Livesthe days of the Judges

Ruthרות

The whole life, beginning to end, told by the Torah, the Prophets, the Talmud and the Midrash in their own words. One chapter at a time.

chapters: 8
passages, word for word: 19

Chapter 4: In the field of Boaz

Chapter 4 of 8

In the field of Boaz

Ruth 2:1-16

Ruth 2:1-16 · JPS 1917

וּֽלְנׇעֳמִ֞י (מידע) [מוֹדָ֣ע] לְאִישָׁ֗הּ אִ֚ישׁ גִּבּ֣וֹר חַ֔יִל מִמִּשְׁפַּ֖חַת אֱלִימֶ֑לֶךְ וּשְׁמ֖וֹ בֹּֽעַז׃

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of valour, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.

וַתֹּ֩אמֶר֩ ר֨וּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּ֜ה אֶֽל־נׇעֳמִ֗י אֵלְכָה־נָּ֤א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַאֲלַקֳּטָ֣ה בַֽשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים אַחַ֕ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ לְכִ֥י בִתִּֽי׃

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi: ‘Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find favour.’ And she said unto her: ‘Go, my daughter.’

וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ וַתָּבוֹא֙ וַתְּלַקֵּ֣ט בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקֹּצְרִ֑ים וַיִּ֣קֶר מִקְרֶ֔הָ חֶלְקַ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ לְבֹ֔עַז אֲשֶׁ֖ר מִמִּשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֱלִימֶֽלֶךְ׃

And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

וְהִנֵּה־בֹ֗עַז בָּ֚א מִבֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים יְהֹוָ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ ל֖וֹ יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָֽה׃

And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers: ‘The LORD be with you.’ And they answered him: ‘The LORD bless thee.’

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר בֹּ֙עַז֙ לְנַֽעֲר֔וֹ הַנִּצָּ֖ב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים לְמִ֖י הַנַּעֲרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers: ‘Whose damsel is this?’

וַיַּ֗עַן הַנַּ֛עַר הַנִּצָּ֥ב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נַעֲרָ֤ה מֽוֹאֲבִיָּה֙ הִ֔יא הַשָּׁ֥בָה עִֽם־נׇעֳמִ֖י מִשְּׂדֵ֥י מוֹאָֽב׃

And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said: ‘It is a Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the field of Moab;

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אֲלַקֳּטָה־נָּא֙ וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י בָעֳמָרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים וַתָּב֣וֹא וַֽתַּעֲמ֗וֹד מֵאָ֤ז הַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה זֶ֛ה שִׁבְתָּ֥הּ הַבַּ֖יִת מְעָֽט׃

and she said: Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves; so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.’

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ בֹּ֨עַז אֶל־ר֜וּת הֲל֧וֹא שָׁמַ֣עַתְּ בִּתִּ֗י אַל־תֵּֽלְכִי֙ לִלְקֹט֙ בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה אַחֵ֔ר וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א תַעֲבוּרִ֖י מִזֶּ֑ה וְכֹ֥ה תִדְבָּקִ֖ין עִם־נַעֲרֹתָֽי׃

Then said Boaz unto Ruth: ‘Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.

עֵינַ֜יִךְ בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְצֹרוּן֙ וְהָלַ֣כְתְּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ן הֲל֥וֹא צִוִּ֛יתִי אֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים לְבִלְתִּ֣י נׇגְעֵ֑ךְ וְצָמִ֗ת וְהָלַכְתְּ֙ אֶל־הַכֵּלִ֔ים וְשָׁתִ֕ית מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁאֲב֖וּן הַנְּעָרִֽים׃

Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.’

וַתִּפֹּל֙ עַל־פָּנֶ֔יהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָ֑רְצָה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו מַדּ֩וּעַ֩ מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ לְהַכִּירֵ֔נִי וְאָנֹכִ֖י נׇכְרִיָּֽה׃

Then she fell on her face, and bowed down to the ground, and said unto him: ‘Why have I found favour in thy sight, that thou shouldest take cognizance of me, seeing I am a foreigner?’

