Ruth 2:7

“And she said, etc.] These are the words of the servant continued, who goes on with the account of Ruth, and her conduct, since she had been in the field: I pray you let me glean, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: for though by the law of Israel she had a right, as a poor widow and stranger, to glean, yet as the owner of the field, and his servants, by his appointment, under him, might have power of fixing the time when such might glean, and of judging who were the proper persons to be admitted, Ruth in her great modesty and meekness did not choose to enter on this work without leave: so she came; into the field and gleaned, having obtained leave: and hath continued even from…”

“she said . . . Let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves--Various modes of reaping are practised in the East. Where the crop is thin and short, it is plucked up by the roots. Sometimes it is cut with the sickle. Whether reaped in the one way or the other, the grain is cast into sheaves loosely thrown together, to be subjected to the process of threshing, which takes place, for the most part, immediately after the reaping. Field labors were begun early in the morning--before the day became oppressively hot. she tarried a little in the house--that is, the field tent, erected for the occasional rest and refreshment of the laborers.”

“The house - The shed or booth where they took their meals, and were sheltered from the sun in the heat of the day (see Genesis 33:17). return to 'Top of Page'”

“I pray - She did not boldly intrude herself, but modestly ask leave of us. 'Till now - She is not retired through idleness, for she hath been diligent and constant in her labours. The house - In the little house or tent, which was set up in the fields at these times, and was necessary in those hot countries, where the labourers might retire for a little repose or repast. Being weary with her continued labours, she comes hither to take a little rest. Ruth 2:8”

“2:7 in the shelter: Many farmers in Israel’s hill country erected shelters beside their fields for use during the harvest. Workers used these shelters for shade during lunch or other break times during the long, hard workday. Such shelters can still be seen in parts of the hill country.”

“I pray: Pro 15:33, Pro 18:23; Mat 5:3; Eph 5:21; Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 continued: Pro 13:4, Pro 22:29; Ecc 9:10; Rom 12:11; Gal 6:9 in the house: It seems that the reapers were now resting in a tent, erected for that purpose; and that Ruth had just gone in with them, to take her rest also. Ruth 2:8”