Ruth 4:1

CHAPTER IV

Boaz gathers a council of the elders at the city gates, states

the case, and proposes to the nearest kinsman to redeem the

inheritance of Elimelech, and take Ruth to wife, 1-5.

The kinsman refuses, and relinquishes has right to Boaz, 6.

The manner of redemption in such cases, 7, 8.

Boaz redeems the inheritance in the presence of the elders, and

of the people, who witness the contract, and pray for God's

blessing upon the marriage, 9-12.

Boaz takes Ruth for wife, and she bears a son, 13.

The people's observations on the birth of the child, 14, 15.

It is given to Naomi to nurse, 16.

The neighbouring women name the child, and the book concludes

with the genealogy of David, 17-22.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV

Verse Ruth 4:1. Then went Boaz up to the gate] We have often had occasion to remark that the gate or entrance to any city or town was the place where the court of justice was ordinarily kept. For an account of the officers in such places, Deuteronomy 16:18.

Ho, such a one! - sit down here.] This familiar mode of compellation is first used here. The original is שבה פה פלני אלמני shebah poh, peloni almoni! "Hark ye, Mr. Such-a-one of such a place! come and sit down here." This is used when the person of the individual is known, and his name and residence unknown. אלמני almoni comes from אלם alam, to be silent or hidden, hence the Septuagint render it by κρυφε thou unknown person: פלני peloni comes from פלה palah, to sever or distinguish; you of such a particular place. Modes of compellation of this kind are common in all languages.