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His servant that was set over the reapers - This was a kind of steward or hind who had the under management of the estate. Some think that an officer of this kind is intended in the description given by Homer of the labors of a harvest field, as represented by Vulcan on one compartment of the shield which he made for Achilles: -

Εν δ ' ετιθει τεμενος βαθυληΐον· ενθα δ εριθοιπ

Ἡμων, οξειας δρεπανας εν χερσιν εχοντες·π

Δραγματα δ ' αλλα μετ ' ογμον επμον επητριμα πιπτον εραζε,π

Αλλα δ ' αμαλλοδετηρες εν ελλεδανοισι δεοντο.π

Τρεις δ ' αρ ' αμαλλοδετηρες εφεστασαν· αυταρ οπισθεπ

Παιδες δραγμευοντες, εν αγκαλιδεσσι φεροντες,π

Ασπερχες παρεχον· βασιλευς δ ' εν τοισι σιωπῃπ

Σκηπτρον εχων ἑστηκει επ ' ογμου γηθοσυνος κηρ.π

Κηρυκες δ ' απανευθεν ὑπο δρυΐ δαιτα πενοντο·π

Βουν δ ' ἱερευσαντες μεγαν, αμφεπον· αἱ δε γυναικεςπ

Δειπνον εριθοισιν, λευκ ' αλφιτα πολλα παλυνον.

Iliad xviii., v. 550.

There too he form'd the likeness of a field

Crowded with corn, in which the reapers toil'd,

Each with a sharp-tooth'd sickle in his hand.

Along the furrow here, the harvest fell

In frequent handfuls; there, they bound the sheaves.

Three binders of the sheaves their sultry task

All plied industrious, and behind them boys

Attended, filling with the corn their arms,

And offering still their bundles to be bound.

Amid them, staff in hand, the master stood,

Enjoying, mute the order of the field:

While, shaded by an oak, apart his train

Prepared the banquet - a well thriven ox

New slain, and the attendant maidens mix'd

Large supper for the hinds, of whitest flour.

Cowper.

This scene is well described; and the person who acts as overseer is here called βασιλευς, king, and his staff is called σκηπτρον, a scepter; and he stands in mute dignity, merely to see that the work is well done, and that each person performs his task; and there appear to me to be gleaners in the description, viz., the boys who gather the handfuls after the three binders. See the Greek.

The pious and kind language between Boaz and his reapers shows that there were godly persons in Israel. Such language as this is seldom heard in our field; too often, on the contrary, what is immoral and corrupt. A stranger would form a very different opinion of our land, from that which Ruth would form of Israel from the converse and conduct of Boaz and his reapers. But true religion will teach a man to behave aright in all states and conditions; it will form kind masters and faithful servants, and cause harmony in families. True religion will cause mutual love and kindness among persons of different ranks. It had these effects on Boaz and his men. When he came to them he prayed for them. They did not, as soon as he was out of hearing curse him, as some ill-natured servants that hate their master's eye, but they returned his courtesy. Things are likely to go on well where there is such good-will as this between masters and servants. They expressed their kindness to each other by praying one for another. Boaz inquired concerning the stranger he saw, and ordered her to be well treated. Masters must take care, not only that they do no hurt themselves, but that they suffer not their servants and those under them to do wrong. Ruth humbly owned herself unworthy of favours, seeing she was born and brought up a heathen. It well becomes us all to think humbly of ourselves, esteeming others better than ourselves. And let us, in the kindness of Boaz to Ruth, note the kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ to poor sinners.