ืืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืคืื” ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืกื•ืฃ ื”ืฉื“ื”, ืจืง ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืชืœืงื˜, ืฉื”ืœื›ื” ืชื›ืฃ ืœืœืงื˜ ืœืงื˜ ืœื‘ื“, ื•ืข'ื› ืœืงื˜ื” ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื, ืœื ืื—ืจื™ ืขื ื™ื™ื ื”ืžืœืงื˜ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืœืงื˜ื” ื”ื™ื ืœื‘ื“ื”. ื•ื™ืงืจ ืžืงืจื”, ื”ืžืงืจื” ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืžื—ื•ื™ื‘ ืžืกื‘ืช ื”ืจื’ื™ืœื•ืช, ื•ื™ืกืคืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉื”ื’ื ืฉื ืจืื” ืฉืžื” ืฉื‘ืืช ืืœ ืฉื“ื” ื”ื–ื” ื“ื•ืงื ื”ื•ื ืžืงืจื” ื’ืžื•ืจ, ื‘ืืžืช ื”ื™ื ืžืงืจื”, ืจ'ืœ ืžืงืจื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืœืฆืจื›ื”, ื•ืœืค'ื– ื”ื™ื” ืžืงืจื” ื”ืฉื’ื—ื™ื™ืช. ื›ื™ ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ื ืฉื™ืจืฆื” ื”' ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืขื ื™ืŸ ื›ื•ืœืœ ืœืชื•ืขืœืช ื”ื›ืœืœ ืฉื ืชืœื•ื” ื”ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ืืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื ื”ืžืงืจื™ื™ื, ื›ืž'ืฉ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื”ืงืจื” ื ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื, ืฉืจืฆื” ื‘ื–ื” ืฉืœื ื™ืžืชื™ืŸ ื”' ืขื“ ื™ืงื“ืžื• ื”ืกื‘ื•ืช ื”ืžืžืฆื™ืื•ืช ื•ื”ืžื—ื™ื™ื‘ื•ืช ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ, ืจืง ืฉื™ื‘ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืžืงืจื” ื‘ืœืชื™ ื ืชืœื” ืžืกื‘ื•ืช ืžืžืฆื™ืื•ืช ื•ืžื—ื™ื™ื‘ื•ืช ืื•ืชื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจ ืฉื”ืžืงืจื” ื”ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ื”ืฉื’ื—ื™ื™, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืงืจื” ืžื›ื•ื•ืŸ ืœืฆืจื›ื”, ืฉื”' ื”ื–ืžื™ืŸ ืฉื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉืชื‘ื•ื ื‘ื• ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื•ืฉืชื‘ื—ืจ ืœืœืงื˜ ืฉื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืฉื“ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื‘ื•ืขื–. ื•ื–ื” ืกื‘ื‘ ื”' ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ื™ื” ืžืžืฉืคื—ืช ืืœื™ืžืœืš, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ื›ืŸ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ื•ืœื™ื‘ืžื”, ืฉืชืฆื ืžื–ื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“.
And she went. The verse says she did not walk far: as soon as she set out 'she came to the field' and 'gleaned in the field,' for Boaz's field was close to her house. Although it was morning -- the time when peah is distributed (as in Mishnah Peah 4: there are three set times in the day) -- she did not go to the place of peah at the end of the field but came and gleaned, going straight to leket alone. Therefore she gleaned 'after the reapers,' not after the poor who were gleaning, because she gleaned on her own. 'And her chance happened.' Mikreh is that which is not necessitated by the ordinary causal order. The verse is telling us that although it appears entirely a matter of chance that she came to this particular field, in fact it was a mikreh in a specific sense -- a mikreh uniquely suited to her need, which is to say, a providential mikreh. When God wishes to bring about a general outcome for the benefit of the whole community, He clothes His providence in seemingly chance events. So with Eliezer, who prayed 'hakreh na lefanai ha-yom' -- he asked God not to wait until the normal causal chain produced the outcome, but to bring the event as pure chance, unlinked from worldly mechanisms of cause and effect. So too here: the mikreh was providential, specifically prepared for her need, for God arranged that the first field she entered and chose to glean in should belong to Boaz. He did so because Boaz was of Elimelech's family and was prepared to be the redeemer and the levir, so that from this would emerge the Davidic line.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึตึผื”ึพื‘ึนืขึทื– ื‘ึธึผื ืžึดื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืœึถื—ึถื ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึทืงึผื•ึนืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืขึดืžึธึผื›ึถื ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืœื•ึน ื™ึฐื‘ึธืจึถื›ึฐืšึธ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ืƒ

English:

Presently Boaz arrived from Bethlehem. He greeted the reapers, โ€œGod be with you!โ€ And they responded, โ€œGod bless you!โ€

Boaz arrives and greets his workers with God's name. Chazal (Berakhot 63a) cite this verse as the source for the practice of greeting a fellow with God's name -- an innovation Boaz and his beit din instituted. Malbim reads the word 'hineh' as signaling the novelty: Boaz was not habitually present in the field, and this arrival is itself providential. The greeting's theological weight fits the era of the Judges, when social breakdown required re-anchoring every human interaction to Hashem's presence.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื”' ืขืžื›ื. ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืืชื›ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื”ื ืขืžืœื™ื. ื™ื‘ืจื›ืš ื”'. ืฉื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืจื›ื” ื‘ืงืฆื™ืจ.
The Lord be with you -- to help you because they are laborers. May the Lord bless you -- that He will grant a blessing in the harvest.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ื‘ื, ื›'ืž ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื”ื ื” ืžื•ืจื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ, ืฉื‘ื•ืขื– ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืœื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื’ื ื–ื” ืžืงืจื” ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื”ืฉื’ื—ืช ื”', ืฉื‘ื•ืขื– ื‘ื ืžื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื”' ืขืžื›ื. ื—ื–'ืœ ืืžืจื• ืฉื‘ื•ืขื– ื•ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ื ื• ืชืงื ื• ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ืฉืœื•ื ื—ื‘ืจื• ื‘ืฉื, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืขืฆืช ื”ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช (ื“ืฃ ืกื’) ื•ื›ื™ ืชื™ืžื ื‘ื•ืขื– ืžื“ืขืชื ื“ื ืคืฉื™ื” ืขื‘ื™ื“ ื•ื›ื•' ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืฉ'ืฉ ืœื‘ื˜ืœื”, ื•ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ืกืคืจื (ื•ื™ืงืจื ืกื™' ื™ื“) ื“ืœื ืœื™ืžื ืœื”' ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื•ื›ื•'. ืืš ื‘ืจืื•ืชื ืื– ืฉื”ื™' ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื’ื–ืœ ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืง ื•ื’ื ืืœ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื”ื ืœื ืฉืžืขื•, ื›ืž'ืฉ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืคื•ื˜ ื”ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื, ื•ื›ืืฉืจ ื ืชืžื ื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœืฉื•ืคื˜ ืชืงืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ืฉืœื•ื ื—ื‘ืจื• ื‘ืฉื, ืœืงื‘ื•ืข ื‘ืœื‘ื ื›ื™ ื”' ืžืฉืžื™ื ืžืฉืงื™ืฃ ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืขืœ ืฉืœื•ืžื, ื•ืฉืœื•ื ื”ืงื‘ื•ืฅ ืžืฉืชืชืฃ ืขื ื”ืฉื’ื—ืช ื”', ืขื“ ืฉื”' ื”ื ืงืจื ืฉืœื•ื ืžืฉืชืชืฃ ืขื ืฉืœื•ื ืฉื‘ื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืœื—ื‘ืจื•, ื•ื’ื ื”ืชืขื•ืจืจื•ืช ืฉื™ืฉื•ื• ื”' ืœื ื’ื“ื ืชืžื™ื“, ื•ื’ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืฉื‘ื™ื ื ืœื‘ื™ืŸ ืจืขื™ื”ื ื•ื“ืจื™ืฉืช ืฉืœื•ืžื ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื. ื•ืขื–'ื ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ื‘ื ืžื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื, ืฉืžืกืคืจ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ื‘ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื”ื–ืงื ื™ื, ืฉืข'ื– ืžื•ืจื” ืžืœืช ื•ื”ื ื”, ื•ื‘ื•ืขื– ื‘ื ืžืฉื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื—ื“ืฉ ืฉืืžืจ ืœืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื”' ืขืžื›ื, ื•ืขืค'ื– ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื’ื ื”ื ืฉ'ืฉ ืฉื™ื‘ืจื›ื”ื• ื”', ื•ื›ืž'ืฉ ื•ืœื ืืžืจื• ื”ืขื•ื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”' ืขืœื™ื›ื ื•ื›ื•'.
And behold, Boaz came. Wherever Scripture says 'behold' it signals something new: Boaz was not accustomed to come out to the field, and this too was a new providential event -- that Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers 'Hashem imakhem.' Chazal said that Boaz and his beit din instituted that one should greet one's fellow with God's name, and this was the decision of the Sanhedrin, as it says in Berakhot (63a): 'And if you would say Boaz acted of his own accord -- for one is not to invoke God's name in vain.' So too in Sifra (Vayikra 14): 'One should not say la-Hashem korban...' Rather, seeing in his generation that there was robbery, miscarriage of justice, and that even the judges were not heeded ('in the days when the judges ruled'), when Boaz was appointed as judge he instituted the use of God's name in greetings, to fix in their hearts that God looks down from heaven upon them and upon their well-being, that social peace partakes of divine providence, and that Hashem -- called Shalom -- participates in the shalom between one person and another. The greeting also served to remind them to keep Hashem constantly before them, even in interpersonal matters and in inquiring after one another's welfare. Hence 'and behold Boaz came from Bethlehem' -- a new enactment from the session of the elders was emerging from Bethlehem (signaled by 'hineh'), and Boaz came from there with the new decree: to say to the reapers 'Hashem imakhem.' So too they responded with God's name: 'May Hashem bless you.' This also matches the verse 'And the passers-by did not say, The blessing of Hashem be upon you' (Tehillim 129:8), as I explained there.

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืœึฐื ึทืขึฒืจื•ึน ื”ึทื ึดึผืฆึธึผื‘ ืขึทืœึพื”ึทืงึผื•ึนืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ืœึฐืžึดื™ ื”ึทื ึทึผืขึฒืจึธื” ื”ึทื–ึนึผืืชืƒ

English:

Boaz said to the servant who was in charge of the reapers, โ€œWhose girl is that?โ€

