Tanach
Rut 2 רות ב׳
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וּֽלְנׇעֳמִי (מידע) [מוֹדָע] לְאִישָׁהּ אִישׁ גִּבּוֹר חַיִל מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת אֱלִימֶלֶךְ וּשְׁמוֹ בֹּֽעַז׃
And unto Naomi there was a kinsman on her husband’s side, a man of power and substance, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
And unto Naomi there was a kinsman on her husband’s side, a man of power and substance, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
Rashi
וַתֹּאמֶר רוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה אֶֽל־נׇעֳמִי אֵלְכָה־נָּא הַשָּׂדֶה וַאֲלַקֳּטָה בַֽשִּׁבֳּלִים אַחַר אֲשֶׁר אֶמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינָיו וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ לְכִי בִתִּֽי׃
Rus, the Moabitess, said to Naomi, “Let me go now to the field and glean among the stalks, behind one in whose eyes I will find favor”; and she said, “Go, my daughter.”
Rus, the Moabitess, said to Naomi, “Let me go now to the field and glean among the stalks, behind one in whose eyes I will find favor”; and she said, “Go, my daughter.”
Rashi
אלכה נא השדה. לאחד משדות אנשי העיר אחרי אחד מהם אשר אמצא חן בעיניו שלא יגער בי:
Let me go now to the field. To one of the fields of the people of the city, after one of them, “in whose eyes I will find favor,” so that he will not rebuke me.
ואלקטה בשבלים אחר אשר אמצא חן בעיניו. אחר מי אשר אמצא חן בעיניו:
And glean among the stalks, behind one in whose eyes I will find favor. After someone in whose eyes I will find favor.6Alternatively, after I find favor in his eyes, i.e., I will not glean in a field until I know the owner allows it. (Malbim)
וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתָּבוֹא וַתְּלַקֵּט בַּשָּׂדֶה אַחֲרֵי הַקֹּצְרִים וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ חֶלְקַת הַשָּׂדֶה לְבֹעַז אֲשֶׁר מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת אֱלִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
So she went, and came and gleaned in the field, behind the harvesters; [and as Divine fate decreed] she happened upon that parcel of land belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
So she went, and came and gleaned in the field, behind the harvesters; [and as Divine fate decreed] she happened upon that parcel of land belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
Rashi
ותבא ותלקט בשדה. מצינו במדרש רות עד לא אזלת אתת שהוא אומר ותבא ואחר ותלקט אלא שהיתה מסמנת הדרכים קודם שנכנסה לשדה והלכה ובאה וחזרה לעיר כדי לעשות סימנים וציונים שלא תטעה בשבילין ותדע לשוב:
So she went, and came and gleaned in the field. We find in Midrash Rus [the question is raised], “Before she had even gone she returned?” For it states, “and [she] came” and afterwards “and gleaned” [i.e., she came back before she gleaned]? Rather, [the Midrash explains] she would mark the roads before she entered the field, and she went and came and returned to the city, in order to make signs and markings so that she would not stray in the paths and she should know how to return.7Alternatively, Rabbi Eliezer said that she kept on coming back until she found decent people with whom to go. (Maseches Shabbos 113b).
ויקר מקרה לבא בחלקת השדה אשר לבועז:
[And as Divine fate decreed] she happened. To come to the portion of the field belonging to Bo’az.
וְהִנֵּה־בֹעַז בָּא מִבֵּית לֶחֶם וַיֹּאמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִים יְהֹוָה עִמָּכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃
Behold Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and he said to the harvesters, “Adonoy be with you.” and they responded, “Adonoy bless you.”
Behold Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and he said to the harvesters, “Adonoy be with you.” and they responded, “Adonoy bless you.”
וַיֹּאמֶר בֹּעַז לְנַֽעֲרוֹ הַנִּצָּב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִים לְמִי הַנַּעֲרָה הַזֹּֽאת׃
Boaz said to his attendant, who was in charge of the harvesters, “to whom does this maiden belong?”
Boaz said to his attendant, who was in charge of the harvesters, “to whom does this maiden belong?”
Rashi
למי הנערה הזאת. וכי דרכו של בועז לשאול בנשים אלא דברי צניעות וחכמה ראה בה שתי שבלים לקטה שלשה אינה לקטה והיתה מלקטת עומדות מעומד ושוכבות מיושב כדי שלא תשחה:
To whom does this maiden belong. Was it the practice of Bo’az to inquire about women? Rather, [because] he saw her modest and wise behavior [he was curious about her. He observed that] two ears she would glean but three she would not glean;8As prescribed by the Mishnah (Pe’ah 6:5). The Torah in Vayikra 19:9 awards the fallen ears of grain and forgotten sheaves to the poor. Thus her exemplary behavior and her knowledge of the law caught the attention of Bo’az and he therefore inquired about her. and she would glean the standing ears while standing and the lying ones while sitting, in order to avoid bending over.9Maseches Shabbos 113b.
