Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. (Ruth 2:9)
That is, the “maidens” (v. 8) whose task it was to bind up the sheaves. Here the pronoun is feminine.
They do reap.
That is, the young men, “the reapers” (v. 7). The Hebrew pronoun is masculine.
Not touch thee.
Not only did Boaz take care to provide Ruth with a favorable opportunity for gleaning; he also provided for her personal safety. This was apparently necessary, particularly in view of the fact that she was a stranger and unprotected. Furthermore, in telling her to help herself to the drinking water, he took thought of her personal comfort.