Boaz asks about Ruth. Rashi, citing Shabbat 113b, explains that Boaz did not make a habit of inquiring about women -- rather, he noticed her distinctive modest and wise conduct: taking only two stalks at a time, never three; gleaning standing ears while standing and fallen ones while sitting, so as never to bend immodestly. Ibn Ezra offers a more prosaic reading: Boaz thought her a married woman, since her foreign dress or altered features by sun and climate made her striking. Malbim suggests Boaz actually thought she was one of the reapers' relatives, since she had gleaned so extensively with the area to herself.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœืžื™ ื”ื ืขืจื” ื”ื–ืืช. ื•ื›ื™ ื“ืจื›ื• ืฉืœ ื‘ืขื– ืœืฉืืœ ื‘ื ืฉื™ื? ืืœื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืฆื ื™ืขื•ืช ื•ื—ื›ืžื” ืจืื” ื‘ื”. ืฉืชื™ ืฉื‘ืœื™ื ืœืงื˜ื”, ืฉืœืฉื” ืื™ื ื” ืœืงื˜ื”. ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ืžืœืงื˜ืช ืขื•ืžื“ื•ืช ืžืขื•ืžื“ ื•ืฉื•ื›ื‘ื•ืช ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘, ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ืชืฉื—ื”:
To whom does this maiden belong. Was it the practice of Boaz to inquire about women? Rather, he saw her modest and wise behavior: two stalks she would glean but three she would not glean (in accordance with the Mishnah, Peah 6:5, which sets the definition of leket); she would glean the standing ears while standing and the fallen ones while sitting, in order to avoid bending over (Shabbat 113b).
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืœืžื™ ื”ื ืขืจื” ื”ื–ืืช. ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื”ื™ื ืืฉืช ืื™ืฉ. ืื•ืœื™ ืฉืืœ ืืช ื”ื ืขืจ ื›ื™ ืจืื” ืœื‘ื•ืฉื” ื›ืœื‘ื•ืฉ ืืจืฆื”, ื’ื ื”ืฆื•ืจื•ืช ืžืฉืชื ื•ืช ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืื•ื•ื™ืจ, ื•ื“ืจืš ื”ื“ืจืฉ ื™ื“ื•ืข.
Whose maiden is this? He thought she might be a married woman. Perhaps he asked the young man because he saw her dressed in a foreign manner; also, appearances change due to climate. The homiletic interpretation is well known.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœื ืขืจื•. ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ืืช ืจื•ืช ืžืœืงื˜ืช ืœื‘ื“ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื•ืœืคื ื™ื” ืขืžืจื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” (ื›ื™ ืขื“ ื”ืขืจื‘ ืœืงื˜ื” ื›ืื™ืคื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื), ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื”ื™ื ืื—ืช ืžื ืฉื™ ืื• ืžื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื, ื•ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื”ืงื•ืฆืจ ืื™ืฉื” ืื• ืื‘ื™ื” ื’ืจืฉ ื™ืชืจ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ืฉืชืœืงื˜ ื”ื™ื ืœื‘ื“ื”, ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ื” ืœืืกื•ืฃ ื’ื ืžืŸ ื”ืขืžืจื™ื, ื•ืข'ื› ืฉืืœ ืœื ืขืจ ื”ื ืฆื‘ ืขืœ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื•ืžืฉื’ื™ื— ืขืœื™ื”ื, ืœืžื™ ื”ื ืขืจื” ื”ื–ืืช -- ืจ'ืœ ืœืžื™ ืžืŸ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”.
And Boaz said to his servant. When Boaz saw Ruth gleaning alone in the field, with many sheaves before her (by evening she would have gathered about an ephah of barley), he assumed she was one of the reapers' wives or daughters, and that the reaper -- her husband or father -- had driven off the other poor so that she could glean alone, and had permitted her to gather even from among the sheaves. Therefore he asked the youth stationed over the reapers and overseeing them, 'To whom does this maiden belong?' -- that is, to which of these reapers?

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึทึผืขึทืŸ ื”ึทื ึทึผืขึทืจ ื”ึทื ึดึผืฆึธึผื‘ ืขึทืœึพื”ึทืงึผื•ึนืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึทืจ ื ึทืขึฒืจึธื” ืžื•ึนืึฒื‘ึดื™ึธึผื” ื”ึดื™ื ื”ึทืฉึธึผืื‘ึธื” ืขึดืึพื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืžึดืฉึฐึผื‚ื“ึตื™ ืžื•ึนืึธื‘ืƒ

English:

The servant in charge of the reapers replied, โ€œShe is a Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.โ€

The foreman explains who Ruth is. Rashi notes the accent shift on 'ha-shavah' indicating past tense -- she is the one who already returned. Malbim reads the foreman's long answer as preemptive: Boaz had asked only to whom she belonged, but the foreman volunteered that she was a Moabite (addressing any concern about her religious status) and that she had returned with Naomi (i.e., she had converted and therefore was legally entitled to leket).
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืฉื‘ื” ืขื ื ืขืžื™. ื”ื˜ืขื ืœืžืขืœื” ืชื—ืช ื”ืฉื™'ืŸ, ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืขื‘ืจ ื•ืื™ื ื” ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืคื•ืขืœืช:
Who returned with Naomi. The accent is at the beginning, under the shin, because it is the past tense, not the present tense.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืขืŸ, ื•ื™ืืžืจ, ืขื ื” ืขืœ ืฉืืœื•ืชื™ื•, ื•ื’ื ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืฉืœื ืฉืืœ ืขืœื™ื”ื. ืขืœ ืฉืืœืชื• ืœืžื™ ื”ื ืขืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ื”ืฉื™ื‘, ืื™ื ื” ืฉืœ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ืจืง ื ืขืจื” ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื” ื”ื™ื, ื•ืœื ืชืฉืืœ ืื™ืš ืืชืŸ ืœืงื˜ ืœืขื ื™ื™ ืขื›ื•'ื, ืืžืจ ื”ืฉื‘ื” ืขื ื ืขืžื™ ืžืฉื“ื™ ืžื•ืื‘ ืฉื ืชื’ื™ื™ืจื” ื•ืžื’ื™ืข ืœื” ืœืงื˜.
And he answered and said. He answered his question, and also said to him things he had not asked about. To his question 'to whom does this maiden belong,' he replied: she belongs to none of the reapers -- rather, she is a Moabite maiden. And lest you ask how I allowed a Moabite gentile to glean, he added 'who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab' -- meaning, she converted, and she is therefore legally entitled to leket.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืึฒืœึทืงึณึผื˜ึธื”ึพื ึธึผื ื•ึฐืึธืกึทืคึฐืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึธืขึณืžึธืจึดื™ื ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ ื”ึทืงึผื•ึนืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ื•ึทืชึธึผื‘ื•ึนื ื•ึทืชึทึผืขึฒืžื•ึนื“ ืžึตืึธื– ื”ึทื‘ึนึผืงึถืจ ื•ึฐืขึทื“ึพืขึทืชึธึผื” ื–ึถื” ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืชึธึผื”ึผ ื”ึทื‘ึทึผื™ึดืช ืžึฐืขึธื˜ืƒ

English:

โ€œShe said, โ€˜Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.โ€™ She has been on her feet ever since she came this morning. She has hardly rested at all in the hut.โ€

The foreman describes Ruth's conduct. Rashi carefully distinguishes the two halachic categories she requested -- leket (fallen stalks) and shikhchah ('gathering among the sheaves'). Ibn Ezra emphasizes her constant diligence and brief rest. Malbim reads the foreman's elaborate report as vindicating Ruth: she took only leket (not peah, which she did not contest), she gathered no sheaf that was not hers, she worked from morning to the present moment without rest, and sat down only briefly once Boaz arrived.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืชืืžืจ. ื‘ืœื‘ื”: ืืœืงื˜ื” ื ื. ืœืงื˜ ื”ืฉื‘ืœื™ื: ื•ืืกืคืชื™ ื‘ืขืžืจื™ื. ืฉื›ื—ื” ืฉืœ ืขืžืจื™ื:
And she said -- to herself. Please allow me to glean -- the leket of stalks. And gather among the sheaves -- the forgotten sheaves (shikhchah; cf. Devarim 24:19).
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืชื‘ื ื•ืชืขืžื“. ืฉืชืชืขืกืง ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ืฆืจื›ื” ื•ืœื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ื™ื—ืฉื“ื ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื™ืคื™ื”. ื–ื” ืฉื‘ืชื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืžืขื˜. ื–ืžืŸ ืžื•ืขื˜. ืฉื‘ืชื”. ืฉื™ืฉื‘ื”. ื•ื˜ืขื ื‘ื™ืช. ื›ืžื• ืกื•ื›ื”.
She came and has continued. She always busies herself with her own tasks and not with anything else, so she would not be suspected because of her beauty. 'This her sitting in the house a little' -- only a short time. 'Shivtah' -- that she sat. The meaning of 'habayit' -- a hut or shelter (sukkah).
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ. ื–ื” ืืžืจ ืœื• ืžื” ืฉืœื ืฉืืœ, ืฉืœื ืœืงื—ื” ืœื ื—ืœืง ื‘ืคืื” ื•ื‘ืฉื›ื—ื” ืจืง ืœืงื˜ ืœื‘ื“, ื•ื–'ืฉ ืฉืืžืจื” ืืœืงื˜ื” ื‘ืฉื‘ืœื™ื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื•ืืกืคืชื™ ื‘ืขืžืจื™ื, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ืื—ืจ ืฉืœืงื—ื• ื—ืœืงื ื‘ืคืื” ื”ืœื›ื• ืœื”ื ืœืฉื“ื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ื, ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืฉื“ื•ืช ืจื‘ื•ืช ื›ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื, ื•ื›ืฉืจื•ืื™ื ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื–ื• ืžืœืงื˜ ื' ื”ื•ืœืš ื›'ื ืœืฉื“ื” ืื—ืจืช ืฉืฉื ืœื•ืงื˜ ืœื‘ื“ื•, ื•ื”ื™ื ื ืฉืืจื” ืคื” ืœืœืงื˜ ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื (ืœื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืžืœืงื˜ื™ื ืฉืœื ื ืžืฆื ื–ื•ืœืชื”). ื•ืืžืจื” ื•ืืกืคืชื™ ื‘ืขืžืจื™ื, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืืกืคื” ื‘ื›ื“ื™ ืขื•ืžืจ ืขืฉืชื” ืžืžื ื• ืขื•ืžืจ, ื•ืœื ืชืืžืจ ืฉื’ื ื‘ื” ืขื•ืžืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืขืžืจื™ื ืฉืœ ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื›ื™ ืืกืคื” ืื—ืจื™ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื•ืกืžื•ืš ืœื”ื, ื•ืจืื• ืฉืœื ืœืงื—ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืœื ื›ืฉื•ืจื”. ื•ืœื ืชืชืคืœื ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื” ืขืžืจื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื, ื›ื™ ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืชืขืžื•ื“, ื•ืžืคืจืฉ ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ืžืื– ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื•ืชืขืžื•ื“ ืขื“ ืขืชื”, ืฉืขื“ ืขืชื” ืœื ื ื—ื” ืจื’ืข, ืจืง ืขืชื” ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ื•ืขื– ื™ืฉื‘ื” ืœื ื•ื— ืžืขื˜ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืฉื™ืื›ืœื• ื”ืคื•ืขืœื™ื ื•ื™ื ื•ื—ื• ืฉื. ืืžืจ ื–ื” ืฉื‘ืชื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืžืขื˜, ื–ื” ืจื’ืข ืฉื™ืฉื‘ื” ืœื ื•ื— ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื” ืจืง ืžืขื˜, ื•ืขื“ ืขืชื” ืœื ื”ืจื’ื™ืขื” ืจื’ืข, ื•ืข'ื› ืืกืคื” ืืœื•ืžื•ืช.
And she said. The foreman told Boaz things he had not asked, in order to vindicate her: she did not take a share of peah or shikhchah, only leket alone. This is why he said she asked 'let me glean among the stalks after the reapers and gather among the sheaves' -- meaning: the poor, after they had taken their share of peah, went off to other fields, since there are many fields, enough for each poor gleaner to have his own; and when they see that another is gleaning in a certain field, each goes to another where he will glean alone. So she remained here alone to glean after the reapers (not after other gleaners, of whom there were none besides her). She said 'and gather among the sheaves' meaning: whatever she gathered to the measure of a sheaf she bundled into a sheaf -- you cannot say she stole a sheaf from the sheaves of the field, for she gathered directly after the reapers and within sight of them, and they saw she took nothing improperly. Do not be surprised that she has many sheaves, for she came and stood from morning -- he explains: she came from morning, and stood until now, not resting for a moment until just now when Boaz arrived and she sat briefly to rest in the hut there in the field where the workers ate and rested. Hence 'this her sitting in the house a little' -- just now she sat a moment in the hut to rest, and only briefly; until now she had not paused even a moment, which is why she has gathered so many sheaves.

