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

1
Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. ​
2
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. ​
3
And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
4
And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. ​
5
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. ​
6
And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. ​
7
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. ​
8
Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

The Redemption is Completed

9
And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. ​
10
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. ​
11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
12
And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. ​

The Birth of Obed

13
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. ​
14
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. ​
16
And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17
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. ​

The Lineage of David

18
Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, ​
19
And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20
And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21
And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22
And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat 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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