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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ruth 4:3

"And he said unto the near kinsman, Naomi that is come out of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's."Naomi selleth ... the land." This is the first intimation that Naomi had any land, and it indicates that there had been far more extensive contact between Boaz, Naomi, and Ruth than had been mentioned thus far in the narrative. We do not know how Naomi came to possess this land, but the probability is that she was acting as an agent for her deceased... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ruth 4:3

3. Naomi . . . selleth a parcel of land—that is, entertains the idea of selling. In her circumstances she was at liberty to part with it ( :-). Both Naomi and Ruth had an interest in the land during their lives; but Naomi alone was mentioned, not only because she directed all the negotiations, but because the introduction of Ruth's name would awaken a suspicion of the necessity of marrying her, before the first proposition was answered. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ruth 4:1-6

A. The nearer kinsman’s decision 4:1-6The gate of cities like Bethlehem was the place where people transacted official business (cf. Genesis 19:1; 2 Samuel 15:2-6; 1 Kings 22:10; Amos 5:10; Amos 5:12; Amos 5:15)."In ancient cities the ’gate’ was a short passageway through the thick city wall which provided the town an entrance and exit. A series of small alcoves lined the passage, and the whole gate area served as both bazaar and courthouse. There the ancients gathered to buy and sell, to... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:1-22

The Marriage of Boaz and Ruth. The Birth of their Child1. Boaz went up from the threshing floor to the open space by the city-gate, where the business he had in hand would have to be done, where, too, he would catch the other kinsman on his way out to the field. The author does not know this man’s name, and therefore contents himself with calling him ’So and So.’2. Ten was considered a perfect number (Jeremiah 6:27; 1 Samuel 25:5; 2 Samuel 18:15): where ten Jews live there should be a... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ruth 4:3

(3) Naomi selleth . . .—Rather, the portion of land, which belonged to our brother Elimelech. has Naomi sold. The present tense of the English Version seems to suggest that the sale is taking place at this particular time, but the meaning clearly is that Naomi, as the representative of the dead Elimelech had, so far as it was possible for an Israelite to part with a family estate, sold the land to obtain in some sort the means of living. In the year of Jubilee, the property would return to the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ruth 4:1-22

Ruth 4:6 The revolutionary school always forgets that right apart from duty is a compass with one leg. The action of right inflates an individual, fills him with thoughts of self and of what others owe him, while it ignores the other side of the question, and extinguishes his capacity for devoting himself to a common cause. Amiel. The desire to raise the pyramid of my existence the base of which is already laid as high as possible in the air absorbs every other desire, and scarcely ever quits... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:1-22

THE MARRIAGE AT THE GATERuth 4:1-22A SIMPLE ceremony of Oriental life brings to a climax the history which itself closes in sweet music the stormy drama of the Book of Judges. With all the literary skill and moral delicacy, all the charm and keen judgment of inspiration the narrator gives us what he has from the Spirit. He has represented with fine brevity and power of touch the old life and custom of Israel, the private groups in which piety and faithfulness were treasured, the frank humanity... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ruth 4:1-22

CHAPTER 4 The Redemption and Marriage 1. The other kinsman (Ruth 4:1-5 ) 2. His refusal (Ruth 4:6-8 ) 3. Boaz’s redemption (Ruth 4:9-10 ) 4. The marriage (Ruth 4:11-13 ) 5. Naomi’s happiness (Ruth 4:14-17 ) 6. The ancestry of David (Ruth 4:18-22 ) And now the other redeemer, who cannot redeem, appears. Boaz sits in the gate and hails the one whom he knew as he passeth by. He calls him not by name but said, “Ho, such a one! turn aside, and sit down here.” If Boaz had not called him... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:1-22

THE FAITHFULNESS AND GRACE OF BOAZ (vv. 1-12) The same morning Boaz went to the gate of the city, the place of judgment, sitting there until the close relative of whom he spoke came by(v. 1).At the invitation of Boaz, he also sat down.Besides this, he asked ten men of the city to be witnesses (v. 2). This close relative pictures the covenant of law, which had a claim upon Israel from the time of their coming out of Egypt (Exodus 20:1-26).It was because of Israel's disobedience to law,... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:1-22

A BLESSED BRIDE Ruth 3:1 The rest Naomi would secure for Ruth is that of a husband and a home. Threshing-floors were commonly on the field where the grain was reaped, the process consisting in throwing it against the evening wind, the farmer remaining all night on the field for that purpose as well as to protect his property. Ruth 3:3-6 The indelicacy of these verses is removed by the fact that it was the custom thus to remind a kinsman of his duty in such a case. The openness of the... read more

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