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืึถืœึพืจื•ึผืช ื”ึฒืœื•ึนื ืฉึธืืžึทืขึทืชึฐึผ ื‘ึดึผืชึดึผื™ ืึทืœึพืชึตึผืœึฐื›ึดื™ ืœึดืœึฐืงึนื˜ ื‘ึฐึผืฉึธื‚ื“ึถื” ืึทื—ึตืจ ื•ึฐื’ึทื ืœึนื ืชึทืขึฒื‘ื•ึผืจึดื™ ืžึดื–ึถึผื” ื•ึฐื›ึนื” ืชึดื“ึฐื‘ึธึผืงึดื™ืŸ ืขึดืึพื ึทืขึฒืจึนืชึธื™ืƒ

English:

Boaz said to Ruth, โ€œListen to me, daughter. Donโ€™t go to glean in another field. Donโ€™t go elsewhere, but stay here close to my maidservants.โ€

Boaz addresses Ruth directly and tells her to stay with his na'arot. Ibn Ezra notes grammatical peculiarities in 'ta'avuri' and 'tidbakin.' Malbim resolves the verse's apparent redundancy ('do not glean in another field AND do not leave from here') by picturing Boaz's estate: he had multiple fields, and his instruction is layered -- do not go to any other landowner's field, do not go to another of my own fields, but stay right here, and within this field stay with the maidservants rather than the young men.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืชืขื‘ื•ืจื™. ื‘ืฉื•ืจืง ืชื—ืช ื—ื•ืœื, ื›ืžื• ื™ืฉืคื•ึผื˜ื• ื”ื, ื•ื”ื™ื ืžืœื” ื–ืจื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืชื” ืžืœืจืข. ืื•ืœื™ ื”ื™ืชื” ื›ืŸ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืื™ื ื ื• ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืžื•ื›ืจืช. ื•ื ื•'ืŸ ืชื“ื‘ืงื™ืŸ -- ื ื•ืกืฃ.
'Ta'avuri' is written with shuruk in place of cholam, like 'yishputu' -- an unusual form because it is accented on the last syllable; perhaps because the form is not common. The nun of 'tidbakin' is extra.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ืœื•ื ืฉืžืขืช ื‘ืชื™, ืื™ืš ื“ื ื™ื ืื•ืชืš ืคื” ืœื›ืฃ ื–ื›ื•ืช, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืืœ ืชืœื›ื™ ืœืœืงื•ื˜ ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืื—ืจ, ืฉื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื‘ืขืœ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉื ืœื ื™ืคื™ืง ืžืžืš ืจืฆื•ืŸ. ื•ื’ื ืœื ืชืขื‘ื•ืจื™ ืžื–ื”, ืืฃ ื‘ืฉื“ื•ืชื™ (ื›ื™ ื‘ื•ืขื– ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืฉื“ื•ืช ืจื‘ื™ื) ืœื ืชืขื‘ื•ืจื™ ืœืฉื“ื” ืื—ืจ, ืฉื™ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืฉื ื•ื”ืžืžื•ื ื” ืขืœื™ื”ื ื™ืฉื ืื• ืื•ืชืš. ื•ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื–ื” ื•ื›ื” ืชื“ื‘ืงื™ืŸ ืขื ื ืขืจื•ืชื™, ื›ื™ ื’ื ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื–ื” ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืฆื“ ื' ืคื•ืขืœื™ื ื ืขืจื™ื, ื•ื‘ืฆื“ ื' ื ืขืจื•ืช ืฉืงืฆืจื• ืืช ื”ืฉื“ื”, ืœื ืชืœื›ื™ ืœืœืงื˜ ื‘ืฆื“ ืฉืœ ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืจืง ื‘ืฆื“ ืฉืœ ื”ื ืขืจื•ืช.
And Boaz said, 'Have you not heard, my daughter' -- how favorably they are judging you here! Therefore 'do not go glean in another field,' for the owner of that field might not look favorably upon you. 'And also do not pass from here' -- even among my own fields (Boaz had many fields), do not go to another, for the young men or the overseer there might come to resent you. More than that: 'stay close to my maidservants' -- for in this very field the men work on one side and the maidservants on another. Do not go glean on the men's side; stay on the women's side.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ืขึตื™ื ึทื™ึดืšึฐ ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื™ึดืงึฐืฆึนืจื•ึผืŸ ื•ึฐื”ึธืœึทื›ึฐืชึฐึผ ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ื”ึถืŸ ื”ึฒืœื•ึนื ืฆึดื•ึดึผื™ืชึดื™ ืึถืชึพื”ึทื ึฐึผืขึธืจึดื™ื ืœึฐื‘ึดืœึฐืชึดึผื™ ื ื‡ื’ึฐืขึตืšึฐ ื•ึฐืฆึธืžึดืช ื•ึฐื”ึธืœึทื›ึฐืชึฐึผ ืึถืœึพื”ึทื›ึตึผืœึดื™ื ื•ึฐืฉึธืืชึดื™ืช ืžึตืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึดืฉึฐืืึฒื‘ื•ึผืŸ ื”ึทื ึฐึผืขึธืจึดื™ืืƒ

English:

โ€œKeep your eyes on the field they are reaping, and follow them. I have ordered the workers not to harass you. And when you are thirsty, go to the jars and drink some of [the water] that the workers have drawn.โ€

Boaz extends further protections and privileges. Rashi notes the concession about drinking: Ruth should not be embarrassed to drink from the servants' drawn water. Ibn Ezra offers a grammatical observation on 'tzamit.' Malbim brings a rich background: the water drawn by Boaz's young men came from the famous well of Bethlehem at the city gate -- the one David will later crave (II Shmuel 23:15) -- reserved normally for the workers themselves, not given to the poor. Boaz is raising Ruth above ordinary gleaner protocol.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืฆืžืช ื•ื”ืœื›ืช ืืœ ื”ื›ืœื™ื. ื•ืื ืชืฆืžืื™ ืืœ ืชื›ืœืžื™ ืžืœื›ืช ื•ืœืฉืชื•ืช ืžื›ืœื™ ื”ืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืื‘ื•ืŸ ื”ื ืขืจื™ื:
And when you are thirsty, go to the jugs. If you are thirsty, do not be ashamed to go and drink from the vessels of water that the young men have drawn.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืฆืžื™ืช. ื‘ื ื‘ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื”'ื ื‘ืกื•ืฃ.
'Tzamit' appears in the form of final-hei verbs.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ืขื™ื ื™ืš, ืœื›ืŸ ืชืฉื™ื ืขื™ื ื™ืš ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืงืฆื•ืจื•ืŸ ื”ื ืขืจื•ืช, ื•ื”ืœื›ืช ืื—ืจื™ื”ืŸ ืฉืœ ื”ื ืขืจื•ืช, ื•ืœื ืชื™ืจื ืฉื–ืืช ื™ื—ืจ ืœื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืžื” ืฉืืช ืžืชืจื—ืงืช, ื›ื™ ื”ืœื ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ื ื’ืขืš. ื•ืœื ื–ืืช ืœื‘ื“, ื›ื™ ื•ืฆืžื™ืช ื•ื”ืœื›ืช ืืœ ื”ื›ืœื™ื, ืจ'ืœ ื›ื™ ืžืฆืื ื• ืฉื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืฉืงื ื™ ืžื™ื ืžื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจ, ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืฉื‘ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื• ืžื™ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ืžืื“, ื•ื‘ืืฉืจ ื”ืฉืขืจ ื”ื•ื ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื”ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืœื ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืฉื ื ืขืจื•ืช ืœืฉืื•ื‘ ืžื™ื, ื•ื”ื™ื• ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืฉื•ืื‘ื™ื ืฉื ืžื™ื ืœืฉืชื™ื”, ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื˜ื•ืจื— ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืœืœื›ืช ืขื“ ืฉื ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื ื•ืชื ื™ื ืœื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ืžื™ื ื”ื”ื ืจืง ืžื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืฉืฉืื‘ื• ืžืžืงื•ื ืงืจื•ื‘. ื•ืืžืจ ืœื” ืฉื”ื™ื ืชืฉืื‘ ืžืŸ ื”ืžื™ื ืฉืฉืื‘ื• ื”ื ืขืจื™ื, ื›ื™ ืฆื•ื” ืœื”ื ืฉืœื ื™ืžื—ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื”.
Your eyes. Therefore set your eyes on the field where the young women reap, and follow them. Do not fear that the young men will be offended by your keeping your distance -- for I have already commanded the young men not to touch you. And more than this: 'you shall be thirsty and go to the vessels' -- for we find that David said 'Who will give me water from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate?' (II Shmuel 23:15). This shows that the water of that cistern was especially good. Because the gate is the seat of the Sanhedrin, they did not station maidservants to draw water there; rather, the young men drew the water there for drinking. Since the trek was long, ordinary practice was not to share that water with the poor, who were given instead water drawn from a nearer source. But Boaz told her she could draw from the very water the young men drew, for he commanded them not to object.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึดึผืคึนึผืœ ืขึทืœึพืคึธึผื ึถื™ื”ึธ ื•ึทืชึดึผืฉึฐืืชึทึผื—ื•ึผ ืึธืจึฐืฆึธื” ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึธื™ื• ืžึทื“ึผื•ึผืขึท ืžึธืฆึธืืชึดื™ ื—ึตืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืขึตื™ื ึถื™ืšึธ ืœึฐื”ึทื›ึดึผื™ืจึตื ึดื™ ื•ึฐืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ื ื‡ื›ึฐืจึดื™ึธึผื”ืƒ

English:

She prostrated herself with her face to the ground, and said to him, โ€œWhy are you so kind as to single me out, when I am a foreigner?โ€

Ruth prostrates herself in astonishment. Malbim parses her question with precision: Ruth is asking whether Boaz's kindness is based on something he has seen IN HER specifically (merits she has earned), or based on recognition of HER FAMILY (which would not apply -- she is a foreigner). She mentions both possibilities and notes that the second cannot apply.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืคื•ืœ ื•ื’ื•' ืžื“ื•ืข ืžืฆืืชื™ ื—ืŸ. ืจ'ืœ ืฉืžื” ืฉืืชื” ืžืงืจื‘ ืื•ืชื™ ื›'ื› ื™ื”ื™ื” ืื• ืžืฆื“ ืฉืื ื™ ื‘ืขืฆืžื™ ืžืฆืืชื™ ื—ืŸ, ืฉืจืื™ืช ื‘ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘, ืื• ืฆื“ ืฉืืชื” ืžื›ื™ืจ ืืช ืžืฉืคื—ืชื™ ืชืขืฉื” ื–ืืช ืœืžืขื ื. ืขืœ ื”ื' ืืžืจื” ืžื“ื•ืข ืžืฆืืชื™ ื—ืŸ, ืžื” ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ืืฉืจ ืจืื™ืช ื‘ื™. ื•ืขืœ ื”ืฉื ื™ ืืžืจื” ื”ืœื ืื ื›ื™ ื ื›ืจื™ื”.
And she fell. 'Why have I found favor?' -- meaning: this treatment, that you draw me so close, must be either because I myself have found favor in your eyes (that you have seen some good thing in me), or because you recognize my family and are doing this for their sake. To the first she said 'why have I found favor' -- what good thing have you seen in me? To the second she said 'for I am a foreigner' -- the second option cannot apply, for my family is foreign to you.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึทึผืขึทืŸ ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึธื”ึผ ื”ึปื’ึตึผื“ ื”ึปื’ึทึผื“ ืœึดื™ ื›ึนึผืœ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืขึธืฉึดื‚ื™ืช ืึถืชึพื—ึฒืžื•ึนืชึตืšึฐ ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ ืžื•ึนืช ืึดื™ืฉึตืืšึฐ ื•ึทืชึทึผืขึทื–ึฐื‘ึดื™ ืึธื‘ึดื™ืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึดืžึตึผืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึถืจึถืฅ ืžื•ึนืœึทื“ึฐืชึตึผืšึฐ ื•ึทืชึตึผืœึฐื›ึดื™ ืึถืœึพืขึทื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึนืึพื™ึธื“ึทืขึทืชึฐึผ ืชึฐึผืžื•ึนืœ ืฉึดืืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืืƒ

English:

Boaz said in reply, โ€œI have been told of all that you did for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and came to a people you had not known before.โ€

