Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow behind them. I have commanded the young men not to bother you. When you get thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the young men have drawn.
Boaz is kindly offering Ruth protection, permission to glean in his fields, and access to fresh water—showing extraordinary generosity to a foreign widow.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place during barley harvest season in ancient Israel, where poor people and foreigners could legally glean (collect leftover grain) behind the harvesters. Boaz, as the field owner, is going far beyond legal requirements by offering Ruth protection and refreshment, which was especially significant since she was a Moabite woman in a foreign land.
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