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.

Boaz Negotiates at the City Gate

Meanwhile, Bo'az had gone up to the gate and had sat down there, when the redeemer of whom Bo'az had spoken passed by. "Such-and-such," he said, "come over, and sit down"; so he came over and sat down.

He took ten of the city's leaders and said, "Sit down here"; and they sat down.

Then he said to the redeeming kinsman, "The parcel of land which used to belong to our relative Elimelekh is being offered for sale by Na'omi, who has returned from the plain of Mo'av.

I thought I should tell you about it and say, 'Buy it in the presence of the people sitting here and in the presence of the leaders of my people. If you want to redeem it, redeem it. But if it is not to be redeemed, then tell me, so that I can know, because there is no one else in line to redeem it, and I'm after you." He said, "I want to redeem it."

Then Bo'az said, "The same day you buy the field from Na'omi, you must also buy Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of the deceased [son], in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property."

The redeemer said, "Then I can't redeem it for myself, because I might put my own inheritance at risk. You, take my right of redemption on yourself; because I can't redeem it."

In the past, this is what was done in Isra'el to validate all transactions involving redemption and exchange: a man took off his shoe and gave it to the other party; this was the form of attestation in Isra'el.

So the redeemer said to Bo'az, "Buy it for yourself," and took off his shoe.

The Redemption is Completed

Bo'az addressed the leaders and all the people: "You are witnesses today that I am purchasing from Na'omi all that belonged to Elimelekh and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon.

Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today."

All the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We are witnesses. May ADONAI make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le'ah, who between them built up the house of Isra'el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem.

May your house, because of the seed ADONAI will give you from this young woman, become like the house of Peretz, whom Tamar bore to Y'hudah."

The Birth of Obed

So Bo'az took Rut, and she became his wife. He had sexual relations with her, ADONAI enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

Then the women said to Na'omi, "Blessed be ADONAI, who today has provided you a redeemer! May his name be renowned in Isra'el.

May he restore your life and provide for your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

Na'omi took the child, laid it on her breast and became its nurse.

The women who were her neighbors gave it a name; they said, "A son has been born to Na'omi," and called it 'Oved. He was the father of Yishai the father of David.

The Lineage of David

Here is the genealogy of Peretz. Peretz was the father of Hetzron,

Hetzron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of 'Amminadav,

'Amminadav was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmon,

Salmon was the father of Bo'az, Bo'az was the father of 'Oved,

'Oved was the father of Yishai, and Yishai 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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