Boaz answers Ruth's question with both reasons. Ibn Ezra parses the passive double verb 'huged hugad.' Malbim identifies Boaz's two stated reasons: first, your chesed to your mother-in-law shows your good character (since most daughters-in-law resent theirs, especially after the husband's death, yet you have supported her); second, your conversion was purely for the sake of Heaven and not for any external benefit, as shown by your abandoning father, mother, and homeland.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื”ื’ื“ ื”ื’ื“ ืœื™. ืคื•ืขืœ ืฉืœื ื ืงืจื ืฉื ืคื•ืขืœื•. ืืฉืจ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืช. ืœื“ื•ืจ ืขืžื”ื.
'It has been fully related to me' -- an action whose agent is not specified (passive). 'Whom you knew not' -- namely, to dwell among them.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื‘ื•ืขื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื”, ืžื” ืฉืžืฆืืช ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ื•ื ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื ื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื: ื] ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื’ื“ ืœื™ ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืช ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชืš, ืฉื–ื” ืžื•ืจื” ืขืœ ื˜ื™ื‘ ืžื“ืชืš ื•ื˜ื™ื‘ ืœื‘ืš, ืฉืœืจื•ื‘ ื”ื›ืœื” ืฉื•ื ืืช ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชื” ื‘ืคืจื˜ ืื—ืจื™ ืžื•ืช ืื™ืฉืš, ื•ืืช ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœื” ืœืขื•ื–ืจ ื•ืกื•ืžืš. ื•ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื™ืจื•ืช, ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœืฉ'ืฉ ืฉืœื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืื™ื–ื” ืคื ื™ื” ืžืื™ื–ื” ืชื•ืขืœืช ื—ื™ืฆื•ื ื™ ืฉืชืฉื™ื’ ืขื™'ื›, ืฉื”ืœื ืขื–ื‘ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ื•ืืžืš ื•ืชืœื›ื™ ืืœ ืขื ืืฉืจ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืช, ื•ื'ื› ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ืจื•ืช ืœืฉ'ืฉ.
And Boaz answered and said to her. That you have found favor in my eyes is for two reasons. First: 'it has been told me all you have done for your mother-in-law' -- this testifies to your good character and noble heart, for most daughters-in-law hate their mothers-in-law, especially after the husband's death; yet you became her helper and supporter. The second is the conversion, which was for the sake of Heaven -- not out of any external motive or benefit you might gain -- for 'you left your father and your mother and went to a people you did not know.' Thus the conversion was purely for God's sake.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื™ึฐืฉึทืืœึตึผื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืคื‡ึผืขึณืœึตืšึฐ ื•ึผืชึฐื”ึดื™ ืžึทืฉึฐื‚ื›ึปึผืจึฐืชึตึผืšึฐ ืฉึฐืืœึตืžึธื” ืžึตืขึดื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื‘ึธึผืืช ืœึทื—ึฒืกื•ึนืช ืชึทึผื—ึทืชึพื›ึฐึผื ึธืคึธื™ื•ืƒ

English:

โ€œMay God reward your deeds. May you have a full recompense from the Eternal, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have sought refuge!โ€

One of the great blessings in Tanakh. Ibn Ezra offers a brief grammatical note. Malbim unpacks Boaz's doubled language with remarkable precision: 'yeshalem Hashem pa'aleych' is the piecework wage of a po'el, owed for your specific chesed to your mother-in-law; 'utehi maskurtekh shleimah' is the standing wage of a sakhir, a worker hired for a term -- which is what you became when you converted and bound yourself in God's service for life. He then steps back for a theological meditation: why does Torah promise reward for mitzvot when the mitzvah is itself the greatest reward? Because most people do not yet feel the intrinsic joy; reward is scaffolding to lift them to that perception. To have sheltered under God's wings IS the ultimate reward -- the act of sheltering is itself the maskoret shleimah.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืžืฉื›ืจืชืš. ื›ืžื• ืžืชื›ื•ื ืช ื”ืœื‘ื ื™ื, ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืžืŸ ื”ื‘ื ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ื‘ื“ ื”ื ื•ืกืฃ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืž'ื.
'Your reward' (maskurtekh): like 'the tally of bricks,' a noun from the intensive binyan with an additional mem.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื™ืฉืœื. ื ื’ื“ ืžื” ืฉืขืฉื™ืช ืขื ื—ืžื•ืชืš ื™ืฉืœื ื”' ืคืขืœืš, ื•ื ื’ื“ ืžื” ืฉื”ืชื’ื™ื™ืจืช ืชื”ื™ ืžืฉื›ืจืชืš ืฉืœืžื” ืžืขื ื”', ืžืฆื“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืืœื”ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืžืฉื’ื™ื— ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืขืœ ื”ื’ืจื™ื ื”ื ืœื•ื™ื ืขืœื™ื”ื. ื•ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ ืืžืจ ืจ' ื—ืกื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืช ืœื—ืกื•ืช ืชื—ืช ื›ื ืคื™ื•. ื•ื”ื•ื ืขืค'ื™ ืžื” ืฉื›ืชื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืคื™' ื”ืชื•'ื” (ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ื ืกื™' ืœืž'ื“) ืฉื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื›ืจ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืคืขื•ืœื”, ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื›ื™ืจ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืคื•ืขืœ. ืฉื”ืคื•ืขืœ ืื• ืื•ืžืŸ ื™ืงื‘ืœ ืฉื›ืจ ื‘ืขื“ ื”ืžืœืื›ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื”, ืœืžืฉืœ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื˜ ืขืฉื” ื‘ื’ื“ ื•ืžืงื‘ืœ ืฉื›ืจ ืžืœืื›ืชื•, ื•ื–ื” ื ืงืจื ืคืขื•ืœื”, ืฉืœื•ืงื— ืฉื›ืจ ืคืขื•ืœืชื•. ืื‘ืœ ื”ืฉื›ื™ืจ ืžื•ืฉื›ืจ ืœื–ืžืŸ ืงืฆื•ื‘, ืœืžืฉืœ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื, ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ืขืฉื” ืื™ื–ื” ืžืœืื›ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœื ื™ืขืฉื”. ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืžืฆื•ื” ื•ืžืฆื•ื” ื™ืงื‘ืœ ืฉื›ืจ ื‘ืค'ืข ื›ืคื•ืขืœ, ื•ืขื–'ื ื™ืฉืœื ื”' ืคืขืœืš. ืื•ืœื ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉื‘ืื” ืœื”ืชื’ื™ื™ืจ, ืฉืื– ืงื‘ืœื” ืขืœื™ื” ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”' ื•ืœืงื™ื™ื ื›ืœ ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื•, ื•ื”ื™ื ื›ืžื•ืฉื›ืจืช ืœื• ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ื” ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื•, ื•ืžืื– ืžื’ื™ืข ืœื” ืฉื›ืจ ืฉื›ื™ืจ ืฉื™ืฉืœื ืœื” ืฉื›ืจ ืชืžื™ื“ื™ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืชืขืฉื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœื ืชืขืฉื” (ืฉืืฃ ืฉืœื ืชื’ื™ืข ืื™ื–ื• ืžืฆื•ื” ืœื™ื“ื” ื‘ื›'ื– ืชืงื‘ืœ ืฉื›ืจื” ืžืฉืœื), ื•ืขื–'ื ื•ืชื”ื™ ืžืฉื›ืจืชืš ืฉืœืžื”, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื›ืจ ืชืžื™ื“ื™ ื–ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืช ืœื—ืกื•ืช, ืฉืื– ื ืขืฉื™ืช ืฉื›ื™ืจื” ืœื”' ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ืš ื•ืžื’ื™ืข ืœืš ืฉื›ืจ ืชืžื™ื“ื™. ื•ืข'ื– ืืžืจ ืจ' ื—ืกื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืช ืœื—ืกื•ืช, ืจ'ืœ ืฉืขืœ ืฉืขื” ื–ื• ืžื’ื™ืข ืœืš ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ืชืžื™ื“ื™, ื•ื—ื•ืฅ ืžื–ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืคืขื ืฉืชืงื™ื™ื ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืคื•ืขืœ ืžื’ื™ืข ืฉื›ืจ ืคืขื•ืœื” ื‘ื™ื—ื•ื“ ื—ื•ืฅ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ื›ื•ืœืœ. ื•ื”ื ื” ื›ื‘ืจ ื—ืงืจืชื™ ื‘ื“ืจื•ืฉื™ ืื”'ืฉ ืฉืื—ืจ ืฉื–ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ืฉื™ื–ื›ื” ื”ืื“ื ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื”' ื•ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื™ืช' ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืชืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ืื ืžืฆื“ ื”ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื”ื ืคืฉื™ ืฉื™ืงื ื” ืข'ื™ ืขืฉื™ืช ื”ืžืฆื•ื”, ืื ืžืฆื“ ืฉื‘ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืขื‘ื“ ืžืœืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื•ืจื ื›ืœ, ื•ื'ื› ื™ืคืœื ืœืžื” ื”ื‘ื˜ื™ื— ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืฉื›ืจ ืžืฆื•ืช -- ื”ืœื ืงื™ื•ื ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื” ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืชืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ (ืขื“'ืฉ ืฉื›ืจ ืžืฆื•ื” ืžืฆื•ื”, ืฉื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื” ื”ื™ื ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืชืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื”ืžืฆื•ื”). ื•ืืžืจืชื™ ืฉื‘ืืžืช, ืœืžื™ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ืœื‘ ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื•ื ืคืฉ ืœื”ืจื’ื™ืฉ ื ื•ืขื ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื•ืขืจื™ื‘ื•ืชื”, ื'ืฆ ืœื”ื‘ื˜ื™ื— ืœื• ืฉื›ืจ ื–ื•ืœืช ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื”. ืื‘ืœ ื‘ืืฉืจ ืจื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉื™ื’ื™ื ื ื•ืขื ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื•ื”ืื•ืฉืจ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื™ืงื ื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ื”, ื”ื•ืฆืจืš ืœื”ื‘ื˜ื™ื— ืฉื›ืจ ืขื”'ื– ืฉื–ื” ืžื•ืจื’ืฉ ืืฆืœื, ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืขืฉื• ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืชืงื•ืช ื”ืฉื›ืจ ืขื“ ื™ื’ื™ืขื• ืœืžื“ืจื’ื” ืœื”ืจื’ื™ืฉ ื•ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ืœืฉืžื” ืžืฆื“ ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื”. ื•ื–'ืฉ ื™ืฉืœื ื”' ืคืขืœืš, ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉื”' ื™ืชืŸ ืœืš ืฉื›ืจ ืคืขื•ืœืชืš; ืื‘ืœ ื”ืืžืช ื”ื™ื ื•ืชื”ื™ ืžืฉื›ืจืชืš ืฉืœืžื” ืžืขื ื”', ืจ'ืœ ืฉืขื™ืงืจ ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื‘ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื™ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ืžื” ืฉื‘ืืช ืœื—ืกื•ืช ืชื—ืช ื›ื ืคื™ื•, ืฉื–ื” ืขืฆืžื• ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื›ืจ ื”ืฉืœื ื‘ืœื ื—ืกืจื•ืŸ ื›ืœืœ. ื•ืขื–'ื ืจ' ื—ืกื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืช ืœื—ืกื•ืช, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื–ื” ืขืฆืžื• ื”ื•ื ืขื™ืงืจ ื”ืฉื›ืจ.
'May Hashem reward.' Corresponding to what you did for your mother-in-law, 'may Hashem reward your deed' (pa'aleych -- wage for a specific deed). And corresponding to your conversion, 'may your recompense be full from Hashem' (maskurtekh shleimah) -- because He is the God of Israel and oversees them and the converts joined to them. In the Midrash R. Chasa says 'who have come to seek shelter under His wings' is itself the core of the blessing. This rests on what I have written in my commentary to the Torah (Kedoshim sec. 34): there is a distinction between 'reward' (sakhar) and 'wage for a deed' (pe'ulah), and between a day-laborer (sakhir) and a pieceworker (po'el). A po'el or craftsman receives wages for the specific work he has done -- the tailor makes a garment and is paid for his work; this is pe'ulah, payment for the specific piecework. But a sakhir is hired for a fixed term, say three years, whether he does work or not. Now for every individual mitzvah one receives reward as a po'el, and about this Boaz said 'yeshalem Hashem pa'aleych.' But concerning her conversion, by which she undertook to serve God and keep all His mitzvot, she became as one hired to Him for all the days of her life -- and from that moment onward she is owed the standing wage of a sakhir, paid continually whether she happens to perform a specific mitzvah or not (for even if some mitzvah never comes to her hand, she still receives her full wage). This is 'utehi maskurtekh shleimah' -- this standing wage is because 'you have come to seek shelter,' at which moment you became a sakhir to Hashem for all your days and are owed a continuous wage. About this R. Chasa said 'asher bat lachasot' -- meaning: at that very moment the standing wage becomes yours, and apart from this, for every mitzvah you perform in practice there is an additional specific wage over and above the standing one. I have already investigated in my Ayelet ha-Shachar essays: since the very privilege of performing God's mitzvot and serving the great King is itself the greatest reward -- both in perfecting the soul and in the dignity of serving Him -- why does the Torah promise reward for mitzvot at all? The answer is that for one who has the heart to understand and the soul to feel the sweetness of mitzvah, no reward beyond the mitzvah itself need be promised; but since most people do not yet grasp the great happiness they gain through it, the Torah promises worldly reward that they can feel, so they perform the mitzvah in hope of reward until they reach the level of doing it for its own sake. Hence 'yeshalem Hashem pa'aleych' -- God will indeed pay for your act; but the truth is 'utehi maskurtekh shleimah me-im Hashem' -- that the essential full reward is this very thing, that you have come to seek shelter under His wings. That act is itself the complete wage without deficiency. This is what R. Chasa meant by 'asher bat lachasot' -- that this itself is the essential reward.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืึถืžึฐืฆึธืึพื—ึตืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืขึตื™ื ึถื™ืšึธ ืึฒื“ึนื ึดื™ ื›ึดึผื™ ื ึดื—ึทืžึฐืชึธึผื ึดื™ ื•ึฐื›ึดื™ ื“ึดื‘ึทึผืจึฐืชึธึผ ืขึทืœึพืœึตื‘ ืฉึดืืคึฐื—ึธืชึถืšึธ ื•ึฐืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ืœึนื ืึถื”ึฐื™ึถื” ื›ึฐึผืึทื—ึทืช ืฉึดืืคึฐื—ึนืชึถื™ืšึธืƒ

