Ruth 4:9-22
RUTH 4:9, 10
"And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are my
witnesses this day, that I have bought all that Elimelech's, and all that
was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
"Moreover Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased
to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that
the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the
gate of his place. Ye are witnesses this day."
Here Boaz begins his speech to the elders primarily, and to the people
as witnesses. The witness of both groups is important, as we see also in
later verses (4:11). That is, the people are not just bystanders, but participants
and perhaps legal witnesses, as well.
The phrase "I have bought" should be taken in the sense of acquiring
something by legal means. Boaz is establishing his full right to the family
possession, not only Elimelech's property, but that of both sons also. There
is a question as to how Chilion comes into the picture; after all Boaz was
not marrying Orpah. Perhaps since Chilion likewise will not have an heir,
his name would die out and his claim to a share in the property would pass
to Mahlon's heir.
In buying the field, Boaz has also obtained Ruth to be his wife. He did
not purchase Ruth in the sense of buying a bride or obtaining chattel. She
is the natural and ordinary accompaniment to the legal process of maintaining
the inheritance of Elimelech.
Boaz says he will "raise the name of the dead upon his inheritance",
that is, to provide a son who would carry on the name of the deceased. Then
he states the same proposition in the negative, "that the name of the
dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place."
The "brethren" are all the relations of the family of Elimelech
(and Mahlon and Chilion).
The "gate of his place" is most likely the gate of the town of
Bethlehem. As we can see, the gate is the center of social and community
life, so this is the same as saying that the name of the deceased would
be perpetuated in the community.
Boaz concludes by reminding his hearers that they are all witnesses.
Ruth 4:11,12
"And all the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, We
are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is come into thine house like
Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel, and do thou
worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem.
"And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bore unto
Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman."
The court session ends with a statement from all the witnesses, the
people and the elders. First, they affirm that they are indeed witnesses.
This seems very much like jury proceedings in which the jury announces a
decision. Clearly, here, the people's part is more than a formality; in
fact, they are mentioned before the elders in this verse.
Then the people continue by pronouncing a blessing on Boaz and Ruth. They
first pray that Ruth will be fruitful. And it is interesting, that although
they are citizens of Bethlehem, and thus descended from Judah, son of Leah
(Gen. 29:35), the place Rachel before Leah. Rachel was specially beloved,
and she had died in the near neighborhood of Bethlehem. Since is entire
nation of the Jews is considered to have descended from Rachel and Leah,
this prayer is that Ruth and Boaz will have a numerous and distinguished
family of descendants.
Then Boaz is addressed in the phrase "do thou worthily in Ephratah",
an expression of hope for Boaz' prosperity in the broad sense. The word
translated "worthily" here is the same as seen in Ruth 2:1 and
translated "of wealth". It points to excellence in almost any
field, with perhaps some emphasis on military prowess. But in this setting
the stress is on wealth and prosperity rather than military eminence.
The phrase "be famous in Bethlehem" speaks of the consequences
of this; the well-wishers trust that Boaz and Ruth will be renowned as a
result of his sterling actions here.
The reference to Pharez is curious, because Pharez is not usually regarded
as an example of fruitfulness. But there are connections. Pharez was the
one that "Tamar bare unto Judah". The account is seen in Genesis
38, and the story must be relevant because of the similarity of Tamar's
situation to Ruth's.
Also, we must remember that Pharez was very likely the most important of
Judah's sons; and least he is mentioned more often than Shelah, who was
older. And though Pharez, as a twin, was not marked with the red cord signifying
first-born, he "came out first" (Gen. 38:28 ff). The tribe of
Judah apparently depended more on Pharez' descendants than those of others.
Also, Pharez is mentioned as one of Boaz' ancestors (Ruth 4:18-21); and
Pharez seems to have been the ancestor of Bethlehemites in general (1 Chron.
2:5,18, 50 f). Moreover, Pharez gave his name to the tribe of Judah that
was descended from him (Num. 26:20).
Ruth 4:13
"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife; and when he went in unto
her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son."
Boaz and Ruth were married very soon after the events at the gate of
the city, probably within days. Note that the child born is regarded as
God's gift. The will and the work of God is apparent in all portions of
this book.
