| 1And Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it be good for you? |
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אוַתֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ נָֽעֳמִ֣י חֲמוֹתָ֑הּ בִּתִּ֞י הֲלֹ֧א אֲבַקֶּשׁ־לָ֛ךְ מָנ֖וֹחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽיטַב־לָֽךְ: |
| 2And now, is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he is winnowing the threshing-floor of the barley tonight. |
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בוְעַתָּ֗ה הֲלֹ֥א בֹ֨עַז֙ מֹֽדַעְתָּ֔נוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֖ית אֶת־נַֽעֲרוֹתָ֑יו הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא זֹרֶ֛ה אֶת־גֹּ֥רֶן הַשְּׂעֹרִ֖ים הַלָּֽיְלָה: |
| our kinsman. Heb. מוֹדַעְתָּנוּ our kinsman. |
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מֹדַעְתָּנוּ.
קְרוֹבֵנוּ:
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| is winnowing. the chaff, vanner in French. |
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הִנֵּה הוּא זֹרֶה.
הַמּוֹץ. וונטו"ר בְּלַעַ"ז:
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| tonight. because the generation was unrestrained in theft and robbery; and he would sleep in his threshing-floor to guard his threshing-floor. |
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הַלָּיְלָה.
שֶׁהָיָה הַדּוֹר פָּרוּץ בִּגְנֵבָה וְגָזֵל, וְהָיָה יָשֵׁן בְּגָרְנוֹ לִשְׁמֹר גָּרְנוֹ:
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| 3And you shall bathe and anoint yourself and put on your clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. |
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גוְרָחַ֣צְתְּ | וָסַ֗כְתְּ וְשַׂ֧מְתְּ שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ (כתיב שמלתך) עָלַ֖יִךְ וְיָרַ֣דְתְּ הַגֹּ֑רֶן אַל־תִּוָּֽדְעִ֣י לָאִ֔ישׁ עַ֥ד כַּלֹּת֖וֹ לֶֽאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּֽוֹת: |
| and you shall bathe. from the contamination of idolatry. |
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וְרָחַצְתְּ.
מִטִּנּוּף עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלָּךְ:
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| and anoint yourself. These are the commandments. |
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וָסַכְתְּ.
אֵלּוּ מִצְוֹת:
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| and put on your clothes. Sabbath garments. |
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וְשַׂמְתְּ שִׂמְלֹתַיִךְ.
בְּגָדִים שֶׁל שַׁבָּת:
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| and go down to the threshing-floor. Heb. וְיָרַדְתְּ. It is written וְיָרַדְתִּי [and I will go down]; my merit will go down with you. |
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וְיָרַדְתְּ הַגֹּרֶן.
וְיָרַדְתִּי כְּתִיב זְכוּתִי תֵרֵד עִמָּךְ:
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| do not make yourself known to man. to Boaz. |
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אַל תִּוָּדְעִי לָאִישׁ.
לְבֹעַז:
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| 4And it shall be when he lies down, that you shall know where he will lie, and you shall come and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what you shall do. " |
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דוִיהִ֣י בְשָׁכְב֗וֹ וְיָדַ֨עַתְּ֙ אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִשְׁכַּב־שָׁ֔ם וּבָ֛את וְגִלִּ֥ית מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וְשָׁכָ֑בְתְּ (כתיב ושכבתי) וְהוּא֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּֽעֲשִֽׂין: |
| 5And she said to her, "All that you say to me I will do." |
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הוַתֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֶ֑יהָ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּֽאמְרִ֥י ( אֵלַ֖י קרי ולא כתיב ) אֶֽעֱשֶֽׂה: |
| 6And she went down to the threshing-floor, and she did all that her mother-in-law had charged her. |
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ווַתֵּ֖רֶד הַגֹּ֑רֶן וַתַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוַּ֖תָּה חֲמוֹתָֽהּ: |
| And she went down to the threshing-floor, and she did. She said to her, “And you shall bathe and anoint yourself and get dressed and then you will go down to the threshing-floor,” but she did not do so, but she said, “If I go down when I am dressed up, whoever meets me or sees me will say that I am a harlot.” She therefore first went down to the threshing-floor and afterwards adorned herself, as her mother-in- law had charged her. |
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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:
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| 7And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart was merry, and he went to lie at the edge of the stack, and she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. |
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זוַיֹּ֨אכַל בֹּ֤עַז וַיֵּ֨שְׁתְּ֙ וַיִּיטַ֣ב לִבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֕א לִשְׁכַּ֖ב בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָֽעֲרֵמָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֣א בַלָּ֔ט וַתְּגַ֥ל מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖יו וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב: |
| and his heart was merry. He engaged in the Torah. |
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וַיִּיטַב לִבּוֹ.