וַיַּעַן הַנַּעַר הַנִּצָּב עַל־הַקּוֹצְרִים וַיֹּאמַר נַעֲרָה מֽוֹאֲבִיָּה הִיא הַשָּׁבָה עִֽם־נׇעֳמִי מִשְּׂדֵי מוֹאָֽב׃
And the attendant answered—he who was in charge of the harvesters—and he said, “She is a Moabite girl, who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab.”
And the attendant answered—he who was in charge of the harvesters—and he said, “She is a Moabite girl, who returned with Naomi from the fields of Moab.”
Rashi
השבה עם נעמי. הטעם למעלה תחת השי"ן לפי שהוא לשון עבר ואינה לשון פועלת:
Who returned with Naomi. The accent is at the beginning, under the shin, because it is the past tense, and not the present tense [of the verb].10See Rashi in Bereishis 29:6.
וַתֹּאמֶר אֲלַקֳּטָה־נָּא וְאָסַפְתִּי בָעֳמָרִים אַחֲרֵי הַקּוֹצְרִים וַתָּבוֹא וַֽתַּעֲמוֹד מֵאָז הַבֹּקֶר וְעַד־עַתָּה זֶה שִׁבְתָּהּ הַבַּיִת מְעָֽט׃
And she did say, “Please allow me to glean and gather among the sheaves, behind the harvesters”; so she came and has remained from early morning until now staying at home only a short time.”
And she did say, “Please allow me to glean and gather among the sheaves, behind the harvesters”; so she came and has remained from early morning until now staying at home only a short time.”
Rashi
ותאמר. בלבה:
And she did say. To herself.
אלקטה נא. לקט השבלים:
Please allow me to glean. The gleaning of the ears.
ואספתי בעמרים. שכחה של עמרים
And gather among the sheaves. The forgotten sheaves.11Devarim 24:19.
וַיֹּאמֶר בֹּעַז אֶל־רוּת הֲלוֹא שָׁמַעַתְּ בִּתִּי אַל־תֵּֽלְכִי לִלְקֹט בְּשָׂדֶה אַחֵר וְגַם לֹא תַעֲבוּרִי מִזֶּה וְכֹה תִדְבָּקִין עִם־נַעֲרֹתָֽי׃
Then Boaz said to Rus, “Listen well, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field, and do not go away from here, but keep close to my maidens.
Then Boaz said to Rus, “Listen well, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field, and do not go away from here, but keep close to my maidens.
עֵינַיִךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְצֹרוּן וְהָלַכְתְּ אַחֲרֵיהֶן הֲלוֹא צִוִּיתִי אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים לְבִלְתִּי נׇגְעֵךְ וְצָמִת וְהָלַכְתְּ אֶל־הַכֵּלִים וְשָׁתִית מֵאֲשֶׁר יִשְׁאֲבוּן הַנְּעָרִֽים׃
Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I have ordered the lads not to disturb you; and when you are thirsty, go to the jugs and drink from [the water] which the lads have drawn.”
Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I have ordered the lads not to disturb you; and when you are thirsty, go to the jugs and drink from [the water] which the lads have drawn.”
Rashi
וצמית והלכת אל הכלים. ואם תצמאי אל תכלמי מלכת ולשתות מכלי המים אשר ישאבון הנערים:
And when you are thirsty, go to the jugs. And if you are thirsty, do not be ashamed to go and drink from the vessels of water that the young men will draw.
וַתִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנֶיהָ וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו מַדּוּעַ מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ לְהַכִּירֵנִי וְאָנֹכִי נׇכְרִיָּֽה׃
She then fell on her face, prostrating herself on the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, though I am a foreigner?”
She then fell on her face, prostrating herself on the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, though I am a foreigner?”
וַיַּעַן בֹּעַז וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הֻגֵּד הֻגַּד לִי כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂית אֶת־חֲמוֹתֵךְ אַחֲרֵי מוֹת אִישֵׁךְ וַתַּעַזְבִי אָבִיךְ וְאִמֵּךְ וְאֶרֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתֵּךְ וַתֵּלְכִי אֶל־עַם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יָדַעַתְּ תְּמוֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃
Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and went to a people you had never known before.
Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and went to a people you had never known before.
יְשַׁלֵּם יְהֹוָה פׇּעֳלֵךְ וּתְהִי מַשְׂכֻּרְתֵּךְ שְׁלֵמָה מֵעִם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר־בָּאת לַחֲסוֹת תַּחַת־כְּנָפָֽיו׃
May Adonoy reward your deed, may you be given full recompense from Adonoy, God of Israel, for you have come to seek refuge under His wings [protection].”
May Adonoy reward your deed, may you be given full recompense from Adonoy, God of Israel, for you have come to seek refuge under His wings [protection].”
