Ruth 4:2

KJV

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he took {H3947} ten {H6235} men {H582} of the elders {H2205} of the city {H5892}, and said {H559}, Sit ye down {H3427} here. And they sat down {H3427}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ruth 4:2 details Boaz's swift and strategic action at the city gate of Bethlehem, where he gathers ten men from the city's elders to serve as official witnesses for the legal transaction concerning Naomi's land and Ruth's future. This verse marks the formal commencement of the redemption process, underscoring Boaz's integrity and his commitment to conducting the matter with full transparency and adherence to established legal and social customs.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Boaz's encounter with the nearer kinsman at the city gate, as narrated in [Ruth 4:1](/ruth/4-1 "Ruth 4:1 - Boaz Meets the Kinsman-Redeemer"). Having secured the kinsman's presence, Boaz moves directly to establish the formal legal setting. The gathering of the elders sets the stage for the public negotiation and legal transfer of rights that will unfold in the subsequent verses ([Ruth 4:3-10](/ruth/4-3 "Ruth 4:3-10 - The Redemption Transaction")). This meticulous preparation fulfills Boaz's promise to Ruth at the threshing floor to resolve her situation with diligence and honor ([Ruth 3:18](/ruth/3-18 "Ruth 3:18 - Boaz's Promise to Ruth")). The narrative meticulously builds towards the resolution of Ruth's precarious status and the continuation of Naomi's family line.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, the city gate was far more than a mere entrance; it functioned as the central hub for all significant communal activities. It was the marketplace, the forum for public announcements, and critically, the designated courthouse where legal disputes were settled and major transactions, like land sales or marriage agreements, were formalized. The "elders" (Hebrew: *zeqenim*) were respected, often older, men who served as the local governing body, judges, and wise counselors. Their presence was essential for legitimizing any legal proceeding, ensuring its validity and public recognition. The selection of "ten" elders was significant, as this number often constituted a quorum for important communal or judicial assemblies, providing undeniable witness and preventing future challenges to the agreement. This practice ensured transparency and adherence to the Law, particularly concerning land inheritance and family continuity.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Legal Scrutiny and Due Process:** The meticulous gathering of ten elders at the city gate highlights the rigorous adherence to legal procedure required for significant transactions in ancient Israel. This underscores the importance of order, justice, and the rule of law within the community, especially concerning vital matters like land inheritance and marriage rights, which were foundational for family continuity and economic stability. The process ensures the transaction is unimpeachable.
* **Community Oversight and Accountability:** The presence of the city elders signifies the communal nature of legal agreements and the vital role of the community's leadership in upholding justice and ensuring fair dealings. This public setting at the gate ensured transparency, accountability, and the community's endorsement of the outcome, preventing future disputes. It reflects a society where important decisions were not made in isolation but under the watchful eye of respected authorities.
* **Boaz's Integrity and Wisdom:** Boaz's immediate and systematic approach to gathering the elders demonstrates his profound integrity and strategic wisdom. He does not cut corners but ensures that the redemption process is conducted "above board," according to all established customs and legal requirements. This carefulness protects Ruth's reputation, secures her future, and ensures the legitimacy of the entire transaction, aligning with the principles found in passages like [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Witnesses") regarding the necessity of multiple witnesses, and the public nature of justice at the [city gates](/proverbs/31-23 "Proverbs 31:23 - The Husband Known at the Gates").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Elders (Hebrew, *zeqenim'*):** This term refers to respected, often older, men who held positions of authority and wisdom within the community. In ancient Israel, the *zeqenim* functioned as local magistrates, judges, and counselors, responsible for administering justice, resolving disputes, and overseeing communal affairs. Their presence at the city gate was crucial for validating legal proceedings and ensuring their legitimacy.
* **City (Hebrew, *'ir'*):** While generally meaning "city" or "town," in this context, it specifically points to the "city gate" (*sha'ar*), which was the public forum for legal and commercial transactions. The *'ir* here represents the communal and legal authority vested in its leadership and public spaces.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he took ten men of the elders of the city":** Boaz's deliberate action of gathering a specific number of elders underscores the formal and official nature of the impending legal proceeding. The number "ten" was often considered a sufficient quorum for a legal or communal assembly in ancient Israel, providing ample and undeniable witness to the transaction. These "elders" were the recognized judicial and civic authorities in Bethlehem, whose presence lent full legal weight to the proceedings.
* **"and said, Sit ye down here.":** Boaz, acting as the initiator of the legal process, issues a direct command to the elders. This instruction signifies the commencement of a formal judicial session, establishing the setting and inviting the elders to assume their roles as arbiters and witnesses. It demonstrates Boaz's control and methodical approach to the situation.
* **"And they sat down.":** The elders' immediate and unquestioning compliance highlights their recognition of Boaz's authority in this matter and their readiness to fulfill their civic duty. Their act of sitting down formally establishes the "court" at the city gate, creating a solemn and official atmosphere for the legal discussion that is about to ensue.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its significance. **Foreshadowing** is evident as the meticulous gathering of witnesses and the formal seating of the elders build anticipation for the crucial legal and familial resolution that is about to unfold, signaling that a momentous decision is imminent. The "city gate" itself functions as powerful **symbolism**, representing public justice, community authority, and the place where destiny-altering decisions are made. The "ten elders" further **symbolize** the communal endorsement and legal legitimacy required for such a significant transaction involving land and lineage. The concise, direct language and swift action ("he took," "said," "they sat down") contribute to the narrative's efficient **pacing**, quickly moving the story from Boaz's encounter with the kinsman to the formal legal proceedings, maintaining narrative momentum.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly simple verse, detailing a legal formality, is rich with theological implications. It illustrates how divine providence often works through established human systems and legal structures. God's overarching plan for Ruth and Naomi's redemption and the continuation of the Messianic line is unfolding within the meticulous and transparent legal framework of Israelite society. Boaz's commitment to due process reflects a divine principle of order, justice, and integrity, showing that even in the most practical and mundane affairs, God's will can be honored and manifested. The public nature of the proceedings ensures that the outcome is not only legally binding but also morally unimpeachable, reflecting God's desire for righteousness in all dealings.

