Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:1-22
Boaz marries Ruth (4:1-22)Feeling the effects of the poverty of widowhood, Naomi decided to sell her late husband’s land. To prevent the land from passing out of the family, she had to ensure that it was bought (or redeemed) by the nearest relative (cf. Leviticus 25:23-28). In this case that person was the same one who had to produce through Ruth an heir who could carry on the names of the late Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) and Mahlon (Elimelech’s son and Ruth’s husband). But should such an heir... read more
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 4:17
Ruth 4:17 . Her neighbours gave it a name That is, gave her advice about his name; for it did not belong to them, but to the father or mother, to name the child. They called his name Obed That is, a servant, meaning to express their hopes that he would nourish, comfort, and assist her, duties which children owe to their progenitors. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David For whose sake chiefly this whole book seems to have been written, that it might be certainly known from... read more