English:

She answered, โ€œYou are most kind, my lord, to comfort me and to speak gently to your maidservant โ€” though I am not so much as one of your maidservants.โ€

Ruth responds with a moving expression of gratitude and humility. Rashi and Ibn Ezra both gloss 'I am not even one of your maidservants' as self-deprecation. Malbim reads Ruth's words as addressing two separate kindnesses from Boaz: first, the comfort -- finding sustenance after her husband's death; second, his words to her that treated her as one of his maidservants (who were themselves converts), whose wages with God are assured. She concludes humbly that in her own eyes she is less worthy than they, yet he has lifted her to their level.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœื ืื”ื™ื” ื›ืื—ืช ืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ืš. ืื™ื ื ื™ ื—ืฉื•ื‘ื” ื›ืื—ืช ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืคื—ื•ืช ืฉืœืš:
I cannot even be considered as one of your handmaidens. I am not as worthy as one of your handmaidens.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืื ื›ื™ ืœื ืื”ื™ื”. ืื™ื ื ื™ ืจืื•ื™ื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ืื—ืช ืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ืš.
'And I should not be.' I am not worthy to be as one of your maidservants.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ. ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืœื” ืžื“ื•ืข ืžืฆืื” ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ืืžืจื”, ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืฉืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ืœื”ื‘ื, ื›ื™ ื ื—ืžืชื ื™, ืจ'ืœ ื‘ื“ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืœื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงืจื‘ ืื•ืชื” ื•ืฉืชืžืฆื ืคืจื ืกืชื” ืข'ื™ ืœืงื˜ ืฉื“ื•ืชื™ื•, ื ื—ื ืื•ืชื™ ื‘ืžื” ืฉืœื ืžืฆืื” ื ื•ื—ื ืžืžื•ืช ื‘ืขืœื”, ืฉื ืฉืืจื” ื‘ืœื™ ืชื•ืžืš ื‘ื™ื“ื”, ื›ื™ ืžืฆืื” ืžืฉืขืŸ ืœื—ื ืืฆืœื•. ื•ื‘ื“ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื“ื‘ืจืช ืขืœ ืœื‘ ืฉืคื—ืชืš, ืจื•ืื” ืื ื™ ืฉื ื—ืฉื‘ืช ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš ื›ืื—ืช ืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ืš ืฉืงื‘ืœื• ื’'ื› ื“ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื“ื™ืŸ ื”ืฉืคื—ื•ืช ืฉื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื“ื‘ืจืช ืขืœ ืœื‘ืŸ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืœื”ืŸ ื›ื™ ืฉื›ืจืŸ ื‘ืขื“ ื’ืจื•ืชืŸ ืžื•ื‘ื˜ื— ืžื”', ื›ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจืช ืืœื™; ื•ื–ื” ืืฆืœื™ ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ืื ื›ื™ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืœื ืื”ื™ื” ื›ืื—ืช ืฉืคื—ืชืš, ื•ืื ื™ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืคื—ื•ืชื” ื•ื™ืจื•ื“ื” ืžื”ืŸ, ื•ืืชื” ื”ืขืœื™ืชื ื™ ืœืžืขืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ืื—ืช ืฉืคื—ืชื™ืš.
And she said, 'May I find favor.' After he told her why she had found favor in his eyes, she said: so may it be that I find favor henceforth. 'For you have comforted me' -- in your first speech, when you told me you draw me close and that I would find my sustenance through the gleaning of your fields, you comforted me concerning what I had not been comforted for since my husband's death, when I was left without support; for I have now found a breadwinner with you. And in your second speech, 'you spoke to the heart of your maidservant' -- I see that you regard me as one of your own maidservants, who have received the faith of Israel as is the rule for servants in an Israelite household; you have spoken to their heart too, telling them that their wage for their conversion is assured from God. So too have you spoken to me; this is a great honor in my eyes, for in my own view I am not worthy to be even one of your maidservants, and yet you have raised me to that level.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึธื”ึผ ื‘ึนืขึทื– ืœึฐืขึตืช ื”ึธืึนื›ึถืœ ื’ึนึผืฉึดืื™ ื”ึฒืœึนื ื•ึฐืึธื›ึทืœึฐืชึฐึผ ืžึดืŸึพื”ึทืœึถึผื—ึถื ื•ึฐื˜ึธื‘ึทืœึฐืชึฐึผ ืคึดึผืชึตึผืšึฐ ื‘ึทึผื—ึนืžึถืฅ ื•ึทืชึตึผืฉึถืื‘ ืžึดืฆึทึผื“ ื”ึทืงึนึผืฆึฐืจึดื™ื ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฆึฐื‘ื‡ึผื˜ึพืœึธื”ึผ ืงึธืœึดื™ ื•ึทืชึนึผืื›ึทืœ ื•ึทืชึดึผืฉึฐื‚ื‘ึทึผืข ื•ึทืชึนึผืชึทืจืƒ

English:

At mealtime, Boaz said to her, โ€œCome over here and partake of the meal, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.โ€ So she sat down beside the reapers. He handed her parched grain, and she ate her fill and had some left over.

Boaz invites Ruth to the meal. Rashi notes that the vinegar is refreshing in the heat. Ibn Ezra observes grammatical peculiarities. Malbim brings a wealth of detail: the halachic rule that workers eating at the employer's table change the zimmun for birkat hamazon (Berakhot 16); Boaz seated himself at the head and invited Ruth to ascend to him ('halom' always signals elevation of rank); he offered her whole bread (lechem) rather than a broken piece (pat), so she could save some to take home; she humbly sat below with the reapers rather than at his side; he himself handed her parched grain in generous portions until she was full and still had leftover.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื˜ื‘ืœืช ืคืชืš ื‘ื—ืžืฅ. ืžื›ืืŸ ืฉื”ื—ืžืฅ ื™ืคื” ืœืฉืจื‘: ื•ื™ืฆื‘ื˜ ืœื” ืงืœื™. ื•ื™ื•ืฉื˜ ืœื”. ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื“ืžื™ื•ืŸ ื‘ืžืงืจื ืืœื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžืฉื ื”: ืื—ื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืš ื•ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืฆื‘ื™ื˜ื”:
And dip your bread in the vinegar. From here we derive that vinegar is good for the heat (Shabbat 113b -- it is a popular refreshing drink for those who work in hot climates). And he handed her some roasted grain -- and he extended it to her. There is no similar word in Scripture, only in the language of the Mishnah: 'the back, the middle, and the bet ha-tzevitah' (Chagigah 3:1).
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื‘ื—ืžืฅ. ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื—ื•ื. ื•ืชื•ืชืจ. ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืกื•ืฃ ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืžื• ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืžืœื—ืžื” ืืœ ืชื•ืกืฃ. ื•ื™ืฆื‘ื˜. ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื—ื‘ืจ ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื›ืžื• ื ืชื™ื ื”.
'In vinegar' -- because of the heat. 'And she had left over' -- because it is the end of the verse, like 'remember war, do not add' (Iyov 40:32). 'And he reached / handed her' -- no parallel exists; its meaning is like 'giving.'
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื” ื‘ื•ืขื–. ื‘ืชื•ืš ื›ืš ื”ื’ื™ืข ืขืช ื”ืื•ื›ืœ, ื•ื‘ื•ืขื– ืื›ืœ ื‘ืฉืœื—ืŸ ืื—ื“ ืขื ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ืคื•ืขืœื™ื ืฉืขื•ืฉื™ื ื‘ืฉื›ืจื ืื™ืŸ ืžื‘ืจื›ื™ื ื‘ื”ืž'ื– ืจืง ืฉืชื™ ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช, ืื‘ืœ ื›ืฉื‘ืขื”'ื‘ ืžืกื‘ ืขืžื”ื ืžื‘ืจื›ื™ื ื›ืชืงื ื, ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช (ื“ืฃ ื˜'ื–), ื•ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ื”ื™ื” ืžืกื‘ ืขืžื”ื ืœื—ื™ื™ื‘ื ื‘ื‘ื”ืž'ื–. ื•ื‘ื•ืขื– ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืจืืฉ ื•ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืœืžื˜ื”, ื•ืืžืจ ืœื” ื’ืฉื™ ื”ืœื, ืฉืชืฉื‘ ืœืžืขืœื” ื‘ืฆื“ ื‘ื•ืขื– (ื•ืžืœืช ื”ืœื•ื ืžืฆื™ื™ืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ ืžืงื•ื ื ืขืœื” ืžืžื“ืจื’ืชื•, ื•ืขื–'ื ืื™ืŸ ื”ืœื•ื ืืœื ืžืœื›ื•ืช). ื•ืื›ืœืช ืžืŸ ื”ืœื—ื, ื”ืœื—ื ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื ื•ื”ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ื—ืชื•ืš ืœืคืชื™ืชื™ืŸ (ื”ืชื•'ื” ื•ื™ืงืจื), ื ืชืŸ ืœื” ืœื—ื ืฉืœื ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืœื” (ืฉืœื›ืŸ ืœืงื—ื” ื”ืžื•ืชืจ ืœื‘ื™ืชื”), ื•ื'ืœ ืฉืชืื›ืœ ืžืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ืœื—ื, ื•ื”ืคืช ืฉืชื—ืชื•ืš ืžืžื ื• ืœืื›ืœื• ื‘ืกืขื•ื“ื” ื–ื• ืชื˜ื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ื—ื•ืžืฅ. ื•ืชืฉื‘, ืื•ืœื ื”ื™ื ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื” ืืฆืœ ื‘ื•ืขื–, ืจืง ืœืžื˜ื” ืžืฆื“ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื. ื•ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื•ื”ื•ืฉื™ื˜ ืœื” ืงืœื™ื•ืช ืœืžืขื“ื ื™ื, ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื” ื‘ืฉืคืข ืขื“ ืฉืฉื‘ืขื” ื•ื”ื•ืชื™ืจื”.
And Boaz said to her. In the meantime the time for the meal arrived, and Boaz ate at one table with the reapers. For workers who eat as part of their wages say only a shortened bentching (two blessings), but when the employer sits with them they recite the complete birkat hamazon (Berakhot 16a); Boaz surely sat with them to obligate them in full bentching. Boaz sat at the head and the reapers sat below. He told her 'come here' (halom) -- to sit above at Boaz's side. The word halom always indicates a place elevated above one's rank; hence 'ein halom ella malkhut' (halom indicates royalty). 'And eat of the bread': lechem is whole bread, while pat is a broken piece (see my comment to Torat Kohanim, Vayikra). He gave her whole bread that would belong to her (which is why she was able to take the leftover home), and he told her to eat of all the bread, and the piece she would cut from it for this meal she could dip in vinegar. 'And she sat' -- but she did not sit beside Boaz; she sat below, to the side of the reapers. He additionally passed her parched grain as a delicacy, and gave her in abundance until she was sated and had some left over.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึธึผืงื‡ื ืœึฐืœึทืงึตึผื˜ ื•ึทื™ึฐืฆึทื• ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืึถืชึพื ึฐืขึธืจึธื™ื• ืœึตืืžึนืจ ื’ึทึผื ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื”ึธืขึณืžึธืจึดื™ื ืชึฐึผืœึทืงึตึผื˜ ื•ึฐืœึนื ืชึทื›ึฐืœึดื™ืžื•ึผื”ึธืƒ

