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׃