וַתֹּאמֶר אֶמְצָא־חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֲדֹנִי כִּי נִֽחַמְתָּנִי וְכִי דִבַּרְתָּ עַל־לֵב שִׁפְחָתֶךָ וְאָֽנֹכִי לֹא אֶהְיֶה כְּאַחַת שִׁפְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃
Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me, and have spoken to the heart of your handmaid, though I cannot even be considered as one of your handmaidens.”
Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me, and have spoken to the heart of your handmaid, though I cannot even be considered as one of your handmaidens.”
Rashi
לא אהיה כאחת שפחתך. איני חשובה כאחת מן השפחות שלך:
I cannot even be considered as one of your handmaidens. I am not as worthy as one of your handmaidens.
וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֿ בֹעַז לְעֵת הָאֹכֶל גֹּשִֽׁי הֲלֹם וְאָכַלְתְּ מִן־הַלֶּחֶם וְטָבַלְתְּ פִּתֵּךְ בַּחֹמֶץ וַתֵּשֶׁב מִצַּד הַקֹּצְרִים וַיִּצְבׇּט־לָהּ קָלִי וַתֹּאכַל וַתִּשְׂבַּע וַתֹּתַֽר׃
And Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here and partake of the meal, and dip your bread in the vinegar.” But she sat besides the harvesters, and he handed her some roasted grain; she ate and was satisfied, and left some over.
And Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here and partake of the meal, and dip your bread in the vinegar.” But she sat besides the harvesters, and he handed her some roasted grain; she ate and was satisfied, and left some over.
Rashi
וטבלת פתך בחומץ. מכאן שהחומץ יפה לשרב:
And dip your bread in the vinegar. From here [we derive] that vinegar is good for the heat.12Maseches Shabbos 113b. It is a popular and refreshing drink for those who toil in extremely hot climates.
ויצבט לה קלי. ויושט לה ואין לו דמיון במקרא אלא בלשון משנה אחוריים ותוך ובית הצביטה:
And he handed her some roasted grain. And he extended to her. There is no similar [word] in Scripture, but only in the language of the Mishnah, “the outside, the inside and the handle [= בֵית הַצְּבִיטָה.”13Maseches Chagigah 3:1.
וַתָּקׇם לְלַקֵּט וַיְצַו בֹּעַז אֶת־נְעָרָיו לֵאמֹר גַּם בֵּין הָעֳמָרִים תְּלַקֵּט וְלֹא תַכְלִימֽוּהָ׃
And when she arose to glean, Boaz ordered his lads, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not humiliate her.”
And when she arose to glean, Boaz ordered his lads, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not humiliate her.”
וְגַם שֹׁל־תָּשֹׁלּוּ לָהּ מִן־הַצְּבָתִים וַעֲזַבְתֶּם וְלִקְּטָה וְלֹא תִגְעֲרוּ־בָֽהּ׃
And also let [some sheaves] fall for her even from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.
And also let [some sheaves] fall for her even from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.
Rashi
וגם של תשלו שכח תשכחו עשו עצמיכם כאילו אתם שוכחים תרגום כל שגגה שלותא וכן על השל, דבר אחר לשון כי ישל זיתך:
And let [some sheaves] fall for her. שֹׁל תָּשֹׁלּוּ =] you should forget; pretend as though you are forgetting.14The double verb indicates that the action was to be repeated many times. The Targum for שְׁגָגָה [=oversight], is שְׁלוּתָא,15Bamidbar 15:25. and similarly, “because of this error.”16II Shmuel 6:7. Another explanation [of שֹׁל תָּשֹׁלּוּ is “let fall”], an expression [as in,] “your olive tree will cast off [= יִשַּׁל [its fruit].”17Devarim 28:40.
צבתים. עמרים קטנים יש דוגמתו בלשון משנה מצאן צבתים או כריכות:
Bundles. Small sheaves, and there is a similar expression in the language of the Mishnah, “[If] he found them [tefillin] tied up in bundles or in packets.”18Maseches Eruvin 10:1.
וַתְּלַקֵּט בַּשָּׂדֶה עַד־הָעָרֶב וַתַּחְבֹּט אֵת אֲשֶׁר־לִקֵּטָה וַיְהִי כְּאֵיפָה שְׂעֹרִֽים׃
So she gleaned in the field ’till evening and she milled that which she gleaned, and produced about an ephah of barley.
So she gleaned in the field ’till evening and she milled that which she gleaned, and produced about an ephah of barley.
וַתִּשָּׂא וַתָּבוֹא הָעִיר וַתֵּרֶא חֲמוֹתָהּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־לִקֵּטָה וַתּוֹצֵא וַתִּתֶּן־לָהּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־הוֹתִרָה מִשׇּׂבְעָֽהּ׃
She carried it and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she took it out [to show her] and she gave her what she had left over after eating her fill.
