The Blessing Received

Ruth 4:1-22

“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.” (Ruth 4:1) 

Unwilling to damage either his own or Ruth’s by allowing rumors, Boaz went to entrance to the city and waited for his kinsman to come into town.  If it was like most small towns, people fall into certain patterns of behavior, and it was easy to guess about what time he would come in for coffee or whatever they used back then.  Even the greeting, “Ho such an one” sounds like a typical small town “Hey stranger” to someone they had seen only day or two before.  4000 years later, not much has changed.

“And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.  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: 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.” (Ruth 4:2-4a)

Even today in communities where people know each other well, it is not uncommon to conduct business in public restaurant with whoever happens to be present as witnesses.  Boaz reviewed Naomi’s situation, to be sure everyone knew what was going on and asked his relative if he wished to redeem the land as the law provided.  If not, Boaz would willingly take the responsibility, but he needed to know how to proceed.

“And he said, I will redeem it. 

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.

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.” (Ruth 4:4b-6)

The relative first said he’d be glad to buy back the land, and increase his property holdings.  Boaz then reminded him that if he did he would also have to take Ruth as his wife and when the time came her first son would be considered Mahlon’s son rather than his own.  Fearing that would leave him no heir of his own, the relative refused to marry her, freeing Boaz to redeem the land because he would put his own inheritance in jeopardy by marrying Ruth.

“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.  Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.” (Ruth 4:7) 

Different cultures have use different things as a sign of good faith.  Today we sign a contract, but a few years ago, a handshake was considered as good as a contract.  By taking off his shoe, the relative signified that he was surrendering his rights to the property and Ruth, in essence signing a quitclaim deed.

“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. 

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.” (Ruth 4:9-10)

Boaz then repeated exactly what had been agreed to all the people present, that he was authorized to buy Elimelech’s property from Naomi with no encumberances by the rest of the family.  In addition, declared his intention to make Ruth his wife, and raise a son to take her first husband’s name and inheritance.  They were recognized as witnesses of the transaction should there ever be a question.

“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: 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.” (Ruth 4:11-12)

The people agreed to serve as witnesses, congratulating him on the decision to marry Ruth and wishing him well, and that God would bless her like he had some of her predecessors.

“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. 

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.  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 borne him.  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. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 

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.” (Ruth 4:13-17) 

With no further ado, Boaz claimed Ruth as his wife.  She conceived and presented him with a baby that they named Obed, who later became King David’s grandfather.  Naomi claimed the child as her grandson and served as his nanny.  The women reminded her how much she had been blessed, in that her daughter in law was better to her than her sons would have been, and that she had had a relative like Boaz who was willing to step up, going beyond just what the law required, giving her a family she otherwise would not have had.

“Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, Ru 4:20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” (Ruth 4:18-22)

Pharez was Judah’s son, born before Israel went into Egypt.  About five hundred years later, when Joshua invaded Canaan, Rahab delivered the spies at Jericho, and was spared.  She married Pharez’s great great great grandson, Salmon, and had a son named Boaz.  It is this Boaz who married Ruth and became David’s grandfather.  David was born between five and six hundred years after the victory at Jericho.

It sure makes you think about modern medicine’s claims to have extended our lifespan when we look at the length of time these men lived, doesn’t it?  Remember that God had promised that if they would obey his law they would not be subject to the diseases others were.