Ruth 4:1-22

<p>Ruth 4:1-22</p> <p>Dr. Steven R. Cook</p> <p> </p> <p>Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there [to fulfill his promise; see Ruth 3:11-13], and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by [according to God’s providence], so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down [this was common legal practice]. 3 Then he said to the closest relative [not named], “Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land [in her legal possession] which belonged to our brother [אָח ach – brother, relative] Elimelech. 4 “So I thought to inform you [according to your legal right], saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here [as witnesses], and before the elders of my people [see Lev. 25:23-25]. If you will redeem it [גָּאַל gaal – i.e. to pay the price for freedom], redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am 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 acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance [see Deut. 25:5-6].” 6 The closest relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance [by marrying Ruth and having children]. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another [perhaps forfeiting his right to walk on the land]; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel [the writer explains the custom to his generation]. 8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I