Ruth4

Boaz goes to the city gate to settle the matter of Naomi's land and Ruth's redemption. The closer kinsman initially agrees to redeem the land but declines when he learns he must also take Ruth as wife to raise up the name of the dead. Boaz then publicly declares his intent to redeem the land and marry Ruth, which is confirmed by the elders and people. Boaz and Ruth marry, and she conceives a son named Obed, who becomes the grandfather of King David.

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Boaz Negotiates at the City Gate

Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.

I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”

Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel.

So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

The Redemption is Completed

At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

The Birth of Obed

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.

He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.

The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The Lineage of David

Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,

Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,

Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,

Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

Study Notes for Ruth 4

Verse 1

The city gate was the public forum and judicial center of ancient Israelite towns. Boaz strategically waited here to ensure the legal transaction was conducted before official witnesses and elders.

Verse 2

Ten men of the elders constituted the required quorum for major legal and commercial transactions, ensuring the validity and public record of the proceedings.

Verse 4

Boaz first presents only the land redemption (Leviticus 25:25), which was financially beneficial, withholding the additional requirement of marrying Ruth until the kinsman accepted the initial offer.

Verse 5

Boaz reveals the levirate requirement (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). The purchaser must not only redeem the land but also marry Ruth to raise up an heir who would inherit the land in Mahlon's name, thus preserving his lineage.

Verse 6

The kinsman declines because the heir born to Ruth would claim the redeemed land, thereby diminishing the kinsman’s own family inheritance. This highlights Boaz's greater commitment to covenant faithfulness over personal financial interest.

Verse 7

The removal of the sandal symbolized the transfer of rights or property. While Deuteronomy 25 describes the removal of the shoe as a sign of shaming, here it functions as a solemn, public legal confirmation of the transfer of the right of redemption.

Verse 9

Boaz publicly confirms the threefold redemption: the fields of Elimelech, the property rights of Mahlon and Chilion, and the acquisition of Ruth as his wife.

Verse 10

The primary goal is theological: to ensure the name of the dead is not ‘cut off.’ Boaz acts as the faithful Kinsman-Redeemer (go’el), fulfilling the duties of both land redemption and levirate marriage.

Verse 12

The elders bless Boaz's house to be like Pharez, whose birth (Genesis 38) ensured the continuity of the line of Judah through an act of covenant obligation, foreshadowing the messianic lineage.

Verse 13

The narrative transitions from legal transaction to divine action. The phrase 'the Lord gave her conception' underscores that the successful continuation of the line is ultimately God’s providential work.

Verse 15

Ruth is praised as 'better ... than seven sons,' a staggering compliment in a culture that valued male heirs highly. This emphasizes her exceptional loyalty (hesed) and value to Naomi’s future.

Verse 17

Obed, meaning 'serving' or 'worshipper,' is immediately identified as the grandfather of David. This verse reveals the profound historical significance of the seemingly localized events in Bethlehem.

Verse 18

The inclusion of this genealogy (a 'toledot') formally connects the events of the book to the larger sweep of Israel’s history, establishing the legitimate ancestry of the future king.

Verse 22

The book concludes by showing how the faithfulness and kindness (hesed) demonstrated by Ruth and Boaz led directly to the lineage that would produce Israel’s greatest king, David, thus paving the way for the Messiah.

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Ruth4

Boaz Negotiates at the City Gate

The Redemption is Completed

The Birth of Obed

The Lineage of David

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