* [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Multiple Witnesses")
* [Proverbs 31:23](/proverbs/31-23 "Proverbs 31:23 - The Husband Known at the Gates")
* [Matthew 18:16](/matthew/18-16 "Matthew 18:16 - Two or Three Witnesses")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ruth 4:2 offers a powerful lesson in integrity, diligence, and the value of conducting our affairs with transparency. Boaz, a man of noble character, did not cut corners or seek private arrangements for a matter of such public consequence. Instead, he meticulously followed the established legal and social customs, ensuring that the transaction was beyond reproach and publicly validated. This teaches us the importance of acting "above board" in our own lives, especially when making significant decisions or agreements that impact others. It encourages us to seek appropriate counsel, involve necessary witnesses, and respect established procedures, even when they seem cumbersome. Boaz's example reminds us that true integrity is demonstrated not just in the outcome, but in the process, reflecting a commitment to justice and honor that pleases God and builds trust within the community.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you need to apply greater diligence and integrity, ensuring that your actions are transparent and above reproach, as Boaz demonstrated?**
* **How does Boaz's commitment to public, transparent dealings challenge our contemporary tendency towards private or informal agreements in significant matters?**
* **What role does community oversight and accountability play in ensuring justice and upholding truth in our personal, professional, or spiritual contexts?**

### FAQ
**Why were "ten" elders specifically chosen, and what was their role?**

Answer: While the Law of Moses didn't explicitly mandate "ten" for all legal proceedings, this number often represented a sufficient quorum for significant communal gatherings or judicial assemblies in ancient Israel, particularly in later Jewish tradition (e.g., for a synagogue minyan). It ensured a robust number of respected witnesses to publicly and legally validate the transaction, providing undeniable proof and preventing future disputes. The elders themselves were the recognized civic and judicial authorities of the city, serving as judges, arbiters, and community leaders. Their presence legitimized the proceedings, ensuring that the transfer of land and the potential marriage were conducted according to established law and custom. The principle of multiple witnesses is found in [Deuteronomy 19:15](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Witnesses"), and ten was a strong number to meet this requirement.

**What was the significance of the city gate as a legal venue?**

Answer: The city gate was far more than just an entrance; it was the central public square and administrative hub of an ancient Israelite town. It served as the marketplace, the place for public announcements, and crucially, the courthouse. All major legal, commercial, and social transactions, especially those involving land, property, or family rights, were conducted openly at the gate before the elders. This ensured transparency, public knowledge, and the legal binding of agreements, as seen in [Proverbs 31:23](/proverbs/31-23 "Proverbs 31:23 - The Husband Known at the Gates") where the husband is known "in the gates" among the elders. This public setting prevented future disputes and ensured the community's awareness and acceptance of the outcome.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Boaz's meticulous adherence to legal procedure in Ruth 4:2, gathering the elders at the city gate to ensure a public and legitimate redemption, powerfully foreshadows the work of Jesus Christ, our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Boaz undertook every necessary legal step to secure Ruth's future and inheritance, Christ fulfilled every legal requirement of God's Law to purchase our freedom and secure our eternal inheritance. His redemptive act was not done in secret but was a public, witnessed event on the cross, where He "blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" ([Colossians 2:14](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14 - Blotting Out the Handwriting of Ordinances")). Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, Christ legally and publicly redeemed us from the curse of the Law and the power of sin, making us heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 4:4-5](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4-5 - Christ Redeems Us from the Law")). Like Boaz, who acted as a faithful and righteous redeemer, Jesus, through His own blood, obtained eternal redemption for us ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Christ's Eternal Redemption")), ensuring that our adoption into God's family is legally binding and eternally secure.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 31:23

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

1 Kings 21:8

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed [them] with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

Acts 6:12

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon [him], and caught him, and brought [him] to the council,

Lamentations 5:14

The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.

Exodus 21:8

If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

Deuteronomy 31:28

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

Exodus 18:21

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: