Ruth 4

In Ruth 4, we reach the climax of the story, where Boaz redeems Ruth through a legal process in front of witnesses. This chapter focuses on the fulfillment of the redemption promise and the continuation of the lineage, which ultimately leads to the genealogy of King David. The themes of loyalty, providence, and God's unfolding plan are central.

Ruth 4:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
3 Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and 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 but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”

Boaz goes to the city gate, the place where legal matters were settled, to address the situation with the closer relative. He explains Naomi’s sale of land and offers the opportunity for redemption. Initially, the relative agrees to redeem the land, but Boaz adds the condition that Ruth must also be taken as a wife to continue the family name. This changes the relative’s perspective on the situation. The mention of Ruth and the obligation to perpetuate the name introduces complexity to the deal, reflecting the cultural responsibility tied to land and family heritage.

Ruth 4:6 (NKJV)
6 And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

The closer relative withdraws his claim, concerned about the impact on his own inheritance. This highlights how the redemption of Ruth and the associated responsibilities are more than just a financial transaction. Boaz, who is willing to redeem both the land and Ruth, demonstrates his character and commitment to family loyalty, stepping in where the other relative declines.

Ruth 4:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
8 Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.

The act of removing the sandal was a symbolic gesture in ancient Israel that formalized the transaction. By handing over his sandal, the closer relative officially transferred his rights of redemption to Boaz. This custom underlined the legal and social formalities of the time, demonstrating how Boaz’s commitment is now sealed.

Ruth 4:9-10 (NKJV)
9 And Boaz said to the elders and 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 widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.”

Boaz declares his official purchase of the property and his intention to marry Ruth, ensuring that the family line of Elimelech and Mahlon continues. This act of redemption is not just about property, but about preserving the family name and inheritance in Israel. The witnesses affirm the legality of Boaz's actions, emphasizing the communal responsibility and transparency in such transactions.

Ruth 4:11-12 (NKJV)
11 And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
12 May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”

The witnesses bless Boaz and Ruth, invoking the legacy of Rachel and Leah, the matriarchs of Israel, and the house of Perez, a line associated with Judah. This shows the significance of Boaz's decision not just for his family, but for Israel's larger story. The blessings reflect the hope that Ruth will contribute to the ongoing fulfillment of God's promises through Israel’s generations.

Ruth 4:13 (NKJV)
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Boaz marries Ruth, and by the Lord’s blessing, they have a son. This child is not just an heir to Boaz but a fulfillment of the hope for Naomi’s family line. The mention of the Lord giving conception emphasizes that God’s providence is at work, blessing the union.

Ruth 4:14-15 (NKJV)
14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!
15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”

The women of the community recognize God's hand in Naomi's life, seeing the birth of the child as a restoration of her joy and hope. Ruth’s devotion is praised as being greater than that of seven sons, showing her unique role in God’s plan. Naomi’s sorrow is replaced with blessings, and her family is renewed through Ruth.

Ruth 4:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.
17 Also the neighbor women gave him 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.

Naomi’s joy is complete as she embraces her grandson. The child is named Obed, meaning “servant,” and he becomes the grandfather of King David. This genealogy ties Ruth and Boaz’s story to the broader history of Israel, emphasizing God’s sovereign hand in shaping Israel’s destiny through unlikely circumstances.

Ruth 4:18-22 (NKJV)
18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron;
19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab;
20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon;
21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed;
22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

The chapter concludes with a genealogy linking Boaz’s family to King David. This emphasizes how Ruth’s faithfulness and Boaz’s redemption fit into the larger redemptive plan of God for Israel, culminating in the reign of David, Israel’s greatest king, and pointing forward to the Messiah.