English:

When she got up again to glean, Boaz gave orders to his workers, โ€œYou are not only to let her glean among the sheaves, without interference,โ€œ

Ruth returns to gleaning; Boaz's first instruction to his workers. Rashi glosses nothing here, though his notes on verse 16 will cover the doubled verb 'shol tashollu.' Ibn Ezra offers a grammatical note in the next verse. Malbim reads Boaz's instruction as permission for Ruth to glean even among the sheaves without being suspected of theft -- a release of the ordinary halachic surveillance that would apply.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืฉืœ ืชืฉืœื•. ืžื’ื–ืจืช ืฉืœืœ. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื’ื’ื” ืžืŸ ืขืœ ื”ืฉืœ.
'Do not rebuke her' (al takhlimuha): derived from the root sh-l-l (to plunder). Some say it is from 'shal' (error).
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืงื ืœืœืงื˜. ืžืกืคืจ ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ืžืชื™ื ื” ืขื“ ืฉื™ื‘ืจื›ื• ื”ืคื•ืขืœื™ื ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžืฆืจืคื™ื ื ืฉื™ื ืœื–ื™ืžื•ืŸ ืžืคื ื™ ืคืจื™ืฆื•ืชื, ื•ืชื›ืฃ ืงืžื” ืœืœืงื˜. ื•ืื– ืฆื•ื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ืืช ื ืขืจื™ื• ืœืืžืจ ื’ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืขืžืจื™ื ืชืœืงื˜, ืจ'ืœ ืื ืชืœืงื˜ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืขืžืจื™ื ืœื ืชืœื›ื• ืœืขื™ื™ืŸ ืื—ืจื™ื” ืื ืœื ื’ื ื‘ื” ืื™ื–ื” ืขื•ืžืจ, ืฉื‘ื–ื” ืชื›ืœื™ืžื•ื” ื›ื™ ื ื—ืฉื“ื” ื›ื’ื ื‘.
And she rose to glean. The verse tells us that she did not wait until the workers finished birkat hamazon, because women are not joined to a zimmun with men on account of modesty concerns -- so she immediately rose to glean. Then Boaz commanded his young men, saying: even among the sheaves she may glean; that is, if she gleans among the sheaves, do not go and inspect her to see whether she has stolen a sheaf, which would shame her as if she were suspected of theft. This is 've-lo takhlimuha' -- do not put her to shame.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื’ึทื ืฉึนืืœึพืชึธึผืฉึนืืœึผื•ึผ ืœึธื”ึผ ืžึดืŸึพื”ึทืฆึฐึผื‘ึธืชึดื™ื ื•ึทืขึฒื–ึทื‘ึฐืชึถึผื ื•ึฐืœึดืงึฐึผื˜ึธื” ื•ึฐืœึนื ืชึดื’ึฐืขึฒืจื•ึผึพื‘ึธื”ึผืƒ

English:

โ€œbut you must also pull some [stalks] out of the heaps and leave them for her to glean, and not scold her.โ€

The second and third instructions: deliberate 'forgetfulness' and no rebuke. Rashi offers two readings of 'shol tashollu': either from the root of 'forgetting' (targum for shegagah is sheluta) -- pretend to forget -- or from 'nashal' (cast off), the stalks fall from the bundles. 'Tzevatim' are small sheaves (parallel in Mishnaic Eruvin). Malbim reads the progression as a halachic engineering: Boaz commands the workers to deliberately leave bundles as though by forgetting, so that the sheaves technically become shikhchah (forgotten sheaves) -- legally the possession of the poor; but since they are not truly forgotten, Boaz declares them hefker (ownerless) so they are exempt from tithes; and finally, however she chooses to gather, they are not to rebuke her.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื’ื ืฉืœ ืชืฉืœื•. ืฉื›ื•ื— ืชืฉื›ื—ื•, ืขืฉื• ืขืฆืžื™ื›ื ื›ืืœื• ืืชื ืฉื•ื›ื—ื™ื. ืชืจื’ื•ื ืฉืœ ืฉื’ื’ื” ืฉืœื•ืชื, ื•ื›ืŸ 'ืขืœ ื”ืฉืœ'. ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ืจ, ืœืฉื•ืŸ 'ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืœ ื–ื™ืชืš': ืฆื‘ืชื™ื. ืขืžืจื™ื ืงื˜ื ื™ื. ื•ื™ืฉ ื“ื’ืžืชื• ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžืฉื ื”, ืžืฆืืŸ ืฆื‘ืชื™ื ืื• ื›ืจื™ื›ื•ืช:
And let some sheaves fall for her (shol tashollu): you should forget -- pretend as though you are forgetting. The Targum for 'shegagah' (oversight) is 'sheluta,' and similarly 'al ha-shal' (II Shmuel 6:7). Another interpretation of 'shol tashollu' is 'let fall,' as in 'your olive tree will cast off (yishal) its fruit' (Devarim 28:40). Tzevatim -- small sheaves; there is a similar expression in the language of the Mishnah: 'he found them tied up in tzevatim or in packets' (Eruvin 10:1).
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื’ื ืฉืœ ืชืฉืœื• ืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืฆื‘ืชื™ื, ืฉืชื ื™ื—ื• ืฆื‘ืชื™ื ื‘ืชื•ืจืช ืฉื›ื—ื” ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืชืงื— ืื•ืชื, ื•ืืžืจ ื•ืขื–ื‘ืชื ื›ื™ ืฆื‘ืชื™ื ืืœื” ื—ื™ื™ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืชื•'ืž ืื—ืจ ืฉื‘ืืžืช ืื™ื ื ืฉื›ื—ื”, ืขื–'ื ืชืงื ื” ืฉื™ืคืงื™ืจื• ืื•ืชื ื•ื”ืคืงืจ ืคื˜ื•ืจ ืžืชื•'ืž. ื•ืœืงื˜ื” ื•ืœื ืชื’ืขืจื• ื‘ื”, ืจ'ืœ ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ืื•ืคืŸ ืฉืชืœืงื˜ ืœื ืชื’ืขืจื• ื‘ื” ืืฃ ืฉืชืœืงื˜ ืฉืœื ื›ื“ื™ืŸ, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื›ืœืœ ื”ื›ืœ ืฉืชื•ื›ืœ ืœืงื—ืช ื›ืื•ืช ื ืคืฉื”, ื›ื™ ื›ื•ื ืชื• ืœืคืจื ืกื” ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“.
'And also shol tashollu lah min ha-tzevatim' -- you shall leave bundles under the legal category of shikhchah (forgetting), so that she may take them. He said 've-azavtem' (you shall release/abandon them) because these bundles would be subject to tithes, since they are not truly shikhchah; therefore he decreed that they be declared ownerless (hefker), and hefker is exempt from tithes. 'And she will glean and do not rebuke her' -- meaning: however she may glean, do not rebuke her, even if she gleans in a way not quite in accord with the strict law. In this he gathered everything together, that she may take as much as her soul desires, for his intent was to sustain her with dignity.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึฐึผืœึทืงึตึผื˜ ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืขึทื“ึพื”ึธืขึธืจึถื‘ ื•ึทืชึทึผื—ึฐื‘ึนึผื˜ ืึตืช ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืœึดืงึตึผื˜ึธื” ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื›ึฐึผืึตื™ืคึธื” ืฉึฐื‚ืขึนืจึดื™ืืƒ

English:

She gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned โ€” it was about an ephah of barley โ€”

Ruth gleans until evening and threshes an ephah of barley. Ibn Ezra records a famous dialogue about the meaning of 'ephah of barley' -- proposing several gematria readings that link the quantity to Boaz's descendants, Avshalom's years, or Yishai. Malbim gives a more prosaic picture: she did not avail herself of Boaz's special permission to take bundles, but took only leket; she threshed it to be able to carry it home without the straw; and an ephah is the yield of a leket from a field producing four-and-a-half kor, per the Yerushalmi Peah.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืื™ืคื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื. ืคืขื ืื—ืช ืฉืืœื ื™ ืื“ื, ืžื” ื˜ืขื ื‘ืื™ืคื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื. ืืžืจืชื™ ืœื•, ืื™ืŸ ื˜ืขื ืœืฉืืœื” ื”ื–ืืช, ื›ื™ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืกืคืจ ืžื” ื”ื™ื”. ืื– ื ืงืœื•ืชื™ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื™ ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื˜ืขื, ื•ืื ื™ ื”ื—ืจืฉืชื™ ืžืžื ื• ื•ืœื ืฉืืœืชื™ื•. ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื—ื“ ื•ืืžืจ ืœื™, ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื˜ืขืžื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื”. ื”ืื—ื“ ืฉืจืืชื” ืจื•ืช ื‘ื“ืจืš ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื›ื™ ืขืชื™ื“ ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ื” ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ืขืžื•ื“ ืขืœ ืฉื ื‘ืขืœื”, ื•ื˜ืขื 'ืื™ืคื”' -- ืฆ'ื• ืจืžื•ื ื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืขืœ ื”ืขืžื•ื“, ื•ื–ื” ื‘ื’ื™ืžื˜ืจื™ื 'ืื™ืคื”', ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ 'ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื' ื›ืžื• 'ืฉื™ืขื•ืจื™ื' ื›ืžื• 'ืฉืขืจ ื‘ื ืคืฉื•'. ื•ื˜ืขื ืื—ืจ, 'ื•ื™ื”ื™' -- ืฉืชื™ ืžืœื•ืช, ืืจืžื™ืช ื•ืขื‘ืจื™ืช, ื•ื”ื™ื ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืืชื” ืฉื™ืชืœื” ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื‘ื ื™ื”, ื•ื”ื ื” ื›'ืฃ ืขื ืืœ'ืฃ ืจืžื– ืœืฉื ื•ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ืžื•ืชื•. ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš 'ืื™ืคื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื' -- ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ื, ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ื›ื‘ื“ ืขืœื™ื•. ื•ื˜ืขื ืื—ืจ, ื›ื™ ืชื—ื™ืœืช ืื•ืช ื›ืื™ืคื” ืขื ืชื—ื™ืœืช ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื ื”ื•ื ื‘ื’ืžื˜ืจื™ื 'ื™ืฉื™' ืฉื”ื•ื ืฆื“ื™ืง ื’ืžื•ืจ. ืื– ืฉืžื— ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืœื‘ื• ื‘ืงืจื‘ื•.
'And it was about an ephah of barley.' Once a man asked me: what is the significance of 'an ephah of barley'? I told him there is no point to the question, because the verse simply reports what happened. I appeared foolish in his eyes, and he told me there was indeed a meaning; I remained silent and did not ask him. Then one day he came and said to me that there are many reasons. One reason is that Ruth saw by prophecy that one of her descendants would set up a pillar in her husband's name; 'ephah' alludes to the 166 pomegranates that were on the pillar, which in gematria equals 'ephah,' and 'barley' from 'se'arim' (measures), like 'se'ar be-nafsho.' Another reason: 'vayehi' consists of two words, one Aramaic and one Hebrew; this is when she saw that Avshalom, one of her descendants, would be hanged, and the letters kaf and aleph hint at the years of Avshalom's life until his death. And afterwards 'ephah of barley' in plural form, because it was a heavy burden for him. Another reason: the initial letters of 'ephah' and 'se'orim' together make 'Yishai' in gematria, who was a completely righteous man. At this he rejoiced and his heart settled within him.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืœืงื˜. ืื•ืœื ื”ื™ื ืœื ืœืงื—ื” ืฆื‘ืชื™ื ืฉืœ ืฉื›ื—ื” ืจืง ื•ืชืœืงื˜ ืœืงื˜ ืœื‘ื“, ื•ืœื ืœืงื˜ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืขืžืจื™ื ืจืง ื‘ืฉื“ื”, ืจืง ืฉืœืงื˜ื” ืขื“ ื”ืขืจื‘ ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืืกืคื” ื”ืจื‘ื”. ื•ืชื—ื‘ื˜, ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืชื•ื›ืœ ืœื ืฉืื• ื”ืขื™ืจ ื•ืœื ืชืฉื ืืช ื”ืงืฉ ื•ื”ืžื•ืฅ. ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืื™ืคื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื, ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ืœืงื˜ ื”ืขื•ืœื” ืžืฉื“ื” ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื•ืฉื” ืืจื‘ืขื” ื›ื•ืจ ื•ื—ืฆื™, ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ื“ืคืื” ื“ืฉืขื•ืจ ื ืคื™ืœื” ื“' ืงื‘ื™ืŸ ืœื›ื•ืจ.
And she gleaned. But she did not take the deliberately left bundles -- only leket. She also did not glean among the sheaves, but in the field, and she gleaned until evening, which is why she gathered so much. 'She beat it out' -- so that she could carry it to the city without carrying the straw and chaff. 'And it was about an ephah of barley' -- this is the leket that comes up from a field that produces four-and-a-half kor, as the Yerushalmi Peah states, that the measure of nefilah is four kab per kor.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึดึผืฉึธึผื‚ื ื•ึทืชึธึผื‘ื•ึนื ื”ึธืขึดื™ืจ ื•ึทืชึตึผืจึถื ื—ึฒืžื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืึตืช ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืœึดืงึตึผื˜ึธื” ื•ึทืชึผื•ึนืฆึตื ื•ึทืชึดึผืชึถึผืŸึพืœึธื”ึผ ืึตืช ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื”ื•ึนืชึดืจึธื” ืžึดืฉื‡ึผื‚ื‘ึฐืขึธื”ึผืƒ