עָסַק בַּתּוֹרָה:
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| and she came softly. Heb. בַלָט silently. |
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וַתָּבֹא בַלָּט.
בְּנַחַת:
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| 8And it came to pass at midnight, and the man quaked and was taken around, and behold a woman was lying at his feet. |
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חוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּֽחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֶּֽחֱרַ֥ד הָאִ֖ישׁ וַיִּלָּפֵ֑ת וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִשָּׁ֔ה שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת מַרְגְּלֹתָֽיו: |
| and the man quaked. He thought it was a demon and attempted to scream, but she held him and enveloped him with her arms. |
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וַיֶּחֱרַד הָאִישׁ.
כְּסָבוּר שֵׁד הוּא וּבִקֵּשׁ לִזְעֹק, וְהִיא אֲחָזַתּוּ וּלְפָפַתּוּ בִּזְרוֹעוֹתֶיהָ:
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| and was taken around. Heb. וַיִלָפֵת, and he was seized, like (Jud. 16:29): “And Samson seized (וַיִלָפֹת).” |
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וַיִּלָּפֵת.
וַיֵּאָחֵז כְּמוֹ וַיִּלְפֹּת שִׁמְשׁוֹן:
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| and behold a woman. He placed his hand on her head and recognized that she was a woman. |
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וְהִנֵּה אִשָּׁה.
נָתַן יָדוֹ עַל רֹאשָׁהּ וְהִכִּיר שֶׁהִיא אִשָּׁה:
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| 9And he said, "Who are you? " And she said, "I am Ruth, your handmaid, and you shall spread your skirt over your handmaid, for you are a near kinsman." |
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טוַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אָ֑תְּ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אָֽנֹכִי֙ ר֣וּת אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וּפָֽרַשְׂתָּ֤ כְנָפֶ֨ךָ֙ עַל־אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ כִּ֥י גֹאֵ֖ל אָֽתָּה: |
| and you shall spread your skirt. the skirt of your garments to cover me with your cloak, and this is a term connoting marriage. |
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וּפְָרַשְׂתָּ כְנָפֶךָ.
כְּנַף בִּגְדְּךָ לְכַסּוֹתִי בְטַלִּיתְךָ וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן נִשּׂוּאִין:
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| for you are a near kinsman. to redeem my husband’s estate, as it is written (Lev. 25: 25): “then his near kinsman who is closest to him shall come and redeem, etc.” My mother-in-law and I must sell our estate, and now it is incumbent upon you to buy [it]. Acquire me also, along with it, so that the name of the deceased be remembered on his estate. When I come to the field, they will say: This is Mahlon’s wife. |
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כִּי גֹאֵל אָתָּה.
לִגְאֹל נַחֲלַת אִישִׁי כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "וּבָא גוֹאֲלוֹ הַקָּרוֹב אֵלָיו וְגָאַל וגו'". וַחֲמוֹתִי וַאֲנִי צְרִיכוֹת לִמְכֹּר נַחֲלָתֵנוּ, וְעַתָּה עָלֶיךָ לִקְנוֹת. קְנֵה גַם אוֹתִי עִמָּהּ שֶׁיִּזָּכֵר שֵׁם הַמֵּת עַל נַחֲלָתוֹ, כְּשֶׁאָבֹא עַל הַשָּׂדֶה יֹאמְרוּ "זֹאת אֵשֶׁת מַחְלוֹן":
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| 10And he said, "May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter; your latest act of kindness is greater than the first, not to follow the young men, whether poor or rich. |
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יוַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּרוּכָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ בִּתִּ֔י הֵיטַ֛בְתְּ חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ הָאַֽחֲר֖וֹן מִן־הָֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן לְבִלְתִּי־לֶ֗כֶת אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַבַּ֣חוּרִ֔ים אִם־דַּ֖ל וְאִם־עָשִֽׁיר: |
| than the first. that you did with your mother-in-law. |
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מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן.
אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂית עִם חֲמוֹתֵךְ:
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| 11And now, my daughter, do not fear, all that you say I will do for you, for the entire gate of my people know that you are a valiant woman. |
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יאוְעַתָּ֗ה בִּתִּי֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּֽאמְרִ֖י אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י יוֹדֵ֨עַ֙ כָּל־שַׁ֣עַר עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י אֵ֥שֶׁת חַ֖יִל אָֽתְּ: |
| 12And now, indeed, I am a near kinsman, but there is a kinsman closer than I. |
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יבוְעַתָּה֙ כִּ֣י אָמְנָ֔ם כִּ֥י (כתיב אם) גֹאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי וְגַ֛ם יֵ֥שׁ גֹּאֵ֖ל קָר֥וֹב מִמֶּֽנִּי: |
| And now indeed. “If” is written but it is not read, i.e., it conveys the idea of doubt. There is surely a redeemer closer than I. (Other editions: כִּי אִם means a doubt, but it is certain.) Said Rabbi Joshua the son of Levi: Salmon, Elimelech, and Tov were brothers. Now what is the meaning of “that belonged to our brother, to Elimelech” ? A person always calls his uncle his brother, as is stated (Gen. 14:14): “And Abram heard that his brother was captured.” Now was not Abraham his (Lot’s) uncle? Similarly, Boaz was Elimelech’s nephew, a kinsman of Mahlon, but Tov was closer. |
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וְעַתָּה כִּי אָמְנָם כִּי.
אִם כְּתִיב וְלֹא קְרִי. כְּלוֹמַר, מַשְׁמַע סָפֵק וַדַּאי יֵשׁ גּוֹאֵל קָרוֹב מִמֶּנִּי. (סְפָרִים אַחֵרִים: "כִּי אִם" מַשְׁמַע סָפֵק וְהוּא וַדַּאי.) אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, שַׂלְמוֹן וֶאֱלִימֶלֶךְ וְטוֹב אַחִים הָיוּ. וּמַהוּ "אֲשֶׁר לְאָחִינוּ לֶאֱלִימֶלֶךְ"? לְעוֹלָם קוֹרֵא אָדָם אֶת דּוֹדוֹ אָחִיו, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, "וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם כִּי נִשְׁבָּה אָחִיו". וַהֲלֹא אַבְרָהָם דּוֹדוֹ הָיָה? כָּךְ הָיָה בֹעַז לֶאֱלִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן אָחִיו, קְרוֹבוֹ שֶׁל מַחְלוֹן, אֲבָל טוֹב הָיָה קָרוֹב יוֹתֵר:
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| closer than I. for he is a brother, and I am a nephew. |
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קָרוֹב מִמֶּנִּי.
שֶׁהוּא אָח וַאֲנִי בֶן אָח:
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| 13Stay over tonight, and it will come to pass in the morning, that if he redeem you, well, let him redeem you, but if he does not wish to redeem you, I will redeem you, as the Lord lives; lie down until morning." |
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יגלִ֣ינִי | הַלַּ֗יְלָה וְהָיָ֤ה בַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ אִם־יִגְאָלֵ֥ךְ טוֹב֙ יִגְאָ֔ל וְאִם־לֹ֨א יַחְפֹּ֧ץ לְגָֽאֳלֵ֛ךְ וּגְאַלְתִּ֥יךְ אָנֹ֖כִי חַי־יְהֹוָ֑ה שִׁכְבִ֖י עַד־הַבֹּֽקֶר: |
| Stay over tonight. stay over without a husband. |
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לִינִי הַלַּיְלָה.
לִינִי בְלֹא אִישׁ:
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| as the Lord 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. Some of our Rabbis said: He swore to his evil inclination, for his evil inclination was contending with him, “You are single, and she is single; be intimate with her;” so he swore that he would be intimate with her only in marriage. |
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חַי ה'.
