Ruth 2:1

“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, etc.] That was her kinsman by her husband’s side, who now lived at Bethlehem; and yet it does not appear that Naomi made any application to him for assistance in her circumstances, though well known to her, as the word used signifies; which might arise from her modesty, and being loath to be troublesome to him, especially as he was a relation, not of her own family, but of her husband’s; but, what is more strange, that this kinsman had taken no notice of her, nor sent to her, who yet was a very generous and liberal man, and had knowledge of her coming, for he had heard of the character of Ruth, (<080211>Ruth 2:11,12) but perhaps he was not acquainted…”

“RUTH GLEANS IN THE FIELD OF BOAZ. (Rut 2:1-3) Ruth . . . said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean--The right of gleaning was conferred by a positive law on the widow, the poor, and the stranger (see on Lev 19:9 and Deu 24:19). But liberty to glean behind the reapers [Rut 2:3] was not a right that could be claimed; it was a privilege granted or refused according to the good will or favor of the owner.”

“A kinsman - More literally “an acquaintance”; here (and in the feminine, Ruth 3:2) denoting the person with whom one is intimately acquainted, one’s near relation. The next kinsman of Ruth 2:20, etc. גאל gā'al, is a wholly different word. Boaz - Commonly taken to mean, “strength is in him” (compare 1 Kings 7:21). return to 'Top of Page'”

“2:1 Boaz was a relative of . . . Elimelech and thus was qualified to be a family redeemer for the two widows, Ruth and Naomi (see study note on 2:20).”

“kinsman: Rut 3:2, Rut 3:12 a mighty: Deu 8:17, Deu 8:18; Job 1:3, Job 31:25 Boaz: Boaz, according the Targumist, was the same as Ibzan. Rut 4:21; Jdg 12:8-10; Ch1 2:10-12; Mat 1:5; Luk 3:32, Booz Ruth 2:2”

“The account of this occurrence commences with a statement which was necessary in order to make it perfectly intelligible, namely that Boaz, to whose field Ruth went to glean, was a relative of Naomi through her deceased husband Elimelech. The Kethibh מידע is to be read מידּע, an acquaintance (cf. Psa 31:12; Psa 55:14). The Keri מודע is the construct state of מודע, lit. acquaintanceship, then an acquaintance or friend ( Pro 7:4), for which מודעת occurs afterwards in Rut 3:2 with the same meaning. That the acquaintance or friend of Naomi through her husband was also a relation, is evident from the fact that he was "of the family of Elimelech. " According to the rabbinical tradition, which is…”