וַיַּ֤עַן בֹּ֙עַז֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֔הּ הֻגֵּ֨ד הֻגַּ֜ד לִ֗י כֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂית֙ אֶת־חֲמוֹתֵ֔ךְ אַחֲרֵ֖י מ֣וֹת אִישֵׁ֑ךְ וַתַּעַזְבִ֞י אָבִ֣יךְ וְאִמֵּ֗ךְ וְאֶ֙רֶץ֙ מֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֔ךְ וַתֵּ֣לְכִ֔י אֶל־עַ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָדַ֖עַתְּ תְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃

And Boaz answered and said unto her: ‘It hath fully been told me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.

יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה פׇּעֳלֵ֑ךְ וּתְהִ֨י מַשְׂכֻּרְתֵּ֜ךְ שְׁלֵמָ֗ה מֵעִ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֖את לַחֲס֥וֹת תַּחַת־כְּנָפָֽיו׃

The LORD recompense thy work, and be thy reward complete from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.’

וַ֠תֹּ֠אמֶר אֶמְצָא־חֵ֨ן בְּעֵינֶ֤יךָ אֲדֹנִי֙ כִּ֣י נִֽחַמְתָּ֔נִי וְכִ֥י דִבַּ֖רְתָּ עַל־לֵ֣ב שִׁפְחָתֶ֑ךָ וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ לֹ֣א אֶהְיֶ֔ה כְּאַחַ֖ת שִׁפְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃

Then she said: ‘Let me find favour in thy sight, my LORD; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken to the heart of thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.’

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ לָ֨הֿ בֹ֜עַז לְעֵ֣ת הָאֹ֗כֶל גֹּ֤שִֽׁי הֲלֹם֙ וְאָכַ֣לְתְּ מִן־הַלֶּ֔חֶם וְטָבַ֥לְתְּ פִּתֵּ֖ךְ בַּחֹ֑מֶץ וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ מִצַּ֣ד הַקֹּצְרִ֔ים וַיִּצְבׇּט־לָ֣הּ קָלִ֔י וַתֹּ֥אכַל וַתִּשְׂבַּ֖ע וַתֹּתַֽר׃

And Boaz said unto her at meal-time: ‘Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.’ And she sat beside the reapers; and they reached her parched corn, and she did eat and was satisfied, and left thereof.

וַתָּ֖קׇם לְלַקֵּ֑ט וַיְצַו֩ בֹּ֨עַז אֶת־נְעָרָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר גַּ֣ם בֵּ֧ין הָעֳמָרִ֛ים תְּלַקֵּ֖ט וְלֹ֥א תַכְלִימֽוּהָ׃

And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying: ‘Let her glean even among the sheaves, and put her not to shame.

וְגַ֛ם שֹׁל־תָּשֹׁ֥לּוּ לָ֖הּ מִן־הַצְּבָתִ֑ים וַעֲזַבְתֶּ֥ם וְלִקְּטָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִגְעֲרוּ־בָֽהּ׃

And also pull out some for her of purpose from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.’

