אֶשָּׂ֥א כַנְפֵי־שָׁ֑חַר אֶ֝שְׁכְּנָ֗ה בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית יָֽם׃
Kung kukunin ko ang mga pakpak ng bukang-liwayway, at mananahan ako sa pinakadulo ng dagat,
Ruth Rabbah
“May the Lord recompense your work, and may your reward be complete from the Lord, God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12).
“May the Lord recompense your work, and may your reward be complete [shelema] from the Lord.” Rabbi Ḥasa said.181Many commentaries suggest that a word is missing here, and that it should read as per Yalkut Shimoni Ruth 602: “Rabbi Ḥasa said: Solomon.” Thus, Rabba Ḥasa states that the word shelema alludes to the fact that Solomon [Shelomo] would be one of Ruth’s descendants. “Under whose wings [kenafav] you have come to take refuge.” Rabbi Avun said: We have heard that the land has wings, as it is stated: “From the end of [mikkenaf] the earth we have heard songs” (Isaiah 24:16). There are wings to the sun, as it is stated: “The sun of righteousness will shine for you who fear My name, with healing in its wings” (Malachi 3:20). There are wings for beasts, as it is stated: “The sound of the wings of the beasts” (Ezekiel 3:13). There are wings for cherubs, as it is stated: “For the cherubim spread their wings” (I Kings 8:7).There are wings for seraphs, as it is stated: “The seraphim stood above Him; each had six wings” (Isaiah 6:2). Come and see how great is the power of the righteous, and how great is the power of charity, and how great is the power of those who perform kindness, as they do not take shelter in the shadow of [the wings of] morning,182The morning is also described as having wings, as in: “If I take the wings of morning” (Psalms 139:9). not in the shadow of the wings of the land, not in the shadow of the wings of the sun, not in the shadow of the wings of beasts, not in the shadow of the wings of cherubs, and not in the shadow of the wings of seraphs, but rather in the shadow of He who spoke and the world came into being, as it is stated: “How precious is Your kindness, God, and men take shelter in the shadow of Your wings” (Psalms 36:8).
“May the Lord recompense your work, and may your reward be complete [shelema] from the Lord.” Rabbi Ḥasa said.181Many commentaries suggest that a word is missing here, and that it should read as per Yalkut Shimoni Ruth 602: “Rabbi Ḥasa said: Solomon.” Thus, Rabba Ḥasa states that the word shelema alludes to the fact that Solomon [Shelomo] would be one of Ruth’s descendants. “Under whose wings [kenafav] you have come to take refuge.” Rabbi Avun said: We have heard that the land has wings, as it is stated: “From the end of [mikkenaf] the earth we have heard songs” (Isaiah 24:16). There are wings to the sun, as it is stated: “The sun of righteousness will shine for you who fear My name, with healing in its wings” (Malachi 3:20). There are wings for beasts, as it is stated: “The sound of the wings of the beasts” (Ezekiel 3:13). There are wings for cherubs, as it is stated: “For the cherubim spread their wings” (I Kings 8:7).There are wings for seraphs, as it is stated: “The seraphim stood above Him; each had six wings” (Isaiah 6:2). Come and see how great is the power of the righteous, and how great is the power of charity, and how great is the power of those who perform kindness, as they do not take shelter in the shadow of [the wings of] morning,182The morning is also described as having wings, as in: “If I take the wings of morning” (Psalms 139:9). not in the shadow of the wings of the land, not in the shadow of the wings of the sun, not in the shadow of the wings of beasts, not in the shadow of the wings of cherubs, and not in the shadow of the wings of seraphs, but rather in the shadow of He who spoke and the world came into being, as it is stated: “How precious is Your kindness, God, and men take shelter in the shadow of Your wings” (Psalms 36:8).
Pesikta DeRav Kahana
"Comfort, O comfort, my people." (Is. 40:1.)
"Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be purer than his Maker?" (Job 4:17.) Now, is [it even possible to fathom that] there a man who is more righteous than his Creator? Rather, [what is the meaning of] "Can a man be purer than his Maker?" Said the Holy One Blessed be He, Boaz provides comfort; should I not provide comfort? [And how did] Boaz provide comfort? "Boaz answered and said to her, 'It has been repeatedly told (huged hugad (הוגד הוגד)) to me...." (Ruth 2:11.) And why [does the verse say] huged hugad two times? For he [actually] said to her, "It was told to me in the house, and it was told to me in the field." [The verse then relates what Boaz had been told:] "All that you did for your mother-in-law after after the death of your husband" -- and needless to say, during the lifetime of your husband. "And that you left your father and your mother" -- [that is] "your actual father and mother." "And the land of your birth" -- [that is] "your neighborhood." Another interpretation: "And you left your father and your mother" -- that is "your idols," [as it is said,] "They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave birth to me.'" (Jer. 2:27.) "And the land of your birth," that is "your province" (אפרכייה).*Buber suggests that this refers to a government principality, as opposed to a small township, with the relevance here being that in this way Ruth's leaving would signify her permanently alienating herself from the reigning power of her former home, i.e., Moab, rather than simply leaving one's home. "And you came to a people who you did not know of yesterday or the day before yesterday" (Ruth 2:11): He was saying to her, "For if you had come to our place yesterday or the day before yesterday (i.e., anytime in the past), we would not have accepted you," for the halacha [that "An Ammonite and a Moabite shall not enter the congregation of God" (Deut. 23:4)] had not yet been revised [to exclude only] a male Ammonite, but not a female Ammonite, and a male Moabite, but not a female Moabite. § "May the Lord recompense you for your deeds...." (Ruth 2:12): He was saying to her, "He who in the future will bestow upon the righteous their reward, he will bestow upon you your reward. "And it shall be your full (sh'lemah) reward": "Shlomo" (i.e., King Solomon) is written. Said Rabbi Yosei, he said to her, "Solomon will arise from you." "From the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you have come to seek refuge under His wings (k'nafav)." (Ruth 2:12.) Said Rabbi Abun, we have heard that there are wings for the earth, wings for the dawn, wings for the sun, wings for the Cherubs, wings for the Chayot, wings for the Seraphim. Wings for the earth, as it is written, "From the wing (k'enaf, i.e., extremity) of the earth we heard singing." (Is. 24:16.) Wings for the dawn, as it is written, "If I take wing (kanfei) with the dawn, etc." (Ps. 139:8.) Wings for the sun, as it is written, "And there shall rise for you -- those who fear My Name -- a sun of righteousness, and it will heal with its wings (b'kanafeha), etc." (Mal. 3:20.) Wings for the Cherubs, as it is written, "And the sound of the wings of the Cherubs, etc." (Ez. 10:5.) Wings for the Chayot, as it is written, "And the sound of the wings of the Chayot." (Ez. 3:13).) Wings for the Seraphim, as it is written, "And the Seraphim were standing above Him, six wings [each], etc." (Is. 6:2.) Said Rabbi Abun, Great is the power of those who perform acts of kindness, because they do not take shelter, neither in the shade of the wings of the earth, nor in the shade of the wings of the dawn, nor in the shade of the wings of the sun, nor in the shade of the wings of the Cherubs, nor in the shade of the wings of the Chayot, nor in the shade of the wings of the Seraphim. And in whose shade do they take refuge? In the shade of the Holy One Blessed be He. That is what is written, "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and humankind takes shelter in the shade of Your wings." § "And she said, 'Let me find favor in your eyes, my lord, because you comforted me (nachamti), [and because you spoke to the heart of your maidservant, although I am not [even of so high a rank] as one of your maidservants." (Ruth 2:13.) "And Boaz said to her" (Ruth 2:14): He said to her (lah), "No (lo)! How can you say this? Heaven forbid! Should you be counted as one of the handmaidens (aimahot)? Rather, you shall only be counted as one of the matriarchs (imahot)!" And behold these matters may be deduced a fortiori: If, regarding Boaz, who spoke to the heart of Ruth words of kindness, words of comfort, and she was comforted, how much more so when the Holy One Blessed be He comes to comfort [the heart of] Jerusalem as one, [and thus it says,] "Comfort, O comfort, my people, says your God." (Is. 40:1.)
"Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be purer than his Maker?" (Job 4:17.) Now, is [it even possible to fathom that] there a man who is more righteous than his Creator? Rather, [what is the meaning of] "Can a man be purer than his Maker?" Said the Holy One Blessed be He, Boaz provides comfort; should I not provide comfort? [And how did] Boaz provide comfort? "Boaz answered and said to her, 'It has been repeatedly told (huged hugad (הוגד הוגד)) to me...." (Ruth 2:11.) And why [does the verse say] huged hugad two times? For he [actually] said to her, "It was told to me in the house, and it was told to me in the field." [The verse then relates what Boaz had been told:] "All that you did for your mother-in-law after after the death of your husband" -- and needless to say, during the lifetime of your husband. "And that you left your father and your mother" -- [that is] "your actual father and mother." "And the land of your birth" -- [that is] "your neighborhood." Another interpretation: "And you left your father and your mother" -- that is "your idols," [as it is said,] "They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave birth to me.'" (Jer. 2:27.) "And the land of your birth," that is "your province" (אפרכייה).*Buber suggests that this refers to a government principality, as opposed to a small township, with the relevance here being that in this way Ruth's leaving would signify her permanently alienating herself from the reigning power of her former home, i.e., Moab, rather than simply leaving one's home. "And you came to a people who you did not know of yesterday or the day before yesterday" (Ruth 2:11): He was saying to her, "For if you had come to our place yesterday or the day before yesterday (i.e., anytime in the past), we would not have accepted you," for the halacha [that "An Ammonite and a Moabite shall not enter the congregation of God" (Deut. 23:4)] had not yet been revised [to exclude only] a male Ammonite, but not a female Ammonite, and a male Moabite, but not a female Moabite. § "May the Lord recompense you for your deeds...." (Ruth 2:12): He was saying to her, "He who in the future will bestow upon the righteous their reward, he will bestow upon you your reward. "And it shall be your full (sh'lemah) reward": "Shlomo" (i.e., King Solomon) is written. Said Rabbi Yosei, he said to her, "Solomon will arise from you." "From the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you have come to seek refuge under His wings (k'nafav)." (Ruth 2:12.) Said Rabbi Abun, we have heard that there are wings for the earth, wings for the dawn, wings for the sun, wings for the Cherubs, wings for the Chayot, wings for the Seraphim. Wings for the earth, as it is written, "From the wing (k'enaf, i.e., extremity) of the earth we heard singing." (Is. 24:16.) Wings for the dawn, as it is written, "If I take wing (kanfei) with the dawn, etc." (Ps. 139:8.) Wings for the sun, as it is written, "And there shall rise for you -- those who fear My Name -- a sun of righteousness, and it will heal with its wings (b'kanafeha), etc." (Mal. 3:20.) Wings for the Cherubs, as it is written, "And the sound of the wings of the Cherubs, etc." (Ez. 10:5.) Wings for the Chayot, as it is written, "And the sound of the wings of the Chayot." (Ez. 3:13).) Wings for the Seraphim, as it is written, "And the Seraphim were standing above Him, six wings [each], etc." (Is. 6:2.) Said Rabbi Abun, Great is the power of those who perform acts of kindness, because they do not take shelter, neither in the shade of the wings of the earth, nor in the shade of the wings of the dawn, nor in the shade of the wings of the sun, nor in the shade of the wings of the Cherubs, nor in the shade of the wings of the Chayot, nor in the shade of the wings of the Seraphim. And in whose shade do they take refuge? In the shade of the Holy One Blessed be He. That is what is written, "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and humankind takes shelter in the shade of Your wings." § "And she said, 'Let me find favor in your eyes, my lord, because you comforted me (nachamti), [and because you spoke to the heart of your maidservant, although I am not [even of so high a rank] as one of your maidservants." (Ruth 2:13.) "And Boaz said to her" (Ruth 2:14): He said to her (lah), "No (lo)! How can you say this? Heaven forbid! Should you be counted as one of the handmaidens (aimahot)? Rather, you shall only be counted as one of the matriarchs (imahot)!" And behold these matters may be deduced a fortiori: If, regarding Boaz, who spoke to the heart of Ruth words of kindness, words of comfort, and she was comforted, how much more so when the Holy One Blessed be He comes to comfort [the heart of] Jerusalem as one, [and thus it says,] "Comfort, O comfort, my people, says your God." (Is. 40:1.)