Ruth 4:14-16
"And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed by the Lord, who hath not left
thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
"And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and nourisher of
thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to
thee than seven sons, hath borne him."
"And Naomi took the child, and laid him in her bosom, and because nurse
unto him."
It is interesting that Naomi is featured in the closing seen, rather
than Ruth. The women of Bethlehem greeted Naomi on her return from Moab.
They come to her now probably because she is an old friend and neighbor,
and they know her much better than they know Ruth. Also, Ruth has a husband
and child to occupy her, but Naomi is free to socialize.
Again, note that the women give the chief praise to the Lord Who has worked
"all things after the counsel of his own will". "Blessed
be the Lord" is the usual way to express thankfulness. One of the old
Jewish prayer forms, is known as "The Eighteen Benedictions" because
each prayer begins with the phrase "Blessed art Thou, O Lord."
It is basic to the author of Ruth that God is over all men and all things,
and that He brings His plans to pass.
In speaking of the kinsman that Naomi now has, it becomes clear that the
women are speaking of the new baby boy, "thy daughter-in-law ... hath
borne him." Boaz, of course, the Naomi's kinsman also, and served as
kinsman-redeemer, but God sent the child to be Naomi's kinsman as well.
"That his name may be famous in Israel" is the same type of prayer
that the child would become famous, just as the elders and people had previously
prayed for Boaz.
The women prophecy that the child will mean a great deal to Naomi, in a
very practical sense. This phrase expresses great confidence in Naomi's
future, and the reason is given in the next phrases. The have all seen the
love which Ruth has for Naomi, it shines throughout this book. In fact,
their saying that she "is better than seven sons" is the supreme
tribute. Seven sons is proverbial for the perfect family (1 Samuel 2:5),
so to speak of Ruth as being better than this is high praise indeed.
As you might expect, Naomi took a special interest in the baby, and she
gave herself over to caring for him. She belongs to a family once more;
she is loved and has a recognized place. And the baby symbolizes all of
this to her.
Ruth 4:17
"And the women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, There is a
son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse,
the father of David."
This is very strange; the women of the village give the name to the
new baby! It may be that the women's (and all the citizens') kindly interest
in the whole situation made Boaz and Ruth inclined to accept their suggestion
for a name. Or, it's possible that local custom gave a more prominent place
to friends of the family than we would imagine.
"Obed" means "servant." Perhaps the women are implying
that the baby will serve Naomi in the sense mentioned in previous phrases.
Ruth 4:18-22
"Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron
begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminidab, and Amminidab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon
begot Salmon, and Salmon begot Boaz, and Boas begot Obed, and Obed begot
Jesses, and Jesse begot David."
From A. E. Cundall and L. Morris, "Judges and Ruth", pp. 317,318,
The Tyndale Press, London, 1980.
"A genealogy is, to say the least of it, a curious way to end a book.
The author does not tell us why he has done this, and we are left to guess.
But at any rate we can make this comment. Through the book in all its artless
simplicity there runs the note that God is supreme. He watches over people
like Naomi and Ruth and Boaz and directs their paths. God never forgets
His saving purposes. The issue of the marriage of Boaz and Ruth was to lead
in due course to the great King David, the man after God's own heart, the
man in whom God's purpose was so signally worked out.
"These events in Moab and Bethlehem played their part in leading up
to the birth of David. The Christian will think also of the genealogy at
the beginning of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. He will reflect that
God's hand is over all history. God works out His purpose, generation after
generation. Limited as we are to one lifetime, each of us sees so little
of what happens. A genealogy is a striking way of bringing before us the
continuity of God's purpose through the ages. The process of history is
not haphazard. There is a purpose in it all. And the purpose is the purpose
of God"
My studies over the years in the Book of Ruth, and in all the peripheral
topics to which the research has led me, has been one of the most fruitful
and blessed of my own spiritual life. Having memorized the book many years
ago, and refreshed my memory of it continuously, and having taken on the
task to compile and write up these notes, I have gained a very special appreciation
of the Lord's activities in our lives. The time spent has been very worthwhile.
If you have reached this far in your studies of the Word, and of Ruth, I
know that you have been mightily blessed also.
If you care to, send me a note about your own thoughts about the study of
Ruth.
In Christ,
Warren Doud
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