SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:5
Y Booz dijo a su criado, el que estaba puesto sobre los segadores: ¿Cuya es esta joven?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ruth 2:5
Verse 5. His servant that was set over the reapers] This was a kind of steward or hind who had the under management of the estate. Some think that an officer of this kind is intended in the description given by Homer of the labours of a harvest field, as represented by Vulcan on one compartment of the shield which he made for Achilles:- en dÆ etiqei temenov baqulhion? enqa d eriqoi Æhmwn, oxeiav drepanav en cersin econtev? dragmata dÆ alla metÆ ogmon epmon ephtrima pipton eraze, alla dÆ amallodethrev en elledanoisi deonto. treiv dÆ arÆ amallodethrev efestasan? autar opisqe paidev dragmeuontev, en agkalidessi ferontev, aspercev parecon? basileuv dÆ en toisi siwph skhptron ecwn esthkei epÆ ogmou ghqosunov khr.
khrukev dÆ apaneuqen upo drui daita penonto? boun dÆ iereusantev megan, amfepon? ai de gunaikev deipnon eriqoisin, leukÆ alfita polla palunon. Iliad xviii., v. 550.
There too he form'd the likeness of a field Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil'd, Each with a sharp-tooth'd sickle in his hand.
Along the furrow here, the harvest fell In frequent handfuls; there, they bound the sheaves.
Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task All plied industrious, and behind them boys Attended, filling with the corn their arms, And offering still their bundles to be bound.
Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood, Enjoying, mute the order of the field: While, shaded by an oak, apart his train Prepared the banquet-a well thriven ox New slain, and the attendant maidens mix'd Large supper for the hinds, of whitest flour. COWPER.
This scene is well described; and the person who acts as overseer is here called basileuv, king, and his staff is called skhptron, a scepter; and he stands in mute dignity, merely to see that the work is well done, and that each person performs his task; and there appear to me to be gleaners in the description, viz., the boys who gather the handfuls after the three binders. See the Greek.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers , etc.] To direct them their work, what part each was to do, and to see that they did it well; to take care for provisions for them, and to pay them their wages when their work was done. Josephus calls him agrokomov , that had the care of the field, and all things relative to it; the Jews say, he was set over two and forty persons, whom he had the command of: whose damsel is this ? to whom does she belong? of what family is she? whose daughter is she? or whose wife? for he thought, as Aben Ezra notes, that she was another man’s wife; the Targum is, of what nation is she? perhaps her dress might be somewhat different from that of the Israelitish women.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-16 - The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows tha there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldo heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral an corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduc of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behav aright in all states and conditions; it will form kind masters an faithful servants, and cause harmony in families. True religion wil cause mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. It ha these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them he prayed for them. They did not, as soon as he was out of hearing curse him, as some ill-natured servants that hate their master's eye, but they returne his courtesy. Things are likely to go on well where there is suc good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another. Boaz inquire concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born an brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 בעז 1162 לנערו 5288 הנצב 5324 על 5921 הקוצרים 7114 למי 4310 הנערה 5291 הזאת׃ 2063
