At meal time Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.” She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 14. Vinegar, or small wine, made on purpose for working people. Some think that such was presented to our Saviour. Yet vinegar was very frequently mixed with other things, and was esteemed particularly refreshing. Plin. xxiii. 1. Calmet.—Side. Not in front, that they might not stare at her. Menochius.—And she, and so forth Hebrew “and he gave her frumenty, or parched corn.” A little oil might be poured upon it. See Leviticus 2:14. 2 Kennicott. 17:28. Bible.—Travellers in Ethiopia only take parched barley with them. Calmet.—The leavings, to Noemi. “Learn, says Seneca, (ep. 110,) to be content with a little.” Septuagint “and Booz heaped up food before her, and she ate and was filled, and left a part.” Bible.—But it appears that she afterwards took it home, verse 18. Menochius.—The vinegar and corn which were given to Ruth were very refreshing. The Spaniards still drink posca, or water and vinegar. Tirinus.