אָמְרָה לוֹ "בִּדְבָרִים אַתָּה מוֹצִיאֵנִי". קָפַץ וְנִשְׁבַּע לָהּ שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹצִיאָהּ בִּדְבָרִים. וְיֵשׁ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ, "לְיִצְרוֹ נִשְׁבַּע, שֶׁהָיָה יִצְרוֹ מְקַטְרְגוֹ, אַתָּה פָנוּי וְהִיא פְנוּיָה, בֹּא עָלֶיהָ". וְנִשְׁבַּע שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא עָלֶיהָ אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי נִשּׂוּאִין:
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| 14And she lay at his feet until morning, and she rose before one could recognize his fellow, for he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor." |
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ידוַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב מַרְגְּלוֹתָו֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַתָּ֕קָם בְּטֶ֛רֶם (כתיב בטרום) יַכִּ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַל־יִוָּדַ֔ע כִּֽי־בָ֥אָה הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה הַגֹּֽרֶן: |
| for he said, “Let it not be known. This refers back to “and she rose before one could recognize.” He rushed her to get up because he said in his heart, “It does not befit my honor that it should be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” |
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וַיֹּאמֶר אַל יִוָּדַע.
מוּסָב עַל "וַתָּקָם בְּטֶרֶם יַכִּיר". הוּא זֵרְזָהּ לָקוּם, כִּי אָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ, "אֵין כְּבוֹדִי שֶׁיִּוָּדַע כִּי בָאָה הָאִשָּׁה הַגֹּרֶן:
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| 15And he said, "Ready the shawl you are wearing and hold it," and she held it, and he measured out six barleys and placed [them] upon her, and he came to the city. |
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טווַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָ֠בִ֠י הַמִּטְפַּ֧חַת אֲשֶׁר־עָלַ֛יִךְ וְאֶֽחֳזִי־בָ֖הּ וַתֹּ֣אחֶז בָּ֑הּ וַיָּ֤מָד שֵֽׁשׁ־שְׂעֹרִים֙ וַיָּ֣שֶׁת עָלֶ֔יהָ וַיָּבֹ֖א הָעִֽיר: |
| six barleys. It is impossible to say six seah, because it is not customary for a woman to carry such a load; it refers literally to six barleycorns, and he hinted to her that a son who would be blessed with six blessings was destined to emerge from her. [The blessings are:] (Isa. 11:2): “a spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and heroism, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord,” [referring to the King Messiah]. |
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שֵׁשׁ שְׂעֹרִים.
אִי אֶפְשַׁר לוֹמַר שֵׁשׁ סְאִין, שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכָּהּ שֶׁל אִשָּׁה לָשֵׂאת כְּמַשּׂאוֹי זֶה, אֶלָּא שֵׁשׁ שְׂעוֹרִים מַמָּשׁ. וְרָמַז לָהּ שֶׁעָתִיד לָצֵאת מִמֶּנָּה בֵּן שֶׁמִּתְבָּרֵךְ בְּשֵׁשׁ בְּרָכוֹת: "רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה, עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה, רוּחַ דַּעַת וְיִרְאַת ה'":
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| 16And she came to her mother-in-law, and she said, "Who are you, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done to her. |
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טזוַתָּבוֹא֙ אֶל־חֲמוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אַ֣תְּ בִּתִּ֑י וַתַּ֨גֶּד־לָ֔הּ אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָֽשָׂה־לָ֖הּ הָאִֽישׁ: |
| 17And she said, "He gave me these six barleys, for he said to me: Do not come empty-handed to your mother-in-law." |
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יזוַתֹּ֕אמֶר שֵֽׁשׁ־הַשְּׂעֹרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה נָ֣תַן לִ֑י כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר ( אֵלַ֔י קרי ולא כתיב ) אַל־תָּב֥וֹאִי רֵיקָ֖ם אֶל־חֲמוֹתֵֽךְ: |
| 18And she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall, for the man will not rest until he has resolved the matter today." |
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יחוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שְׁבִ֣י בִתִּ֔י עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽדְעִ֔ין אֵ֖יךְ יִפֹּ֣ל דָּבָ֑ר כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִשְׁקֹט֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ כִּ֛י־אִם־כִּלָּ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר הַיּֽוֹם: |
| until he has resolved. [i. e., until] the man [has resolved] the matter today. |
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כִּי אִם כִּלָּה.
הָאִישׁ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַיּוֹם:
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