2:15a
When Ruth got up to glean, Boaz ordered his young men: The Hebrew is not clear about the order in which these two events happened. It literally says, “And she got up to glean and Boaz commanded his men.” Most English translations other than the Berean Standard Bible are ambiguous about the time sequence. It is better to assume that Ruth got up while the others were still eating and then Boaz spoke to his men about her. Boaz probably would not talk to his men about her while she was still close by.
Here is a way to express the probable time sequence:
After she had left to go and gather grain, Boaz ordered the workers (Good News Translation)
his young men: This phrase refers to Boaz’s field workers.
2:15b
Even if she gathers among the sheaves: This clause implies that Boaz wanted Ruth to be able to gather grain among the sheaves. In many languages, it may be best to translate this as a command directed to the harvest workers. For example:
Allow/Permit her to glean among the sheaves
-or-
Let her gather even among the piles of cut grain. (New Century Version)
the sheaves: The sheaves were bundles of cut grain. Normally gleaners would only pick up grain in the part of the field that the workers had finished clearing. They would not pick up grain right near the sheaves.
2:15c
do not insult her: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as insult means “humiliate.” In this context, it probably refers to a verbal rebuke that would humiliate someone.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
do not reproach her (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
don’t embarrass her (New International Version (1984))
-or-
do not make her feel bad
-or-
don’t say anything to stop her (Good News Translation)
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