And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
An ordinary Reader might be tempted to conceive unfavorably of Boaz from this account; but the expressions here used concerning Boaz, favour no such ideas. It should be recollected, that in the seasons of harvest in those warm countries, it was very common to sleep in booths and tents, to avoid the excessive heat. Boaz doing this in his corn chamber, corresponded to the same. And that he had committed no excess in his supper seems evident from what is said soon after, that he blessed the Lord. Indeed the expression, that his heart was merry, means no other than that his heart was cheerful. The Chaldee paraphrase translate it that his heart was good, meaning that he was cheerful in his own mind, and thankful to the Lord for the plenty of his harvest.