English:

and carried it back with her to the town. When her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and when she also took out and gave her what she had left over after eating her fill,

Ruth returns home, carries her yield, and shares the leftovers. Malbim reads Naomi's reaction: she saw and wondered, because the quantity was far beyond what one day's gleaning would normally produce. Then Ruth adds the small gift of the leftovers from her own meal -- a touching detail that underlines her loyalty.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืจื ื—ืžื•ืชื”, ืจ'ืœ ืฉืจืืชื” ื•ืชืžื”ื” ืข'ื–, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืฉืœื ื›ื“ืจืš ืœืงื˜ ื”ื ืืกืฃ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื—ื“, ื•ื ื•ืกืฃ ืœื–ื” ืฉื ืชื ื” ืœื” ืžื” ืฉื”ื•ืชื™ืจื” ืžืฉื‘ืขื”.
And her mother-in-law saw. That is, she saw and was astonished at the amount, for it was beyond what one would normally gather in a single day of gleaning; and in addition to that, Ruth gave her what she had left over from her meal.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึธื”ึผ ื—ึฒืžื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืึตื™ืคึนื” ืœึดืงึทึผื˜ึฐืชึฐึผ ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึฐืึธื ึธื” ืขึธืฉึดื‚ื™ืช ื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ืžึทื›ึดึผื™ืจึตืšึฐ ื‘ึธึผืจื•ึผืšึฐ ื•ึทืชึทึผื’ึตึผื“ ืœึทื—ึฒืžื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืึตืช ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืขึธืฉึฐื‚ืชึธื” ืขึดืžึผื•ึน ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืฉึตืื ื”ึธืึดื™ืฉื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืขึธืฉึดื‚ื™ืชึดื™ ืขึดืžึผื•ึน ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื‘ึนึผืขึทื–ืƒ

English:

her mother-in-law asked her, โ€œWhere did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be he who took such generous notice of you!โ€ So she told her mother-in-law whom she had worked with, saying, โ€œThe name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.โ€

Naomi asks two questions and blesses the unknown benefactor. Rashi glosses 'yehi makirekh barukh' as referring to the owner of the field. Malbim explains why Naomi asks two different questions: 'where did you glean' -- the sheer quantity is striking; 'where did you work' -- the food Ruth brings back indicates she must have done some labor beyond gleaning, since ordinary gleaners are not given food. The verse's unusual 'asher asitah imo' ('which you did WITH him') is read by Malbim as Ruth reporting what Boaz had told her: that HER chesed to her mother-in-law and HER conversion were themselves things she had done 'with' Boaz -- that is, benefits he received as judge of Israel when a righteous convert joined his people.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ื”ื™ ืžื›ื™ืจืš ื‘ืจื•ืš. ื‘ืขืœ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉื ืฉื ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืš ืคื ื™ื ืœืœืงื˜ ื‘ืฉื“ื”ื•:
Blessed be he that took note of you. That is, the owner of the field, who showed you favor by allowing you to glean in his field.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ. ื›ื™ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืื›ืœ ืฉื ืชื ื• ืœื” ืžื•ืจื” ืฉืœื ืœืงื˜ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื, ืจืง ืฉืขืฉืชื” ืื™ื–ื” ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื” ืœื—ื ื•ืงืœื™ื•ืช ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื”, ื•ื”ืœืงื˜ ืฉื”ื‘ื™ืื” ืžื•ืจื” ืฉื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืœืงื˜ื” ื•ืœื ืขืกืงื” ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ืจ. ื•ืขื–'ื ืื™ืคื” ืœืงื˜ืช ื”ื™ื•ื, ืฉื”ื•ื ืชืžื•ื” ืขืœ ืจื•ื‘ ื”ืœืงื˜, ื•ืื ื” ืขืฉื™ืช, ืฉื‘ื”ื›ืจื— ืขืฉื™ืช ืื™ื–ื” ืคืขื•ืœื” ืืฆืœ ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœื›ืŸ ื ืชืŸ ืœืš ืœืื›ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื ื•ืชื ื™ื ืื•ื›ืœ ืœืœื•ืงื˜ื™ ื”ืœืงื˜. ืขื›'ืค ื ืจืื” ืฉืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ ืขืฉื” ืœืš ืžืฆื“ ื”ื—ืกื“ ื•ื”ื›ื™ืจ ืื•ืชืš ืฉืžืฆืืช ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžื›ื™ืจืš ื‘ืจื•ืš. ื•ืชื’ื“ ืœื—ืžื•ืชื” ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉืชื” ืขืžื•, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื”ื’ื™ื“ื” ืžื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืขืฉืชื” ืขืžื•, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืืžืจ ืœื” ืฉื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืขืฉืชื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ื—ืžื•ืชื”, ื•ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื ืชื’ื™ื™ืจื”, ืข'ื› ืžืฆืื” ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ื•ืข'ื› ื ืชืŸ ืœื” ืœืื›ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืืฆืœื• ื›ืืœื• ืขืฉืชื” ืœื• ื ื—ืช ืจื•ื— ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•. ื•ืคืจืฉื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื™ ืฉื ื”ืื™ืฉ (ืฉื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื ื—ืฉื‘ื™ื ืืฆืœื• ื›ืืœื• ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืขืžื• ืื™ื–ื” ื˜ื•ื‘) ื”ื•ื ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉื”ื•ื ืฉื•ืคื˜ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ืืœื” ื ื•ื’ืขื™ื ืœื• ื›ืื™ืœื• ืงื‘ืœ ืžืžื ื™ ืื™ื–ื” ืžืขืฉื” ืœื”ื ืืชื•.
And she said. For the food given her shows that she did not glean merely among the poor, but had done some work for a man who in return gave her bread and parched grain for her labor; and the quantity gleaned shows she spent all day gleaning and did nothing else. Hence 'where did you glean today,' the wonder regarding the amount gleaned, and 'where did you work' -- you must have done some labor for a man who for that reason gave you food, since no one gives food to ordinary leket-gatherers. In any case, it seems that some man did you kindness and recognized you because you found favor in his eyes -- 'blessed be he who recognized you.' And she told her mother-in-law what she had done 'with' him -- meaning she told her what the particular thing was that she had 'done with him': he told her that because she had done chesed with her mother-in-law, and because she had converted, she had therefore found favor in his eyes, and that is why he gave her food. For such conduct counts with him as though she had given him pleasure and done him a good deed. She explained the matter by saying that the man's name (for whom such matters count as if she had done him personal benefit) is Boaz, who is judge of Israel, and such matters pertain to him as if he had personally received a benefit from her.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืœึฐื›ึทืœึธึผืชึธื”ึผ ื‘ึธึผืจื•ึผืšึฐ ื”ื•ึผื ืœึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึนืึพืขึธื–ึทื‘ ื—ึทืกึฐื“ึผื•ึน ืึถืชึพื”ึทื—ึทื™ึดึผื™ื ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื”ึทืžึตึผืชึดื™ื ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึธื”ึผ ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืงึธืจื•ึนื‘ ืœึธื ื•ึผ ื”ึธืึดื™ืฉื ืžึดื’ึนึผืึฒืœึตื ื•ึผ ื”ื•ึผืืƒ

English:

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, โ€œBlessed be he of God, who has not failed to show kindness to the living or to the dead! For,โ€ Naomi explained to her daughter-in-law, โ€œthe man is related to us; he is one of our redeeming kinsmen.โ€

The great transitional verse. Naomi blesses Boaz and identifies him as a go'el -- one of the redeemers who could perform yibum. Rashi explains the dual chesed: Boaz sustains the living and, through his willingness to engage in geulah/yibum, honors the dead. Ibn Ezra identifies 'the living' as Naomi and Ruth and clarifies that 'mi-go'aleinu' here does not technically mean levirate marriage but a related redemption. Malbim unpacks Naomi's blessing with precision: 'He has not abandoned His chesed to the living' -- because Boaz is a relative and will support Naomi and Ruth through kinship charity; 'to the dead' -- because as go'el he will perform yibum, redeeming the name of the deceased from oblivion. The phrase 'mi-go'aleinu' (of our redeemers -- plural) already hints that there is another go'el whose priority will matter in chapter 4.
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืช ื”ื—ื™ื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืžืชื™ื. ืฉื–ืŸ ื•ืžืคืจื ืก ืืช ื”ื—ื™ื™ื ื•ื ื˜ืคืœ ื‘ืฆืจื›ื™ ื”ืžืชื™ื:
With the living and with the deceased. He sustains and supports the living, and concerns himself with the needs of the deceased (the 'needs of the deceased' referring to the kindness Boaz showed to Elimelech and his sons, per Ibn Ezra; or to the willingness of Boaz to perform levirate marriage and thereby do kindness to the memory of her deceased husband, per Alshich).
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”' ืืฉืจ ืœื ืขื–ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื•. ืœืื•ืช ื›ื™ ืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืขื ืืœื™ืžืœืš ื•ืขื ื‘ื ื™ื• ื›ื™ ืฉื•ืคื˜ ื”ื™ื”. ื”ื—ื™ื™ื. ื ืขืžื™ ื•ืจื•ืช. ืžื’ื•ืืœื ื• ื”ื•ื. ืื™ืŸ ื”ื’ืื•ืœื” ื™ื‘ื•ื ืจืง ื”ื•ื ื“ืจืš ืื—ืจืช.
Blessed be Hashem who has not abandoned His chesed -- a sign that He showed kindness at the outset to Elimelech and his sons, for Boaz was a judge. 'The living' -- Naomi and Ruth. 'He is of our redeemers' -- the 'geulah' here is not yibum but another form of redemption.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ ื ืขืžื™ ืœื›ืœืชื”, ืชื—ืœื” ื ืชื ื” ืœื• ื‘ืจื›ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื ืขื–ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื• ืืช ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ื ื” ืฉืขืฉื” ื–ืืช ืœืคืจื ืก ืขื™'ื› ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืืช ื ืขืžื™ ื•ืจื•ืช ืฉื”ื ื—ื™ื™ื ื•ื”ื ืžืžืฉืคื—ืชื•; ื•ืืช ื”ืžืชื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ื ื” ื’'ื› ืฉื™ืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ื”ืžืชื™ื ืข'ื™ ื™ื‘ื•ื, ืฉื‘ื–ื” ื™ืขืฉื” ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืœื ืคืฉ ื”ืžืช. ื•ืคืจืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”, ื ื’ื“ ืž'ืฉ ืืฉืจ ืœื ืขื–ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื• ืืช ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืงืจื•ื‘ ืœื ื• ื”ืื™ืฉ, ื•ืข'ื› ืขื•ืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื• ื”ื—ื™ื™ื. ื•ื ื’ื“ ืž'ืฉ ืขื ื”ืžืชื™ื, ืืžืจื” ืžื’ื•ืืœื ื• ื”ื•ื, ื•ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืฆืจื™ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื™ื‘ื, ืฉื‘ื–ื” ื™ื’ืืœ ื ืคืฉ ื”ืžืช ืœื‘ืœ ื™ืžื—ื” ืฉืžื• ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ืืžืจื” ืžื’ื•ืืœื ื• ื”ื•ื, ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืขื•ื“ ื’ื•ืืœ ื•ื”ื•ื ืื—ื“ ืžื”ื.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. First she blessed him with 'who has not abandoned His chesed toward the living,' for she understood that Boaz did what he did in order to support Naomi and Ruth -- the living -- who were of his family; and 'toward the dead' -- for she also understood he would perform chesed with the dead by way of yibum, by which he would do good for the soul of the departed. She explained her words in relation to each clause: corresponding to 'who has not abandoned His chesed toward the living,' she said 'for the man is near to us' -- therefore he does chesed with his living relatives. Corresponding to 'with the dead,' she said 'he is of our go'alim' -- for the go'el must do yibum, and by this he redeems the soul of the dead from his name being wiped out from Israel. She said 'of our redeemers' (one of them), because there is yet another go'el, and he is one of them.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ืจื•ึผืช ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืึฒื‘ึดื™ึธึผื” ื’ึทึผื ื›ึดึผื™ึพืึธืžึทืจ ืึตืœึทื™ ืขึดืึพื”ึทื ึฐึผืขึธืจึดื™ื ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืœึดื™ ืชึดึผื“ึฐื‘ึธึผืงึดื™ืŸ ืขึทื“ ืึดืึพื›ึดึผืœึผื•ึผ ืึตืช ื›ื‡ึผืœึพื”ึทืงึธึผืฆึดื™ืจ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืœึดื™ืƒ

