Ruth 4:1-22
Q.1. How did Boaz follow through with his promise to Ruth? Why? What was the offer to the nearest relative? Why did he change his mind about acting as the kinsman-redeemer? – (Ruth 4:1-6 c.f. Lev.25:23-25; Dt.25:5-6)
Boaz moved swiftly to deal with Ruth’s request for someone to fulfill the obligation of redeeming Noami’s family inheritance (Ruth 4:1-4). It was expressly stated in the Law – the land shall not be sold permanently for the land is Mine (Lev.25:23). Boaz gathered the elders who met at the gate of the city, together with Naomi’s closer relative. After Boaz explained Naomi’s plight, her closest relative agreed – I will redeem the land (Ruth 4:4). Boaz would have been well aware of this relative’s circumstances. He then informed him – … On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance (Ruth 4:5). This was in accordance with the tradition that had developed in keeping with the levirate law, which called on a brother to raise up children for his deceased brother. – it shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel (Dt.25:6 c.f. Dt.25:5-10). However, the closest relative responded – … I cannot redeem it for myself because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it (Ruth 4:6). We are not told exactly why. Perhaps he was not married and the firstborn from a union with Ruth would have inherited his own land as well as that of Naomi, or perhaps he was married without children and feared that Ruth would produce a rival firstborn. Boaz was free to take up the offer.
Q.2. Why did the nearest relative give his sandal to Boaz? What did Boaz gain as the kinsman-redeemer? How did this become legal? Were the elders happy with the transaction? – (Ruth 4:7-12)
Initially, to take the sandal off in the presence of the elders of the city was a reproach (Dt.25:7-10). However, it had become a way to formalize the relinquishing of the redemptive role to another relative – Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel (Ruth 4:7). Boaz understood that he now had two obligations to fulfill – 9 … You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. 10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birthplace; you are witnesses today (Ruth 4:9-10). Ruth was highly esteemed for her care for Naomi. The elders and people exclaimed – … may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem (Ruth 4:11 c.f. Mic.5:2). They also referred to Rachel and Leah, who built up the house of Israel (Ruth 4:11). Their reference to Perez is interesting, in that she bore twins to her father-in-law Judah. God blessed Ruth, even though she was an ‘outsider’ from Moab (Ruth 4:12 c.f. Gen.38:29).
closed with a genealogy down to David (Ruth 4:18-22).
Q.3. How was the marriage blessed by God? What benefits came to Naomi? How did the women of Bethlehem view the union? What was significant about their son? – (Ruth 4:13-22 c.f. Mt.1:5-6)
God blessed the union of Boaz and Ruth and – … the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13). The special relationship between Ruth and Naomi continued – Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap and became his nurse (Ruth 4:16). From having been a broken-hearted bitter woman, her hands and heart were now filled to over-flowing. How like God was this. The whole city seemed caught up in the romance of the marriage between Boaz and Ruth. The women chimed – … Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel (Ruth 4:14). There was much goodwill toward the family. They stated to Naomi – May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him (Ruth 4:15 c.f. Ruth 2:11; 3:11). They expected the child to grow, and to take care of the women in their old age. In an unusual twist – The neighbour women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David (Ruth 4:17). Obed means ‘servant’. The son of Ruth, the Moabitess, was enshrined in the genealogy of Jesus (c.f. Mt.1:5-6; Lk.3:32). Though the fathers were recorded in this genealogy, the names of five women were added by Matthew – Tamar (Mt.1:3); Rahab (Mt.1:5); Ruth (Mt.1:5); Bathsheba (Mt.1:6); and – Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ (Mt.1:16). How amazing that over one thousand years before the coming of Christ, God had Israel write down this story, which was kept over the decades of time. The story revealed the heart of God towards Gentiles. Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph.2:12-13). The book closed with a genealogy down to David (Ruth 4:18-22).