*Ruth 4:1-22
Boaz redeems Ruth and they marry, securing the future lineage of Naomi and continuing the story of God’s faithfulness.
- Boaz’s Meeting with the Closest Redeemer:
- Boaz goes to the gate of the city, where legal matters are typically addressed, to meet with the closest relative who has the right of redemption.
- Boaz invites ten elders of the city to witness the proceedings, ensuring that the transaction will be conducted in accordance with custom and law.
- Boaz’s Proposal to Redeem Ruth:
- Boaz presents the matter to the closest relative, informing him of Naomi’s intention to sell the land belonging to their relative Elimelech and to find a redeemer for Ruth, his widow.
- Boaz gives the relative the opportunity to redeem the land and marry Ruth, as was the custom among the Israelites.
- The Closest Redeemer’s Refusal:
- The closest relative initially expresses interest in redeeming the land but declines when he learns that the transaction also involves marrying Ruth, as it would jeopardize his own inheritance.
- He relinquishes his right of redemption to Boaz, allowing Boaz to proceed with redeeming the land and marrying Ruth.
- Boaz’s Acquisition of the Land and Marriage to Ruth:
- Boaz publicly announces his intention to redeem the land and marry Ruth, acknowledging her as the widow of Elimelech’s son, Mahlon.
- The elders and witnesses bless Boaz and Ruth, praying for their prosperity and fertility, and acknowledging Ruth’s noble character and devotion to Naomi.
- Birth of Obed:
- Boaz and Ruth marry, and the Lord grants them conception, blessing them with a son named Obed.
- The women of the city rejoice with Naomi, praising God for providing her with a redeemer and a grandson to carry on the family line.
- Obed’s Significance:
- Obed becomes the father of Jesse, who is the father of David, the renowned king of Israel.
- The genealogy of David, traced back to Obed and Ruth, highlights the significance of their union and the role of Ruth, a Moabite woman, in the lineage of Israel’s kings.
4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
4:2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
4:7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
4:8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
4:11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 4:12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
4:15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
4:16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
4:18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 4:19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 4:20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 4:21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 4:22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.