Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. (Ruth 3:15)
This would be approximately 1 1/4 bu. (1/2 hectoliter). Ruth bound this tightly in her mantle, or “vail,” and no doubt carried it on her head, or possibly on her shoulder. It was probably about as much of a load as she could conveniently carry over the hilly path into the city (see on v. 3).
The vail.
Rather, “the mantle” (RSV). The Hebrew word thus translated does not designate a covering for the face, but rather an upper garment consisting of a large, square piece of cloth thrown over the left shoulder and then brought over or under the right arm (see on Deut. 22:17).