The Book of Ruth
Ruth 4
Chapter IV · Vol. II, pp. 627–629
1 Boaz calleth into judgment the next kinsman. 6 He refuseth the redemption according to the manner in Israel. 9 Boaz buyeth the inheritance. 11 He marrieth Ruth. 13 She beareth Obed the grandfather of David. 18 The generations of Pharez unto David.
1 Then went Boaz up ato the gate,1 and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake bcame 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 cten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they satd down.
d Pr.20.8. Job 29.7,25.
3 And he esaid 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,2 saying, Buyf 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 besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will gredeem it.
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, hthou 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, ilest I mar mine own 3inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
A.M. cir. 2694. B.C. cir. 1310.
i 1 Ti.5.8. Pr.27.23. He was not inclined to have the poor young widow.
3 I cannot redeem it on that condition, &c. This seems no subterfuge, but a plain statement of fact. In several ways the purchase might have marred his inheritance. (1) By loading him with a considerable debt, which he might with difficulty pay off. (2) If he had a family by a former wife, his son by her would inherit his father's own hereditary property; and out of that hereditary property must be derived the money for the purchase. (3) If he had a wife living, he might mean that his property would be marred by taking another, which (for the hardness of their hearts) their law permitted.—C.
7 Nowk this was the manner in former time in Israel,4 concerning redeeming, and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe,5 and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
k De.25.7,9.
4 It would appear from this incidental remark that at the time the narrative was written the practice referred to was an old one, and had gone out of use.—P.
5 This signified the transfer of the property.
8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, lBuy it for thee: so he drew off his shoe.
l ch.3.13. Je.32.7,8.
9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are mwitnesses 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.
m Ps.112.5. Mat.10.16; 18.16. Je.32.10-12.
10 Moreover, nRuth 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 othe name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place:6 ye are witnesses this day.
o Ps.128.3-5. Je.22.23. De.25.5,6.
6 The genealogy, however, never gives the name of Mahlon. But this is to be accounted for in two ways. (1) The name of Boaz is retained, on account of the celebrity he had justly acquired by his generous conduct to Ruth. (2) Because Mahlon's legitimate place in the genealogy is sufficiently recorded according to law. (3) Because the retention of the name of Boaz gives a second evidence of the Moabitish origin of Ruth, who, as a Gentile ingrafted into the genealogy of our Lord, exemplifies the calling of the Gentiles into the fellowship of the covenant of promise.—C.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. pThe LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like qRachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily7 in Ephratah, and be famous8 in Beth-lehem:
12 And let thy house be like rthe house of Pharez, s(whom Tamar bare unto Judah,) of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
13 So Boaz ttook Ruth,9 and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, uthe LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14 And the xwomen 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.
x Ro.12.15. Lu.1.48,58.
15 And he shall be unto thee a yrestorer of thy life, and za nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter-in-law, which loveth thee, which isa better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
17 And the women her neighbours cgave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name dObed:1 he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
d Serviceable, ver.15,21,22. Ro.12.11. 1 Ch.2.12,15. Mat.1.5,6. Lu.1.31,32.
1 Obed, a servant, as distinguished from the sons whom she had lost in her prime of life. This was to be a servant of her old age.—C.
18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: ePharez begat Hezron,
e 1 Ch.2.4-15. Lu.3.31. Nu.1.7. Ge.49.10.
19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat fSalmon,
f Or, Salmah, 1 Ch.2.11,51,54.
21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 And gObed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.2
A.M. cir. 2694. B.C. cir. 1310.
2 'This passage is given by Matthew word for word in the genealogy of Christ, that we may see that this history looks not so much to David as to Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed by all as the Saviour and Redeemer of the human race, and that we may learn with what wonderful compassion the Lord raises up the lowly and despised to the greatest glory & majesty' (Brentius).—P.
Notes
[Ver. 5. Thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess. If the kinsman should buy the land from Ruth, it is not very apparent how it could follow from the purchase that he was to take Ruth to wife. Kennicott and others, on the authority of some very valuable MSS., render the passage, 'Thou shalt also obtain Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead;' and this, at all events, is the sense of the passage. C.]
Ver. 8. [So he drew off his shoe. This was not an example of the widow demanding marriage of the nearest kinsman, in which case she was directed to unloose his shoe. This was merely a case of the surrender of right, and drawing off the shoe was a fact in attestation, as more easily maintainable in evidence than any form of words or documents. In many European countries wood, earth, and stone are given as tokens both of surrender and investiture. C.]
Ver. 9. [I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. The property of the sons had reverted to the mother in point of fact, or its reverting may have been admitted in point of law, because any right derived through Ruth might have been afterwards questioned and difficult to establish. The right of Naomi, passing, however, under the silence or with the consent of Ruth, could not be questioned or disturbed. C.]
Reflections.—It is pleasant indeed to behold a man diligent in business, and the providence of God succeeding his endeavours;—to see in marriage the principal regard paid to the holiness and virtue of the partner, not to beauty or wealth;—to see persons of honest intentions risking the most strict and public cognizance;—to see the professed followers of Christ using the most fair and open dealing in all their agreements;—to see affectionate lovers depending wholly on God to make them comfortable to one another;—to see humility, virtue, prudence, and honesty, issuing in remarkable honour and happiness;—to see God raising up the poor, and causing them to sit with princes; and making up the loss of those relations from whom they expected much comfort, in the enjoyment of those from whom they expected nothing;—to see neighbours rejoicing in one another's welfare;—and to see the providences of God, in every circumstance, leading and directing us to Jesus, David's Lord. But, in fine, in Boaz the Bethlehemite I discern Jesus our kinsman-redeemer, who remembered us in our low estate;—pitying our poor and miserable condition, and moved, not indeed by any respectful behaviour in us, but his own infinite compassion, he hath allowed us sinners of the Gentiles to glean in the field of his oracles and ordinances. For our encouragement he hath appointed handfuls of precious promises, and offers of grace and salvation for our use. At infinite expense, and with infinite care and equity, he hath espoused our race, and raised up a seed of servants to God. Let us, conscious of our poverty and affected with his kindness, return him the most humble and thankful acknowledgments. Let us glean for our souls only in his field. Let us abide by his maidens, the faithful ministers of his word. Let us approach his throne of grace in the full assurance of faith, pleading that he, as our nearest kinsman, would spread his robes of righteousness, and garments of salvation, over our naked souls. And let us commit our way to him: he will bring it to pass, and perfect that which concerns us.