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Megillat Rut Chapter 3
Some questions to consider while reading:
  • What is the purpose of Naomi's plan?
  • What aspects of this story seem ambiguous?
  • Does this feel romantic/sexual or ritualistic?
  • Keeping in mind the previous chapters, how would you describe the relationship between Boaz and Ruth?
  • When reading Rashi and the midrash, ask: what is motivating them to add this explanation? What is puzzling about or lacking in the pasuk that they feel the need to expand upon?

(א) וַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ נׇעֳמִ֣י חֲמוֹתָ֑הּ בִּתִּ֕י הֲלֹ֧א אֲבַקֶּשׁ־לָ֛ךְ מָנ֖וֹחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽיטַב־לָֽךְ׃ (ב) וְעַתָּ֗ה הֲלֹ֥א בֹ֙עַז֙ מֹֽדַעְתָּ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֖ית אֶת־נַעֲרוֹתָ֑יו הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא זֹרֶ֛ה אֶת־גֹּ֥רֶן הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖ים הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (ג) וְרָחַ֣צְתְּ ׀ וָסַ֗כְתְּ וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ (שמלתך) [שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ] עָלַ֖יִךְ (וירדתי) [וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ] הַגֹּ֑רֶן אַל־תִּוָּדְעִ֣י לָאִ֔ישׁ עַ֥ד כַּלֹּת֖וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃ (ד) וִיהִ֣י בְשׇׁכְב֗וֹ וְיָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁכַּב־שָׁ֔ם וּבָ֛את וְגִלִּ֥ית מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו (ושכבתי) [וְשָׁכָ֑בְתְּ] וְהוּא֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשִֽׂין׃ (ה) וַתֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֶ֑יהָ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמְרִ֥י [אֵלַ֖י] אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה׃ (ו) וַתֵּ֖רֶד הַגֹּ֑רֶן וַתַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוַּ֖תָּה חֲמוֹתָֽהּ׃ (ז) וַיֹּ֨אכַל בֹּ֤עַז וַיֵּשְׁתְּ֙ וַיִּיטַ֣ב לִבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֕א לִשְׁכַּ֖ב בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָעֲרֵמָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֣א בַלָּ֔ט וַתְּגַ֥ל מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ (ח) וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד הָאִ֖ישׁ וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִשָּׁ֔ה שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת מַרְגְּלֹתָֽיו׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אָ֑תְּ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אָֽנֹכִי֙ ר֣וּת אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֤ כְנָפֶ֙ךָ֙ עַל־אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ כִּ֥י גֹאֵ֖ל אָֽתָּה׃ (י) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּרוּכָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ בִּתִּ֔י הֵיטַ֛בְתְּ חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ הָאַחֲר֖וֹן מִן־הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן לְבִלְתִּי־לֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַבַּ֣חוּרִ֔ים אִם־דַּ֖ל וְאִם־עָשִֽׁיר׃ (יא) וְעַתָּ֗ה בִּתִּי֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמְרִ֖י אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ כׇּל־שַׁ֣עַר עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י אֵ֥שֶׁת חַ֖יִל אָֽתְּ׃ (יב) וְעַתָּה֙ כִּ֣י אׇמְנָ֔ם כִּ֥י (אם) גֹאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי וְגַ֛ם יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (יג) לִ֣ינִי ׀ הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהָיָ֤ה בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ אִם־יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ טוֹב֙ יִגְאָ֔ל וְאִם־לֹ֨א יַחְפֹּ֧ץ לְגׇאֳלֵ֛ךְ וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ אָנֹ֖כִי חַי־יְהֹוָ֑ה שִׁכְבִ֖י עַד־הַבֹּֽקֶר׃ (יד) וַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב מַרְגְּלוֹתָו֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַתָּ֕קׇם (בטרום) [בְּטֶ֛רֶם] יַכִּ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַל־יִוָּדַ֔ע כִּי־בָ֥אָה הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַגֹּֽרֶן׃ (טו) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָ֠בִ֠י הַמִּטְפַּ֧חַת אֲשֶׁר־עָלַ֛יִךְ וְאֶחֳזִי־בָ֖הּ וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מׇד שֵׁשׁ־שְׂעֹרִים֙ וַיָּ֣שֶׁת עָלֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֹ֖א הָעִֽיר׃ (טז) וַתָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־חֲמוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אַ֣תְּ בִּתִּ֑י וַתַּ֨גֶּד־לָ֔הּ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂה־לָ֖הּ הָאִֽישׁ׃ (יז) וַתֹּ֕אמֶר שֵׁשׁ־הַשְּׂעֹרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה נָ֣תַן לִ֑י כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר [אֵלַ֔י] אַל־תָּב֥וֹאִי רֵיקָ֖ם אֶל־חֲמוֹתֵֽךְ׃ (יח) וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּֽי־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיּֽוֹם׃

