Ruth 4

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Ruth 4:1-22

in the Line of David’s Ancestry Ruth 4:1-22 We are admitted here to a graphic picture of the old world. Men’s memories were longer and stronger than ours: and what was done publicly in the Gate, the place of public concourse, had the seal of permanence irrevocably attached to it. The transference of the shoe indicated the inferior position of woman, though she was honored in Israel more than in the neighboring nations. What a happy ending! The gleaner need never again tread the fields,... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Ruth 4:1-22

The nobility and faithfulness of Boaz are clearly manifested in this story. It is hardly possible to read this Book without being convinced that Boaz had already found himself in love with Ruth, which accounts for the fact that he was ready and willing to take the responsibility of the next of kin. However, there was one who had a prior right and in loyalty to the law of his people Boaz gave him his opportunity. The picture presented of the gathering of the elders in the gate and the legal... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:11

REDEMPTION AT THE GATE‘All the people that were in the gate said, We are witnesses.’ Ruth 4:11 I. It was a solemn moment when Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, ‘Ye are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s.… Moreover, Ruth … have I purchased to be my wife … that the name of the dead … be not cut off from the gate of this place.’ We would like to have known more of how this sweet mother builded her house; but when, as a widow, already she was ‘known in the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4

Boaz Negotiates For Ruth And Make Her His Bride (Ruth 4:1-11 a). In order to further his cause with Ruth Boaz made his way to the city gate. The gate of any city, in which there would often be an enclosed space between an inner and outer gate, and a gate house, together with rooms/alcoves for conducting official matters, was the place where much business took place and where the elders of the city met to make decisions and act as judges. Markets would be held there. It was a centre of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:1

‘ Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat himself down there, and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came by, to whom he said, “Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here.” And he turned aside, and sat down.’ Boaz knew that his first task was to track down and talk to the one who was a nearer kinsman than himself. So in order to do this he went to the gate of the city. It was, of course, morning (Ruth 3:15), and he was clearly aware that the man must shortly come through there,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:2

‘ And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “You sit down here.” And they sat down.’ The mystery deepened when Boaz requested that ten city elders should also sit with them. They were there to act as witnesses to the transaction that was about to take place. It may, however, be that ‘ten’ indicates ‘a reasonable number’ (compare Jacob’s ‘he has changed my wages ten times’ - Genesis 31:7). read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:3

‘ And he said to the near kinsman, “Naomi, who is come again out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.” Then Boaz explained his purpose. He explained to the near kinsman that Naomi, who had recently come out of the country of Moab, was selling the family land which had belonged to her deceased husband, Elimelech. But as we have seen above, it was not as simple as that. For the land belonged to YHWH, and it had been allotted by Him to a family... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:4

“ And I thought to disclose it to you, saying, “Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, then tell me, so that I may know, for there is none to redeem it besides you, and I am after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” Boaz then called on the near kinsman, in front of ‘those who sit here, even before the elders of my people’, acting as witnesses, to buy the land if he wished to do so, so that it... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:5

‘ Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.” Then Boaz pointed out what this redemption involved. On the day that he bought the land he would have the responsibility of ‘raising up the name of the dead on his inheritance’, by begetting sons through the remaining womenfolk who were selling the land, in this case Naomi and Ruth, the wives of the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:6

‘ And the near kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance. You take my right of redemption on you, for I cannot redeem it.” As soon as the near kinsman learned what would be involved in the redemption of the land he withdrew his offer. He made the excuse that he could not buy it because he did not have the money available and arranging the purchase would put him in debt, thus badly affecting the position of his own inheritance. He may also have had in mind that... read more

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