Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/248

 overseer replied:  “This  is  Ruth  who  came  with  Noemi  from  the land of  Moab; and  she  desires  leave  to  glean  the  ears  of  com that remain,  following  the  steps  of  the  reapers. She hath  been  in the  field  from  morning  till  now,  and  hath  not  gone  home  for a moment.”

Then Booz  addressed  Ruth  very  kindly,  and  said: “Hear  me, daughter: Keep  with  my  maids  and  follow  where  they  reap. I have charged my  young  men  not  to  molest  thee,  and  if  thou  art  thirsty, go to  the  vessels  and  drink  of  the  waters  whereof  the  servants drink, and  dip  thy  morsel  in  the  vinegar.”  Full  of  gratitude  for these kind  words,  Ruth  bent  down  before  Booz,  and  asked  how it came  that  she,  a woman  of  another  country,  should  find  favour in his  sight.

Booz told  her  that  all  she  had  done  for  her  mother-in-law since the  death  of  her  husband  had  been  related  to  him. He prayed: “Mayest thou  receive  a full  reward  of  the  Lord,  under whose wings  thou  art  fled.”  He  then  privately  told  the  reapers: “Let fall  some  of  your  handfuls  of  purpose,  that  she  may  gather them without  shame.”  She  gleaned  therefore  in  the  field  till  evening, and  then  beat  out  with  a rod  what  she  had  gleaned,  which was an  ephi: that  is  three  bushels. Grateful for  the  kindness  shown her, she  returned  to  her  mother-in-law,  carrying  with  her  the  barley she had  threshed,  and  the  leavings  of  the  meal  that  had  been given her. Noemi was  astonished  and  asked: “Where  hast  thou gleaned to-day,  and  what  hast  thou  wrought? Blessed be  he  that hath had  pity  on  thee.”  Ruth  told  the  man’s  name,  that  he  was called Booz.

Next day  she  returned  to  the  field  of  Booz  and  continued to glean  after  the  reapers,  till  all  the  barley  was  laid  up  in  the barns. Some time  after  Booz  said  to  Ruth: “My  daughter,  all the people  that  dwell  within  the  gates  of  my  city  know  that  thou art a virtuous  woman.”  So  he  married  her. Then the  ancients came and  said  to  Booz:  “May  this  woman  be  an  example  of virtue  in  Ephrata,  and  may  she  have  a famous  name  in  Bethlehem.” The Lord  blessed  their  union  and  gave  them  a son  whom  they called Obed. Then Noemi,  full  of  joy,  taking  the  child,  laid  it