(1) Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “Daughter, I must seek a home for you, where you may be happy. (2) Now there is our kinsman Boaz, whose girls you were close to. He will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor tonight. (3) So bathe, anoint yourself, dress up, and go down to the threshing floor. But do not disclose yourself to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. (4) When he lies down, note the place where he lies down, and go over and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what you are to do.” (5) Try translating! (6) Try translating! (7) Boaz ate and drank, and in a cheerful mood went to lie down beside the grainpile. Then she went over stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down. (8) In the middle of the night, the man gave a start and pulled back—there was a woman lying at his feet! (9) “Who are you?” he asked. And she replied, “I am your handmaid Ruth. Spread your robe over your handmaid,-a for you are a redeeming kinsman.” (10) He exclaimed, “Be blessed of the LORD, daughter! Your latest deed of loyalty is greater than the first, in that you have not turned to younger men, whether poor or rich. (11) And now, daughter, have no fear. I will do in your behalf whatever you ask, for all the elders of my town-c know what a fine woman you are. (12) But while it is true I am a redeeming kinsman, there is another redeemer closer than I. (13) Stay for the night. Then in the morning, if he will act as a redeemer, good! let him redeem. But if he does not want to act as redeemer for you, I will do so myself, as the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.” (14) So she lay at his feet until dawn. She rose before one person could distinguish another, for he thought, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” (15) And he said, “Hold out the shawl you are wearing.” She held it while he measured out six measures of barley, and he put it on her back.
When she got back to the town,
(16) she came to her mother-in-law, who asked, “How is it with you (lit. "who are you"), daughter?” She told her all that the man had done for her; (17) and she added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” (18) And Naomi said, “Stay here, daughter, till you learn how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.”

וְרָחַצְתְּ. מִטִּנּוּף עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלָּךְ:
[And you shall] bathe. From the contamination of your [past] idolatry.
וָסַכְתְּ. אֵלּוּ מִצְוֹת:
And scent yourself. These are the [Torah’s] precepts.
וְשַׂמְתְּ שִׂמְלֹתַיִךְ. בְּגָדִים שֶׁל שַׁבָּת:
Dress [yourself] in your finest garb. Shabbos garments.
ושמת שמלותיך עליך - הטובות שלא היתה קוצרת בהן.

The nice ones that you haven't harvested in.

וְיָרַדְתְּ הַגֹּרֶן. וְיָרַדְתִּי כְּתִיב זְכוּתִי תֵרֵד עִמָּךְ:
And go down to the threshing floor. It is written וְיָרַדְתִּי [=and I will go down]; [i.e.,] my merit will go down with you.
וַתֵּרֶד הַגֹּרֶן וַתַּעַשׂ. הִיא אָמְרָה לָהּ "וְרָחַצְתְּ וָסַכְתְּ וְשַׂמְתְּ שִׂמְלוֹתַיִךְ עָלַיִךְ", וְאַחַר כָּךְ "וְיָרַדְתְּ הַגֹּרֶן. וְהִיא לֹא עָשְׂתָה כֵן. אֶלָּא אָמְרָה, "אִם אֵרֵד כְּשֶׁאֲנִי מְקֻשֶּׁטֶת, הַפּוֹגֵעַ בִּי וְהָרוֹאֶה אוֹתִי יֹאמַר שֶׁאֲנִי זוֹנָה". לְפִיכָךְ, יָרְדָה בַתְּחִלָּה הַגֹּרֶן וְאַחַר כָּךְ קִשְּׁטָה אֶת עַצְמָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּתָּהּ חֲמוֹתָהּ:
So she went down to the threshing floor and she did. She [Naomi] said to her, “Bathe and scent yourself, dress yourself in the finest garb,” and afterwards, “and go down to the threshing floor.” But she [Rus] did not do so, but [instead] she said, “If I go down when I am dressed up, whoever meets me or sees me will think that I am a harlot.” She therefore first went down to the threshing floor and afterwards adorned herself, as her mother-in-law had instructed.
וַיֶּחֱרַד הָאִישׁ. כְּסָבוּר שֵׁד הוּא וּבִקֵּשׁ לִזְעֹק, וְהִיא אֲחָזַתּוּ וּלְפָפַתּוּ בִּזְרוֹעוֹתֶיהָ:
The man was startled. He thought it was a demon and wanted to scream, but she held him and encompassed him with her arms.
ותגל מרגלותיו ותשכב (שם), ויהי בחצי הלילה וגו' (שם שם ח), שעמד לעסוק בתורה, ויחרד האיש וילפת. (שם), בא לצעוק מיד אחזה בו, ואין הלשון הזה אלא לשון תפיסה, שנאמר וילפת שמשון (שופטים יז כט), מהו ויחרד, סבר שמא רוח הוא או מזיק, נתן ידו על ראשה ומצאה אשה, כי השדים אין להם שיער.

Then she uncovered his feet and lied down etc., and at the middle of the night he gave a start!

For he got up to study Torah.

....

But what is the meaning of And he gave a start? He thought, Perhaps she is a demon! He then placed his hand on her head and realized - It's a woman! For demons don't have any hair.

וּפְָרַשְׂתָּ כְנָפֶךָ. כְּנַף בִּגְדְּךָ לְכַסּוֹתִי בְטַלִּיתְךָ וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן נִשּׂוּאִין:
Spread your mantle. The corner of your garment to cover me with your cloak; and this is an expression of marriage.

(יג) חי ה' . אמרה לו בדברים אתה מוציאני קפץ ונשבע לה שאינה מוציאה בדברים

As God lives: She said to him, “You are dismissing me with words.” He jumped up and swore to her that he would not dismiss her with words.

ויאמר הבי המטפחת. הב כתי' מלמד שהיה מדבר בלשון זכר כדי שלא ירגיש שום אדם בו.

Then he said, Give over your shawl.

The masculine form is written (hav), but we read it in the femenine form (havi). In truth, he was speaking in the masuline, so that no one would recognize what was going on.

ותבא אל חמותה ותאמר מי את. וכי לא היתה מכירה יש לומר שעדיין לא האיר היום ונעמי היתה ישנה עדיין ויש לומר אמ' לה מי את כלומר פנויה או אשת איש ותגד לה את כל אשר עשה לה האיש.

Then she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, Who are you? (3:15)

Did she not recognize her?

One could answer that the day was still not light enough, and Naomi was still sleeping.

Or one could say that she said to her, Who are you? Which meant, Are you available? Or are you now married? To which she responded everything that the man did for her.