She carried it and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she took it out [to show her] and she gave her what she had left over after eating her fill.
וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ חֲמוֹתָהּ אֵיפֹה לִקַּטְתְּ הַיּוֹם וְאָנָה עָשִׂית יְהִי מַכִּירֵךְ בָּרוּךְ וַתַּגֵּד לַחֲמוֹתָהּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָֽשְׂתָה עִמּוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר שֵׁם הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי עִמּוֹ הַיּוֹם בֹּֽעַז׃
Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today, and where did you work? Blessed be he that took note of you.” So she told her mother-in-law about whom she had been working with, and she said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today, is Boaz.”
Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today, and where did you work? Blessed be he that took note of you.” So she told her mother-in-law about whom she had been working with, and she said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today, is Boaz.”
Rashi
יהי מכירך ברוך. בעל השדה שנשא ונתן לך פנים ללקט בשדהו:
Blessed be he that took note of you. [I.e.,] the owner of the field who showed you favor [and allowed you] to glean in his field.19Alternatively, the person who takes note of you and marries you will be blessed because you are a gifted person. (Gra).
וַתֹּאמֶר נׇעֳמִי לְכַלָּתָהּ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַיהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָזַב חַסְדּוֹ אֶת־הַחַיִּים וְאֶת־הַמֵּתִים וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ נׇעֳמִי קָרוֹב לָנוּ הָאִישׁ מִֽגֹּאֲלֵנוּ הֽוּא׃
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of Adonoy, Who has not abandoned His kindness with the living and with the deceased.” And Naomi said to her, “The man is related to us, he is one of our [near] kinsmen.”
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of Adonoy, Who has not abandoned His kindness with the living and with the deceased.” And Naomi said to her, “The man is related to us, he is one of our [near] kinsmen.”
Rashi
את החיים ואת המתים. שזן ומפרנס את החיים ונטפל בצורכי המתים:
With the living and with the deceased. That he feeds and sustains the living, and occupies himself with the needs of the deceased.20The “needs of the deceased” refers to the kindness displayed by Bo’az to Elimelech and his sons. (Ibn Ezra) Alternatively, the “needs of the deceased” refers to the willingness of Bo’az to perform a levirate marriage and will thus do kindness to the memory of her deceased husband. (Alshich)
וַתֹּאמֶר רוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה גַּם ׀ כִּי־אָמַר אֵלַי עִם־הַנְּעָרִים אֲשֶׁר־לִי תִּדְבָּקִין עַד אִם־כִּלּוּ אֵת כׇּל־הַקָּצִיר אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי׃
And Rus the Moabitess said, “What is more, he said to me: ‘Stay close to my lads until they have finished all my harvesting.’”
And Rus the Moabitess said, “What is more, he said to me: ‘Stay close to my lads until they have finished all my harvesting.’”
וַתֹּאמֶר נׇעֳמִי אֶל־רוּת כַּלָּתָהּ טוֹב בִּתִּי כִּי תֵצְאִי עִם־נַעֲרוֹתָיו וְלֹא יִפְגְּעוּ־בָךְ בְּשָׂדֶה אַחֵֽר׃
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Rus, “It is best for you, my daughter, that you go forth with his maidens, so that they will not encounter you in a different field.”
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Rus, “It is best for you, my daughter, that you go forth with his maidens, so that they will not encounter you in a different field.”
וַתִּדְבַּק בְּנַעֲרוֹת בֹּעַז לְלַקֵּט עַד־כְּלוֹת קְצִֽיר־הַשְּׂעֹרִים וּקְצִיר הַחִטִּים וַתֵּשֶׁב אֶת־חֲמוֹתָֽהּ׃
So she kept close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean [with them] until the end of the barley harvest and of the wheat harvest, and she [continued] to live with her mother-in-law.
So she kept close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean [with them] until the end of the barley harvest and of the wheat harvest, and she [continued] to live with her mother-in-law.
מודע. קרוב בן אחיו של אלימלך היה אמרו רבותינו ז"ל אלימלך ושלמון אבי בועז ופלוני אלמוני הגואל ואבי נעמי כולם בני נחשון בן עמינדב היו ולא הועילו להם זכות אבותם בצאתם מהארץ לחוצה לארץ:
A kinsman. A relative; he was the son of Elimelech’s brother. Our Rabbis of blessed memory said, “Elimelech, and Salmone1Rus 4:21. the father of Bo’az, and the anonymous kinsman,2Ibid. 4:1. and the father of Naomi,3Therefore Bo’az and Naomi were cousins. were all sons of Nachshon,4Shemos 6:23 and Bamidbar 10:14. the son of Aminadav.5Maseches Bava Basra 91a. Yet the merit of their fathers was no avail them when they left the Land [of Yisroel] to go abroad.”