Ruth 3:1

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her,.... After the harvests were over, and so gleaning likewise; when Naomi and Ruth were together alone in their apartment, the mother addressed the daughter

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? No JFB commentary on this verse.

RUTH CHAPTER 3 By Naomi’ s advice, Ruth lieth at Boaz’ s feet, . He awaking commendeth what she had done, and acknowledgeth the right of a kinsman; tells her there was a nearer kinsman, to whom he would offer her, who refusing, he would redeem her, . Sends her away with six measures of barley, . Rest, i.e. a life of rest, and comfort, and safety, under the care of a good husband. The question supposeth an affirmative answer: I will seek it, as my duty binds me.

Rth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?Ver. 1. Shall I not seek rest for thee?] There is in most a propension to the nuptial conjunction. Requirit vir costam suam, requirit faemina sedem suam, say the Rabbis. The man misseth his rib; the woman would be in her old place again, under the man’ s arm or wing. Non est requies mulieri donec nupserit, saith Aben Ezra. The unmarried life is trouble and disquietment. Hence marriage is called Portus iuventutis, the haven of young folk, who are usually tossed by lustful lingerings, as a ship is with waves; hence the Greeks call young men ηιθεοι of αιθω to burn, and αιζηοι of ζεω to boil. Hence they are called upon to put away evil from their flesh, that is, to mortify fleshly lusts: and admonished by the apostle, that "it is better for them to marry than to burn." Marriage being God’ s medicine, which, if rightly applied, will cool and heal unruly lusts that war against the soul. That it may be well with thee.] That thou mayest arrive at those fair havens of a happy match: that marriage may be to thee a merry age. At Athens the bridegroom was wont to sing, “εφυγονκακον, ευροναμεινον.” I have changed a worse estate for a better. It was as it proved; for of some it may be said as it was of Sulla, that they had been happy, if they had never married: but this is from man’ s corrupt heart, that like a toad, turneth all it taketh into rank poison. "It is not good for man to be alone." Indeed, those that will marry shall be sure of "trouble," and that "in the flesh" too: but as it is said of Egypt, that as no country hath more venemous creatures, none more antidotes; so marriage hath many troubles, but with it many helps against trouble. “ Coniugium humanae divina Academia vitae.”

(1) Rest.—Although Naomi had already (Rth 1:12) repudiated any thought of marriage for herself, still she felt it her duty to do what she could to provide a home for the daughter-in-law who had so loyally followed her, lest her own death should leave her young companion specially unprotected and friendless. But there is clearly a second thought. The marriage of Boaz and Ruth will not only ensure rest for the latter, but will also raise up the seed of her dead son and preserve the family name. That it may be well with thee.—The object of the marriage is for Ruth’s good, and thus should it be with every marriage; it must be for the good, and comfort, and abiding peace, not of the body only, but of the soul.

CHAPTER III Naomi's advice to Ruth, how to procure herself a marriage with Boaz, 1-5. She acts according to her mother-in-law's direction, and is kindly received by Boaz, who promises to marry her, should her nearer kinsman refuse, 6-13. He gives her six measures of barley, and sends her away privately to her mother-in-law, who augurs favourably of the issue of the plan she had laid, 14-18. NOTES ON CHAP. III Verse 1. Shall I not seek rest for thee] That is, Shall I not endeavour to procure thee a proper husband? See Ruth 1:9, and the observations at the end of that chapter.

Ch. 3. Ruth appeals to Boaz to do the kinsman’s part 1. seek rest] a resting place marg.; see on Rth 1:9. All arrangements for a marriage were made by the parents (cf. Judges 14:2 f.); hence it was Naomi’s duty to provide for Ruth’s future. How this was done is told with fine simplicity.

1. Naomi… said — All through that memorable barley harvest, from the evening when Ruth showed her the results of her first day’s gleaning in the field of Boaz until the time of this utterance, had