Ruth 4: Boaz Marries Ruth

• v.1-12 Boaz negotiates for Ruth
• v.13-17 Naomi gains a Son
• v.18-22 The Genealogy of David

v.1-12 Boaz negotiates for Ruth

v.1-4 Boaz approaches the first in line and presents hm with his obligation

v.1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

v.2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

v.3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek.

v.4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

v.5-8 When he points it is not only the land but also Ruth, the man backs off

v.5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

v.6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

v.7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

v.8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

v.9-12 Boaz makes it official with the elders who pronounce their blessing

v.9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.

v.10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

v.11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.

v.12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

[Notes: In this chapter we see the one example of the outworking of the Law of the Kinsman-Redeemer.  Boaz points out the land that has become available and then the need of this widow. The man first in line to be redeemer would like the land but when he realises the widow, Ruth, comes with it, he concedes the situation and makes way for Boaz to step in and redeem both the land and Ruth – by marrying her. ‘Passing a sandal’ was a way to signify the passing of an agreement and the town elders agree with this and bless the union.]

v.13-17 Naomi gains a grandson

v.13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

v.14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!

v.15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

v.16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.

v.17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

[Notes: The two are married and in due season Obed is born and Naomi becomes the grandmother she had not been able to be before. Obed becomes a significant member of what eventually becomes the Messiah’s family tree.] 

v.18-22 The Genealogy of David

v.18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:

Perez was the father of Hezron,

v.19 Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

v.20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

v.21 Salmon the father of Boaz,

Boaz the father of Obed,

v.22 Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

[Notes: The family tree is laid out and shows how Ruth had played a significant part in creating the family tree that flowed on to David and was later acknowledged to be a significant part of the Messiah’s family tree. See also Mt 1:5,6.  Ruth, a foreigner, is thus grafted into the Messiah’s family tree.

To Summarise: In this simple story we see

• life in the fallen world going wrong,
• death causing mourning and a break in a family line, 
• the providence of God behind all the events – see the various ‘coincidences’,
• Ruth, a foreigner, being given an opportunity to join God’s chosen people,
• her committing herself to that path,
• Naomi acting as a wise counsellor to guide her (? picture of the Holy Spirit),
• Boaz acting as a redeemer who ‘saves’ Ruth (? picture of Jesus),
• a coming together of the redeemer and the redeemed to bring fresh life,
• a revelation of the grace of God who receives any ‘foreigner’ into His family who is willing to come,
• a revelation of grace and humility in Ruth that paves the way for good to come,
• a revelation of grace, wisdom, humility and patience in Naomi as she fits into the uncomfortable circumstances of life, to bring blessing and life to others.

An amazing and beautifully simple story with profound messages.]