רות, פרק ג׳, פסוק י״ד

The transition from a tense night into the early morning hours carried a severe risk to the reputations of both Boaz and Ruth. Careful and swift action was essential to prevent gossip, protect Ruth's safety, and avoid any desecration of God's name. Remaining at his feet until morning highlighted Boaz's extraordinary piety. Despite spending the night in close proximity to her, he completely conquered his desires [תורה תמימה, אגרת שמואל, אשכול הכופר]. Ruth, however, did not sleep at all, waiting anxiously for the first signs of dawn [אשכול הכופר].

She rose to leave before there was enough light for people to recognize one another, ensuring her identity remained hidden [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some commentators suggest that Boaz actually woke her, urging her to leave in the dead of night because public exposure would severely damage his dignity [רש״י, רלב״ג]. For her part, Ruth rose with heavy fear, terrified of being seen and suspected of wrongdoing [אלשיך].

A discussion arises regarding Boaz's plea that no one should know a woman had visited the threshing floor. One perspective suggests he was addressing his workers and household members, strictly warning them to keep her presence a secret [מלבי״ם, אגרת שמואל]. Others reject this idea entirely, arguing that the two acted in absolute secrecy and no one else was present. Therefore, they explain that Boaz was simply speaking in his heart, expressing a private thought [אשכול הכופר]. The primary approach among commentators is that his words were actually a silent prayer to God. Throughout the night, Boaz lay on his face, begging God to keep the event hidden to prevent the desecration of His name. He worried that people might suspect a righteous man like himself of sinning, or alternatively, that they might excuse his behavior but accuse Ruth of pursuing him with immoral intentions [תורה תמימה, אלשיך, נחל אשכול, אגרת שמואל, אשכול הכופר].

To guarantee this secrecy and deflect any suspicion, Boaz devised a clever cover story. He realized that if Ruth returned to the city early in the morning empty-handed, observers would assume she had spent the night at the threshing floor for illicit reasons. To prevent this, he personally measured out six measures of barley for her. Anyone who saw her would simply assume she had stayed late to gather a large harvest and was now heading home from a long night of work [אלשיך, אגרת שמואל]. By measuring the grain himself directly into her shawl, rather than asking his workers for a sack, Boaz further ensured complete secrecy [אגרת שמואל, אשכול הכופר]. Ruth then carried the heavy load on her back, the typical method for men, rather than on her head as women usually did. Finally, to protect her from dangerous men before the sun came up, Boaz personally escorted her on the road back to the city [אגרת שמואל, אלשיך].