Ruth 4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:3-8

The goel. Every nation has its own domestic and social usages. Among those prevalent in Israel was the relationship of the goel . He was the redeemer, or the next kinsman of one deceased, whose duty it was to purchase an inheritance in danger of lapsing, or to redeem one lapsed. The duties were defined in the Levitical law. According to the custom and regulation known as Levirate, he was expected to marry the widow of the deceased, and to raise up seed unto the dead, in case no issue... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4

And I said (to myself). There is little likelihood in the opinion of those who maintain, with Rosenmüller, that the expression, "I said," refers to a promise which Boaz had made to Ruth (see Ruth 3:13 ). It is a primitive phrase to denote internal resolution. There is a point where thought and speech coalesce. Our words are thoughts, and our thoughts are words. I will uncover thine ear, that is, "I will lift the locks of hair that may be covering the ear, so as to communicate something... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4-6

Our own inheritance. "Lest I mar mine own inheritance." How many do this? They have noble inheritances, but in a multitude of ways they mar them. I. THERE IS THE INHERITANCE OF PHYSICAL HEALTH . Most precious; not to be gotten for fine gold. Yet how often it is injured by sloth and sin, by intemperance and lust, or by the overtaxed brain, and neglect of the simple economy of health. II. THERE IS THE INHERITANCE OF A GOOD NAME . This too is a priceless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:5

And Boaz said, In the day when thou acquirest the land from the hand of Naomi, and from Ruth the Moabitess, (in that day) thou hast acquired the wife of the deceased, to establish the name of the deceased upon his inheritance. So we would punctuate and render this verse. Boaz distinctly informed his relative that if the land was acquired at all by a kinsman, it must be acquired with its living appurtenance, Ruth the Moabitess, so that, by the blessing of God, the Fountain of families, there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I am not able to perform, for myself, the kinsman's part, lest I should destroy my inheritance. Perform thou, for thyself, the kinsman's part devolving on me, for I am not able to perform it. The moment that Ruth was referred to, as the inseparable appurtenance of Elimelech's estate, a total change came over the feelings of the anonymous relative and the spirit of his dream. He "could not ," so he strongly put it, perform the kinsman's part. The probability is that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:7

And this was formerly a custom in Israel, on occasion of surrendering rights of kinship, or of selling and buying land, in order to confirm any matter; a man drew off his shoe and gave it to the other contracting party. This was attestation in Israel. We give a free translation. The custom was significant enough. He who sold land, or surrendered his right to act as a kinsman in buying land, intimated by the symbolical act of taking off his shoe, and handing it to his friend, that he freely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:8

And the kinsman said to Boaz, Acquire for thyself; and drew off his shoe. On the instant that he said, "Acquire for thyself," viz; the land with its living appurtenant, he drew off his shoe and presented it. Josephus allowed his imagination to run off with his memory when, mixing up the historical case before us with the details of the ancient Levirate law ( Deuteronomy 25:7-9 ), which were, in later times at all events, more honored in the breach than in the observance, he represents Boaz... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:9

And Boaz said to the eiders and all the people, Ye are witnesses this day that I have acquired the whole estate of Elimelech, and the whole estate of Chillon and Machlon, from the hand of Naomi. It is absolutely necessary that, at this part of the narrative, as well as in several other portions, we read "between the verses." Naomi, either personally or by representative, must have appeared on the scene, to surrender her territorial rights and receive the value of the estate that had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:9-11

Honorable conduct honorably witnessed. By the "shoe" in the context is meant, no doubt, the sandal, which in the East was, and is, the ordinary covering of the foot, fastened by means of a thong of leather. Although in a house, or in a temple, the sandal was dispensed with, it was always used in walking and upon a journey. It was taken off at meals, in every sacred place, and in the presence of every sacred person, and on occasion of mourning. The context brings before us a symbolical use... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:10

And likewise Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Machlon, have I acquired to myself to wife, to establish the name of the deceased upon his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased may not be cut off from among his Brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. This, to Boaz, would be by far the most delightful part of the day's proceedings. His heart would swell with manly pride and devout gratitude when he realized, amid all the cumbrous technicalities of old Hebrew law,... read more

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