BOAZ NEGOTIATES FOR RUTH AND MAKE HER HIS BRIDE (RUTH 4:1 A). In order to further his cause with Ruth Boaz made his way to the city gate. The gate of any city, in which there would often be an enclosed space between an inner and outer gate, and a gate house, together with rooms/alcoves for conductin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat himself down there, and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by, to whom he said, “Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here.” And he turned aside, and sat down.' Boaz knew that his first task was to track down and talk to the one who was a n... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “You sit down here.” And they sat down.' The mystery deepened when Boaz requested that ten city elders should also sit with them. They were there to act as witnesses to the transaction that was about to take place. It may, however, be that... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And he said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who is come again out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's.” Then Boaz explained his purpose. He explained to the near kinsman that Naomi, who had recently come out of the country of Moab, was selling the... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And I thought to disclose it to you, saying, “Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me, so that I may know, for there is none to redeem it besides you, and I am after you.” And he said, “I wi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” Then Boaz pointed out what this redemption involved. On the day that he bought the land he would have the re... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the near kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. You take my right of redemption on you, for I cannot redeem it.” As soon as the near kinsman learned what would be involved in the redemption of the land he withdrew his offer. He made the excuse that he coul... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging. To confirm all things, a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour, and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.' The writer then pauses in order to explain an ancient custom, which pre... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he drew off his shoe.' Ruth 4:7 explains why the near kinsman did what he did. He devolved on Boaz the right to act as kinsman redeemer and demonstrated the fact in front of witnesses by taking off his shoe, and no doubt handing it to B... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Ruth 4:11 ‘ And all the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses.” Then all the people in the gateway gathered together with the elders, and declared ‘we are witnesses'. This parallels Boaz's statement in Ruth 4:9, ‘you are witnesses this day', and combined with the two... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in unto her, and YHWH gave her conception, and she bore a son.' The consequence of what had happened was that Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife, and as a result of his having impregnated her ‘YHWH gave her conception', and she bore a so... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be YHWH, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman, and let his name be famous in Israel.” As a consequence of the birth of a son the women were able to say to Naomi, ‘blessed be YHWH Who has not left you without a near kinsman'. They were referrin... [ Continue Reading ]
“ And he will be to you a restorer of life, and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” And they assured Naomi that once he was old enough he would ‘restore her life' by giving her encouragement and a reason for livi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it. 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.' And Naomi already had cause for blessing, for she acted... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron, and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.' The writer now closes his book in triumph. We... [ Continue Reading ]