English:

Ruth the Moabite said, โ€œHe even told me, โ€˜Stay close by my workers until all my harvest is finished.โ€™โ€

Ruth reports Boaz's instruction -- but says 'ne'arim' (male workers) rather than 'na'arot' (female). Malbim reads this as characteristic of Ruth's still-Moabite sensibility: not yet having absorbed Israelite norms of tzniut, she assumed the relevant reference point was the male workers (perhaps even imagining that one might marry her). The verse calls her 'Ruth ha-Moaviah' precisely at this point to mark her not-yet-fully-Israelite framing -- which Naomi will correct in the next verse. In any case, Ruth is using Boaz's instruction as evidence for Naomi's reading -- that Boaz is extending her long-term kindness as a relative.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ ืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื”, ื•ืจื•ืช ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ื ื” ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ื ืจืง ืž'ืฉ ืฉื”ื•ื ืงืจื•ื‘ ื•ืฉืข'ื› ื™ืขืฉ ืขืžื”ื ื—ืกื“ ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืชื. ืข'ื– ืืžืจื” ื’ื ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืืœื™ ืขื ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื™ ืชื“ื‘ืงื™ืŸ. ื‘ืืžืช ื”ื•ื ืืžืจ ืœื” ื•ื›ื” ืชื“ื‘ืงื™ืŸ ืขื ื ืขืจื•ืชื™, ืจืง ื‘ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื” ื•ืฉื ืื™ืŸ ืžืชืจื—ืงื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ื ืขืจื™ื, ืœื ื”ื‘ื™ื ื” ืœื“ื™ื™ืง ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื•, ื•ื—ืฉื‘ื” ืฉื›ื•ื ืชื• ืฉืชื“ื‘ืง ืขื ืื ืฉื™ื•, ืฉื”ื ืขืจื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืขื™ืงืจ ืืฆืœื” (ืฉื—ืฉื‘ื” ืฉืื—ื“ ืžื”ื ื™ืฉื ืื•ืชื”). (ื•ืข'ื– ืงืจืื” ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื”, ื›ื™ ื‘ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ืชื” ืžื‘ื™ื ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจ ื ืขืžื™ ืฉืืžืจื” ืขื ื”ืžืชื™ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉืืžืจ ืขื ื ืขืจื•ืชื™.) ืขื›'ืค ืžืž'ืฉ ืœื” ืฉืชืœืงื˜ ืืฆืœื• ืขื“ ืกื•ืฃ ื™ืžื™ ื”ืงืฆื™ืจ, ื”ื‘ื™ืื” ืจืื™ื” ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ืžื•ืชื” ื›ื™ ื™ืขืฉื” ื–ืืช ืžืฆื“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืงืจื•ื‘ื.
And Ruth the Moabite said. Ruth did not understand the matter of yibum; she only understood that Boaz was a relative who was doing them chesed to sustain them. To this she said 'he even told me, cling to the ne'arim (young men) that are mine.' In truth he had said 've-khoh tidbakin im na'arotai' (cling to my MAIDSERVANTS). But since she was a Moabite and there one does not keep distance from young men, she did not understand the distinction in his words and thought his intent was that she should cling to his men -- the young men being the main figures in her mind (perhaps she imagined one of them would marry her). This is why Scripture calls her here 'Ruth ha-Moaviah': had she been an Israelite she would have understood the distinction in Naomi's 'with the dead' and in Boaz's 'with my maidservants.' In any case, from what he said to her -- that she should glean with him until the end of the harvest -- she brought proof to her mother-in-law's words that Boaz would do this for her as a relative.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึถืจ ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืึถืœึพืจื•ึผืช ื›ึทึผืœึธึผืชึธื”ึผ ื˜ื•ึนื‘ ื‘ึดึผืชึดึผื™ ื›ึดึผื™ ืชึตืฆึฐืึดื™ ืขึดืึพื ึทืขึฒืจื•ึนืชึธื™ื• ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ึดืคึฐื’ึฐึผืขื•ึผึพื‘ึธืšึฐ ื‘ึฐึผืฉึธื‚ื“ึถื” ืึทื—ึตืจืƒ

English:

And Naomi answered her daughter-in-law Ruth, โ€œIt is best, daughter, that you go out with his maidservants, and not be accosted in some other field.โ€

Naomi gently corrects the gender: na'arot (maidservants), not ne'arim (young men). Ibn Ezra notes the concern is being accosted by men in another field. Malbim reads Naomi as grasping with her Israelite wisdom what Ruth did not -- that staying with the female workers is what safety and tzniut require, and that this is the proper understanding of Boaz's actual words.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื›ื™ ืชืฆืื™ ืœืœืงื•ื˜ ืขื ื ืขืจื•ืชื™ื•. ื•ืœื ืขื ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืฉื”ื•ื ื ืฆื‘ ืขืœ ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื•ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื•ืช. ื•ืœื ื™ืคื’ืขื• ื‘ืš. ืื ืฉื™ื ื•ื›ืžื•ื”ื• ืจื‘ื™ื.
'That you go out to glean with his maidens' -- and not with the young men, since he is in charge of both the male and female reapers. 'And that they not accost you' -- referring to men and many like them.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจ ื ืขืžื™, ืื‘ืœ ื ืขืžื™ ื”ื‘ื™ื ื” ื‘ืฉื›ืœื” ืฉืœื ื˜ื•ื‘ ืฉืชื“ื‘ืง ืขื ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ืจืง ืขื ื”ื ืขืจื•ืช ื”ืงื•ืฆืจื•ืช. ื•ืชืืžืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื™ ื›ื™ ืชืฆืื™ ืขื ื ืขืจื•ืชื™ื•, ืจ'ืœ ืœื ืขื ื ืขืจื™ื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ืฉืœื ื™ืคื’ืขื• ื‘ืš ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืื—ืจ, ืฉืœื ืชื‘ื•ืื• ืœื™ื“ื™ ื—ืฉื“.
And Naomi said. But Naomi understood with her wisdom that it was not good for Ruth to cling to the young men but only to the reaping maidservants. She said, 'It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his MAIDENS' -- that is, not with his men -- 'and that they do not accost you in another field,' so that you not come under suspicion.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึดึผื“ึฐื‘ึทึผืง ื‘ึฐึผื ึทืขึฒืจื•ึนืช ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืœึฐืœึทืงึตึผื˜ ืขึทื“ึพื›ึฐึผืœื•ึนืช ืงึฐืฆึดื™ืจึพื”ึทืฉึฐึผื‚ืขึนืจึดื™ื ื•ึผืงึฐืฆึดื™ืจ ื”ึทื—ึดื˜ึดึผื™ื ื•ึทืชึตึผืฉึถืื‘ ืึถืชึพื—ึฒืžื•ึนืชึธื”ึผืƒ

English:

So she stayed close to the maidservants of Boaz, and gleaned until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were finished. Then she stayed at home with her mother-in-law.

The chapter's closing verse spans three months -- barley harvest to wheat harvest -- which the Midrash identifies with the chodshei havchanah, the halachic waiting period required before a convert can remarry. Ibn Ezra glosses 'et chamotah' as 'im chamotah' (with her mother-in-law). Malbim reads the final clause as teaching that Ruth's attachment to Boaz's maidservants was strictly functional: once gleaning no longer required her to be in the field, she returned entirely to Naomi's side. Her love for her mother-in-law outweighed any other social tie.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืชืฉื‘ ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชื”. ื›ืžื• ืขื ื—ืžื•ืชื”.
'And dwelt with her mother-in-law' -- like 'im chamotah' (with her mother-in-law).
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชื“ื‘ืง, ื•ื›ืŸ ืขืฉืชื” ืฉื“ื‘ืงื” ื‘ื ืขืจื•ืช ื‘ื•ืขื– ืขื“ ื›ืœื•ืช ืงืฆื™ืจ ื”ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ื—ื˜ื™ื. ื•ื' ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ ื–ืžืŸ ื–ื” ื ืžืฉืš ื’' ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืฉื”ื ื—ื“ืฉื™ ื”ื‘ื—ื ื” ื›ื“ื™ืŸ ื”ื’ื™ื•ืจืช ืฉืœื ืชื ืฉื ืงื•ื“ื ืœื›ืŸ, ื•ืข'ื› ืื—ืจ ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื–ืžืŸ ื–ื” ื”ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืœื”ืฉืชื“ืœ ืฉืชืชื™ื‘ื. ื•ืชืฉื‘ ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชื”, ืจ'ืœ ืืขืค'ื™ ืฉื“ื‘ืงื” ื–ืžืŸ ืจื‘ ื‘ื ืขืจื•ืช ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ืจืง ื›'ื– ืฉื”ื•ืฆืจื›ื” ืœืœืงื˜, ื›ืž'ืฉ ื•ืชื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื ืขืจื•ืช ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœืœืงื˜, ืื‘ืœ ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžื” ืœืœืงื˜ ื™ืฉื‘ื” ืืช ื—ืžื•ืชื” ื•ืœื ื‘ืงืจื” ืืช ื ืขืจื•ืช ื‘ื•ืขื–, ื›ื™ ืื”ื‘ืช ื—ืžื•ืชื” ืขืœืชื” ื‘ืœื‘ื” ืขืœ ื›ืœื.
And she clung. She did so, clinging to the maidens of Boaz until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. The Midrash says this period extended three months -- the chodshei havchanah, the waiting months required for a convert before she may marry. It was therefore after this interval that she began to move toward yibum. 'And she dwelt with her mother-in-law' -- meaning: though she clung for a long time to the maidens of Boaz, this was only as long as she needed to glean (as it says 'she clung to the maidens of Boaz to glean'), but once there was nothing left to glean, she dwelt with her mother-in-law and did not visit Boaz's maidens. Her love for her mother-in-law rose in her heart above them all.

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