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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 4:1-8

Here, 1. Boaz calls a court immediately. It is probable he was himself one of the elders (or aldermen) of the city; for he was a mighty man of wealth. Perhaps he was father of the city, and sat chief; for he seems here to have gone up to the gate as one having authority, and not as a common person; like Job, Job 29:7-25 We cannot suppose him less than a magistrate in his city who was grandson to Nahshon, prince of Judah; and his lying at the end of a heap of corn in the threshing-floor the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:3

And he said unto the kinsman ,.... That is, Boaz said to the kinsman he called to, and who sat down by him before the ten elders that were present: Naomi, that is come again out of the land of Moab, selleth a parcel of land ; meaning, that she was determined upon it, and was about to do it, and would do it quickly, and he had it in commission to propose it to a purchaser: which was our brother Elimelech's ; not in a strict sense, but being akin to the kinsman and himself, and having... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:4

And I thought to advertise thee ,.... To give him notice of it; or "I said" F7 ואני אמרתי "et ego dixi", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; he said in his heart and mind, purposing to do it; or he said it to Ruth, promising her that he would do it: saying, buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people ; or before those that sat there, even the elders, as witnesses of the purchase: if thou wilt redeem it, redeem it : for it was redeemable by a near kinsman... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:5

Then said Boaz ,.... In order to try the kinsman, whether he would abide by his resolution, he acquaints him with what he had as yet concealed: what day thou buyest the field of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead ; the wife of Mahlon, who was dead, the eldest son of Naomi, and so his widow, Ruth the Moabitess, had the reversion of the estate; wherefore the purchase must be made of her as well as of Naomi, and the purchase could not be made of her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself ,.... On such a condition, because he had a wife, as the Targum suggests; and to take another would, as that intimates, tend to introduce contention into his family, and make him uncomfortable; so Josephus says F8 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 9. sect. 4. , he had a wife and children, for that reason it was not convenient for him to take the purchase on such a condition: lest I mar my own inheritance ; he considered, that as he had a wife and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:7

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming ,.... It is a custom, and not a law, that seems here referred to, when an estate was bought and sold; not the law in Leviticus 25:25 , though that respects the redemption of an estate by a near kinsman, yet no such manner was enjoined as here practised afterwards, made mention of; nor the law in Deuteronomy 25:5 which does not concern the redemption of estates, nor a kinsman's marrying the widow of a deceased kinsman,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:8

And therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, buy it for me ,.... Which is repeated to show he gave his full consent to it, that he should make the purchase of it if he pleased, and which he confirmed by the following rite: so he drew off his shoe ; thereby signifying that he relinquished his right to the purchase of the estate, and ceded it to him; the Targum has it,"and Boaz drew off the glove off his right hand, and bought it of him;'and so Aben Ezra,"and Boaz drew off his shoe, and gave... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:3

Naomi - selleth a parcel of land - She was reduced to want; the immediate inheritors were extinct, and it was now open for the next heir to purchase the land, and thus preserve the inheritance in the family according to the custom of Israel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:4

I thought to advertise thee - Both Dr. Kennicott and Father Houbigant have noticed several corruptions in the pronouns of this and the following verses; and their criticisms have been confirmed by a great number of MSS. since collated. The text corrected reads thus: "And I said I will reveal this to thy ear, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me, that I may know; for there... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:5

Thou must buy it also of Ruth - More properly, Thou wilt also acquire Ruth. Thou canst not get the land without taking the wife of the deceased and then the children which thou mayest have shall be reputed the children of Mahlon, thy deceased kinsman. read more

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