Verse 10:[1] And he said, (Ruth 2:20) Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than (Ruth 1:8) at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
[The former compassion] Namely, toward her husband and mother-in-law (Drusius, similarly Lyra, Estius, Montanus, Tirinus, Lapide, Bonfrerius).
[Thou hast surpassed with the latter compassion] That is, by which thou hast little esteemed other marriage opportunities, so that thou mightest restore a name to thy deceased husband in the family (Drusius, similarly Lyra, Estius, Montanus, Tirinus, Lapide, Bonfrerius). Since it is a greater charity and compassion to bless someone after death, than while he yet lives, and is able to return the favor (Estius).
Thou hast showed more kindness; both to thy deceased husband, the continuance of whose name and memory thou preferrest before the satisfaction of thy own lust; and to thy mother-in-law, whose commands thou hast punctually obeyed, even with thy own hazard in so doubtful an enterprise.
[Because thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich] He commends Ruth, because she, being a young woman, with her husband Mahlon dead, sought not one among the young men of her own country as a husband, whether rich or poor, but, with all those forsaken, came into Judea; and in Judea she sought to marry, not just anyone, but him by whom the name of the deceased might be restored (Menochius out of Serarius, Tirinus). Two things appear to be commended here: 1. That she did not seek marriage out of lust; for then she would not have abstained from it for so long, but long before this, being impatient of delay, would have clung to whomever she had first found, whether poor or rich. 2. That she sufficiently demonstrates herself to do that out of regard for her husband, since she, with her country and parents left behind, came into a foreign land, so that she might pursue marriage, not with just anyone, but with one now old, and who is a redeemer (Bonfrerius). It is a rare thing among young people to prefer aged gravity to youthful delights. That makes honest counsel that might otherwise appear indecent (Grotius).
Thou followedst not young men, to seek thy marriage either here, or in thy own country, as thou wouldst have done if thou hadst not preferred obedience to God’s command, before the pleasing of thyself.
[1] Hebrew: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּרוּכָ֙ה אַ֤תְּ לַֽיהוָה֙ בִּתִּ֔י הֵיטַ֛בְתְּ חַסְדֵּ֥ךְ הָאַחֲר֖וֹן מִן־הָרִאשׁ֑וֹן לְבִלְתִּי־לֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵי֙ הַבַּ֣חוּרִ֔ים אִם־דַּ֖ל וְאִם־עָשִֽׁיר׃
Thomas Boston's A View of the Covenant of Grace: 'Now, there were four things the kinsman-redeemer was to do for his kinsman, unable to act for himself; all which Christ the second Adam undertook in the covenant.
1. He was to marry the widow of his deceased kinsman, to raise up seed to his brother. Hereof Boaz was put in mind by Ruth, Ruth 3:9, "I am Ruth thine handmaid; spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman." Compare Ruth 3:10-13; 4:10; and Ezekiel 16:8. "I spread my skirt over thee—and thou becamest mine." Our nature was in a comfortable and fruitful condition, while the image of God impressed thereupon in Adam, remained with it;…
Matthew Henry: 'He did not put any ill construction upon what she did, did not reproach her as an impudent woman and unfit to make an honest man a wife. She having approved herself well in the fields, and all her conduct having been modest and decent, he would not, from this instance, entertain the least suspicion of her character nor seem to do so, perhaps blaming himself that he had not offered the service of a kinsman to these distressed widows, and saved her this trouble, and ready to say as Judah concerning his daughter-in-law, She is more righteous than I. But on the contrary...
He commended her, spoke kindly to her, called her his daughter, and spoke honourably…