Commentary on Ruth 4

Ruth 4 brings the beautiful story of Ruth to its climactic and redemptive conclusion. Boaz, acting as a kinsman-redeemer, navigates the legal complexities at the city gate to secure Ruth's future and preserve the lineage of Elimelech. Through his righteous actions and Ruth's faithful commitment, a son, Obed, is born, establishing a direct link to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. The chapter beautifully illustrates God's providential care, covenant faithfulness, and the theme of redemption.

Historical context

The book of Ruth is set “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1), a period of moral and spiritual decline in Israel (approximately 12th-11th century BC). This was a time marked by political instability, idolatry, and a general lack of central authority, as described in the book of Judges. Yet, within this turbulent era, the story of Ruth shines as a beacon of faithfulness, loyalty, and God's providential hand at work in the lives of ordinary people.

The cultural context of Ruth 4 is deeply rooted in Israelite legal and social customs, particularly concerning land inheritance and the practice of the kinsman-redeemer (go'el). This custom, outlined in texts like Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 25, mandated that a close relative had the responsibility to redeem family land that had been sold, or to marry a childless widow to raise an heir for her deceased husband. This ensured the preservation of family lineage and property within the tribal inheritance. The city gate served as the public forum for legal transactions and judicial decisions, making it the appropriate setting for Boaz's actions.

Verse by verse

• 1:

  Boaz immediately goes to the city gate, the public place where legal and business matters were settled by the elders. He encounters the unnamed closer relative, referred to as “Mr. So-and-So” (or Peloni Almoni in Hebrew, a placeholder for an anonymous person), whom he knows has a prior claim to redeem Elimelech's land. Boaz's promptness and public approach demonstrate his integrity and adherence to legal protocol.

• 2:

  Boaz gathers ten elders of the town to serve as official witnesses to the transaction. This number was customary for significant legal proceedings, ensuring the legitimacy and public record of the agreement. This formal setting underscores the gravity and legality of the redemption process about to unfold.

• 3:

  Boaz presents the case to the closer relative, framing it initially as the opportunity to redeem Elimelech's land, which Naomi was selling. This was the primary legal obligation of the go'el, to keep family land within the family. Boaz skillfully presents the situation, knowing the full implications.

• 4:

  The closer relative initially expresses his willingness to redeem the land, seeing it as a beneficial acquisition. This highlights the value of the land and his readiness to fulfill the financial aspect of the kinsman-redeemer's role, without yet understanding the full extent of the obligation.

• 5:

  Boaz then reveals the crucial condition: whoever redeems the land must also marry Ruth, the Moabite widow, to raise an heir in the name of the deceased (Mahlon, Elimelech's son). This is the levirate marriage law (Deut 25:5-10) applied to the kinsman-redeemer. This heir would inherit the land, meaning the redeemer's own inheritance would be diminished.

• 6:

  Upon hearing this, the closer relative retracts his offer. He explicitly states he cannot redeem the land and marry Ruth because it would “endanger his own inheritance.” This reveals his self-interest; he was willing to gain land but not to sacrifice his own family's future for the sake of another's lineage. He then instructs Boaz to act as the redeemer.

• 7:

  This verse describes the ancient custom for validating a transfer of property or right: one party would take off his sandal and give it to the other. This symbolic act publicly sealed the agreement, making it legally binding before witnesses. It was a tangible sign of relinquishing a claim.

• 9:

  Boaz declares before the elders and all the people that he is now purchasing all the property that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon from Naomi. This public declaration confirms his legal acquisition of the land, fulfilling the first part of the kinsman-redeemer's duty.

• 10:

  Crucially, Boaz also declares his intention to marry Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon. His purpose is to “perpetuate the name of the dead on his inheritance,” ensuring that Mahlon's lineage and property would not be forgotten in Israel. This act of selfless love and covenant faithfulness stands in stark contrast to the unnamed relative's self-preservation.

• 11:

  The elders and the people at the gate bless Boaz and Ruth. They invoke the names of Rachel and Leah, the matriarchs who built up the house of Israel, and pray for Boaz's prosperity and for his descendants to be like Perez, Judah's son, from whom the royal line would eventually come (Gen 38:29).

• 13:

  Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord enables her to conceive. This divine intervention underscores God's active role in fulfilling His promises and bringing about His redemptive plan. The conception of a child is often presented in Scripture as a gift from God, especially after a period of barrenness or difficulty.

• 14:

  The women of Bethlehem bless Naomi, celebrating the birth of her grandson. They acknowledge the Lord's goodness in providing a redeemer (Boaz, and now the child) for her, ensuring her future and the continuation of her family line. This marks a complete reversal of Naomi's earlier despair (Ruth 1:20-21).

• 15:

  The women further affirm the child's significance, declaring that he will “restore your life and sustain you in your old age.” This child, Obed, is not just Ruth's son but becomes a source of joy and security for Naomi, a living testament to God's faithfulness and the power of love and loyalty.

• 17:

  The women name the child Obed, meaning “servant” or “worshiper.” This verse then provides the crucial genealogical link: Obed is the father of Jesse, and Jesse is the father of David. This lineage is the climax of the book, connecting the humble story of Ruth to the royal line of Israel's greatest king, and ultimately, to the Messiah.

• 18:

  The concluding genealogy traces the line from Perez (Judah's son) through to David. This formal list, common in ancient Near Eastern literature, serves to legitimate David's claim to the throne and highlights God's sovereign hand in preserving a specific lineage through which His ultimate plan of redemption would unfold.

Key themes

• Redemption and the Kinsman-Redeemer
• God's Providence and Faithfulness
• Loyalty and Covenant Love (hesed)
• The Davidic Lineage
• Reversal of Fortune and Hope

Application

Ruth 4 beautifully illustrates how God works through ordinary people and seemingly mundane legal processes to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. We see in Boaz a picture of Christ, our ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. Just as Boaz willingly paid the price and took Ruth as his own, so Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, has redeemed us from sin and brought us into His family, making us heirs of His kingdom. This chapter reminds us that God's plan of salvation is meticulously woven through history, often in ways we don't immediately perceive.

For us today, Ruth's story encourages faithfulness and trust in God's providence, even when life seems bleak, as it did for Naomi. It also calls us to embody the selfless love and integrity shown by Boaz, seeking the good of others, especially the vulnerable, even when it comes at a personal cost. Our acts of kindness and faithfulness, however small, can be part of God's larger redemptive narrative, pointing others to the greater Redeemer.

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