Ruth Rabbah 4:6

Ruth Rabbah 4:6 · Sefaria Community Translation

וַיֹּאמֶר בֹּעַז לְנַעֲרוֹ הַנִּצָּב עַל הַקּוֹצְרִים (רות ב, ה), עַל כַּמָּה הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה, אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בַּר מִרְיָם עַל אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁנַיִם הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה, מִן הֲדָא (דברי הימים ב ב, טז יז): וַיִּסְפֹּר שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל הָאֲנָשִׁים הַגֵּירִים אֲשֶׁר בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו' וַיַּעַשׂ מֵהֶם שִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף סַבָּל וגו', דַּעֲבַד כֵּן יָכֵיל קָאֵים וְיָדַע מַה דְּהוּא עָבַד. לְמִי הַנַּעֲרָה הַזֹּאת. וְלָא הֲוָה חַכִּים לָהּ, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָהּ נְעִימָה וּמַעֲשֶׂיהָ נָאִים, הִתְחִיל שׁוֹאֵל עָלֶיהָ, כָּל הַנָּשִׁים שׁוֹחֲחוֹת וּמְלַקְּטוֹת וְזוֹ יוֹשֶׁבֶת וּמְלַקֶּטֶת. כָּל הַנָּשִׁים מְסַלְּקוֹת כְּלֵיהֶם, וְזוֹ מְשַׁלְשֶׁלֶת כֵּלֶיהָ. כָּל הַנָּשִׁים מְשַׂחֲקוֹת עִם הַקּוֹצְרִים, וְזוֹ מַצְנַעַת עַצְמָהּ. כָּל הַנָּשִׁים מְלַקְּטוֹת בֵּין הָעֳמָרִים, וְזוֹ מְלַקֶּטֶת מִן הַהֶפְקֵר. וְדִכְוָותֵיהּ (שמואל א יז, נה): וְכִרְאוֹת שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד יֹצֵא לִקְרַאת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי, וְלָא הֲוָה חַכִּים לֵיהּ, אֶתְמוֹל הֲוָה מְשַׁלַּח לֵאמֹר לְיִשַּׁי (שמואל א טז, כב): יַעֲמָד נָא דָוִד לְפָנַי כִּי מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינָי, וְעַכְשָׁיו הוּא שׁוֹאֵל עָלָיו, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה שָׁאוּל אֶת רֹאשׁ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי בְּיָדוֹ, הִתְחִיל שׁוֹאֵל עָלָיו, אִם מִפֶּרֶץ הוּא, מֶלֶךְ הוּא. אִם מִזֶּרַח הוּא, שׁוֹפֵט הוּא. וְהָיָה שָׁם דּוֹאֵג הָאֲדוֹמִי בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה וְאָמַר לוֹ אֲפִלּוּ הוּא מִפֶּרֶץ לֹא פָּסוּל הוּא, לֹא פְּסוּל מִשְׁפָּחָה הוּא, לֹא מֵרוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה הוּא. אָמַר לוֹ אַבְנֵר וְלֹא כְּבָר נִתְחַדְּשָׁה הֲלָכָה עַמּוֹנִי וְלֹא עַמּוֹנִית, אָמַר לוֹ אִם כֵּן אֲדוֹמִי וְלֹא אֲדוֹמִית, מִצְרִי וְלֹא מִצְרִית, אֲנָשִׁים לָמָּה נִתְרַחֲקוּ לֹא (דברים כג, ה): עַל דְּבַר אֲשֶׁר לֹא קִדְמוּ אֶתְכֶם בַּלֶּחֶם וּבַמַּיִם, הָיָה לָהֶם לַנָשִׁים לְהוֹצִיא לִקְרַאת נָשִׁים. נִתְעַלְּמָה הֲלָכָה מֵעֵינָיו שֶׁל אַבְנֵר לְשָׁעָה. אָמַר לוֹ שָׁאוּל הֲלָכָה שֶׁנִּתְעַלְּמָה מֵעֵינֶיךָ צֵא וּשְׁאַל לִשְׁמוּאֵל וּבֵית דִּינוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא אֵצֶל שְׁמוּאֵל בְּבֵית דִּינוֹ אָמַר לוֹ הֲדָא מִנַּיִן אִית לָךְ, לֹא מִן דּוֹאֵג, דּוֹאֵג מִינִי הוּא וְאֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא בְּשָׁלוֹם מִן הָעוֹלָם, לְהוֹצִיאֲךָ חָלָק אִי אֶפְשָׁר, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים מה, יד): כָּל כְּבוּדָה בַת מֶלֶךְ פְּנִימָה, לְאִשָּׁה שֶׁלֹא לְהוֹצִיא, וְלָאִישׁ לְהוֹצִיא (דברים כג, יד): וַאֲשֶׁר שָׂכַר עָלֶיךָ, לָאִישׁ לִתֵּן שָׂכָר וְלֹא לָאִשָּׁה. וַיַּעַן הַנַּעַר הַנִּצָּב עַל הַקּוֹצְרִים וַיֹּאמַר נַעֲרָה מוֹאֲבִיָה הִיא. וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ מַעֲשֶׂיהָ נָאִים וּנְעִימִים. אֶלָּא, רַבָּתָה רִפְּתָה לָהּ.

"Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers (Ruth 2:5)": over how many was he set? Rabbi Eliezer the son of Miriam: "over forty two he was set, because, see!: "And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel...And he set 70,000 of them to bear burdens (2 Chronicles 2:16-17)", and he who works this way is able to see and know what a worker does. "Whose maiden is this?" And he did not recognize her? Rather when he saw that she was pleasant and her demeanor modest, he began to ask about her. All the women bent to glean, but she sat and gleaned. All the women raised their dresses [to work], but she let down her dress. All the women laughed with the reapers, but she was reserved by herself. All the women gleaned between the sheaves, but she gleaned from the public leavings. And in the same way "And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner ['Abner, whose son is this youth?] (1 Samuel 17:55)": and he did not recognize him. Yet the day before he had sent to Jesse and said: "'Let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight. (1 Samuel 16:22)"; so now he is asking about him? Rather when Saul saw the head of the Philistine in his hand he began to ask about him. Is he [a descendant] from Perez, he was a king. Or is he from Zerah, he was a judge? And Doeg the Edomite happened at that time to be present and said to him: "Even if he is a descendant of Perez, is he not forbidden? Is not he forbidden by his family? Is he not [a descendant] from Ruth, the Moabitess?" But Abner said to him, "but has not the new halakhah been made, "Ammonite but not Ammonitess, Moabite but not Moabitess"? And Doeg said to him "If [we follow the precedent] then Edomite but not Edomitess, Egyptian but not female Egyptian? Why were the men rejected, was it “Because they met you not with bread and with water? (Deut 23:5)". The women were also to have gone to meet the men?" And for a moment the halakhah was hidden from Abner's eyes. Saul said to him "[as for] the halakhah that was hidden from your eyes, go and ask Samuel and his Beit Din. When he came near to Samuel and his Beit Din he said to him: "So, from where do you hold your opinion? It is not from Doeg. Doeg is a heretic and he is not going to leave the world in peace, and I cannot let you go until it is solved." And Samuel said: "As it is written: "All glorious is the king's daughter within the palace (Psalm 45:14)" for a woman, she does not go out, and for a man he does go out: "and because they hired against you (Deuteronomy 23:5)". It is for a man to hire and not a woman". "And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said: 'It is a Moabite maiden' (Ruth 2:6)". And you said her demeanor is pleasant and modest. Rather her mother in law taught her.

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Ruth Rabbah 5:7

Ruth Rabbah 5:7 · Sefaria Community Translation

וַתָּקָם לְלַקֵּט. וְגַם שֹׁל תָּשֹׁלּוּ לָהּ מִן הַצְּבָתִים (רות ב, טו טז), רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הָיָה מְבַדֵּר סְלָעִים כְּדֵי לִזְכּוֹת בָּהֶן רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר בָּא. רַבֵּנוּ הָיָה מְבַקֵּר גְּרִישִׂין כְּדֵי לִזְכּוֹת בָּהֶן רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא.

"And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying: 'Let her glean even among the sheaves, and put her not to shame (Ruth 2:16-17)." Rabbi Yochanan used to scatter coins at random so Rabbi Shimon the son of Ba might gather them. Our Rabbi [Yehudah] used to leave out beans so that Rabbi Shimon the son of Chalafta might gather them.

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