SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:17
¶ Y cogió en el campo hasta la tarde, y desgranó lo que había cogido, y fue como un efa de cebada.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ruth 2:17
Verse 17. An ephah of barley.] Not less than seven gallons and a half; a good day's work. On Hebrew measures of capacity, see the note on Exod. xvi. 16.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. So she gleaned in the field until even , etc.] An instance of her great diligence and industry, attending to this mean employment constantly from morning tonight: and beat out that she had gleaned : she did not bind up her gleanings in a bundle, and carry it home on her head, as gleaners with us do, but she beat it out with a staff in the field, where she gleaned it, and winnowed it, very probably in the threshingfloor of Boaz; by which means what she had gleaned was brought into a lesser size and weight, and was a lighter burden to carry home: and it was an ephah of barley ; or three seahs of barley, as the Targum; which, according to Bishop Cumberland f49 , was six gallons, and three pints, and three solid inches: an omer is said to be the tenth part of an ephah, and, made into bread, was as much as a man could eat in one day, ( Exodus 16:16,36), so that Ruth got enough in one day, for herself and her mother-in-law, which would last five days at least. This was a great deal for one woman to pick up, ear by ear, in one day; and must be accounted for, not only by her diligence and industry, but by the favour shown her by the reapers, under the direction of Boaz, who suffered her to glean among the sheaves, and let fall handfuls for her to pick up.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-23 - It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her ow industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, a Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hat home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves ever night, Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in an other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them. Ruth dutifull observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, sh kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, Ge 34. Ruth kep at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no othe errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ende in preferment __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ותלקט 3950 בשׂדה 7704 עד 5704 הערב 6153 ותחבט 2251 את 853 אשׁר 834 לקטה 3950 ויהי 1961 כאיפה 374 שׂערים׃ 8184
