Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
Ver. 3. Wash thyself therefore.] A sudore et sordibus, ne male oleres, from wet and filth, that thou smell not amiss, as slothful sluts use to do.
And anoint thee.] That thou mayest smell well albeit, Optime olet faemina, quae nihil olet, said one; she smelleth best, who smelleth of nothing.
And put thy raiment upon thee.] Thy very best, that may render thee most amiable. Use all lawful means to ingratiate. Hanc homines decorant quam vestimenta decorant.
And get thee down to the floor.] Serve God's providence by demanding marriage of him; which in those days, and in Ruth's case, was neither unlawful nor immodest. Deu 25:5 Consilium hoc est re legitimum, specie inhonestum, saith Junius here: Naomi's counsel to Ruth was indeed honest, but seemingly not so. Diodat saith, that albeit the end she aimed at was good; yet it seemeth to be a womanish provision, somewhat less than honest, to bring it to pass: which was notwithstanding tolerated, directed, and blessed by God; as was also that in Genesis 27:9. Some ancients censure it for scandalous and dangerous. One saith a that he doubteth not but all this was done by instinct from God; or else such holy women would never have done and spoken so. Let none be encouraged hereby to enter into God's ordinance through the devil's portal, lest they smart and smoke for it.
Until he shall have done eating and drinking.] This they did more liberally at such times, and thereby were more merrily disposed, and apt to speak more freely.
a Auth, Imperf. Oper.