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

1
Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there. Behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, “Come over here, friend, and sit down!” He turned aside, and sat down. ​
2
He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” They sat down. ​
3
He said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.
4
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, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem it besides you; and I am after you.” He said, “I will redeem it.” ​
5
Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” ​
6
The near kinsman said, “I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption for yourself; for I can’t redeem it.” ​
7
Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of attestation in Israel. ​
8
So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” He took off his shoe.

The Redemption is Completed

9
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. ​
10
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day.” ​
11
All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem.
12
Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give you of this young woman.” ​

The Birth of Obed

13
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. ​
14
The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.
15
He shall be to you a restorer of life, and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” ​
16
Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
17
The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi”; and they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. ​

The Lineage of David

18
Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, ​
19
and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
20
and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,
21
and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
22
and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became 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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