Rashi on the Prophets and Writings

our kinsman Heb. מוֹדַעְתָּנוּ our kinsman.
is winnowing the chaff, vanner in French.
tonight because the generation was unrestrained in theft and robbery; and he would sleep in his threshing-floor to guard his threshing-floor.

and you shall bathe from the contamination of idolatry.
and anoint yourself These are the commandments.
and put on your clothes Sabbath garments.
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.
do not make yourself known to man to Boaz.

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.

and his heart was merry He engaged in the Torah.
and she came softly Heb. בַלָט silently.

and the man quaked He thought it was a demon and attempted to scream, but she held him and enveloped him with her arms.
and was taken around Heb. וַיִלָפֵת, and he was seized, like (Jud. 16: 29): “And Samson seized (וַיִלָפֹת). “
and behold a woman He placed his hand on her head and recognized that she was a woman.

and you shall spread your skirt the skirt of your garments to cover me with your cloak, and this is a term connoting marriage.
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.

than the first that you did with your mother-in-law.

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.
closer than I for he is a brother, and I am a nephew.

Stay over tonight stay over without a husband.
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.

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.”

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].

until he has resolved [i.e., until] the man [has resolved] the matter today.