Ruth, Final Chapter (4)

At the beginning of this chapter, Boaz goes to the city gate immediately and finds the other kinsman-redeemer he had told Ruth about. He invites him and ten elders of the city to sit down as a kind of court (common in those days), and consider the matter before them. Here the character of the two redeemers is made obvious.

Boaz had told Ruth that he would settle the matter of marriage, but in the beginning of the debate, he doesn't mention her. He talks about Elimelech's property, which Naomi is offering for sale (and she had a right to, even in those days), and invites the other redeemer to consider buying it. The unnamed redeemer bites. This is a good deal, the property and an old woman who couldn't bear children presented no risk.

Then Boaz throws in the kicker. Whoever buys the property gets Ruth in marriage, and raises up an heir for the dead man. The redeemer backs out of the deal, saying it would ruin his inheritance. What did he mean? He now knew that the property wouldn't ultimately be his. It would belong to the heir of Elimelech. The benefit he would gain from the property would be only temporary.

What was he thinking? Wouldn't it ruin Boaz's inheritance, too? Would God actually make a law that would ruin the one who kept it? The man was revealing his character. He had a secular mindset. He was unwilling to sacrifice for someone else. For him, God had no part in this deal. He was in it for the money. He was a redeemer in name only. It was probably a good thing that Ruth didn't end up having to be married to him. (But the people didn't follow what the Law prescribed to shame him publicly).

But Boaz had an eternal and godly perspective. He was willing to sacrifice for Ruth. And he did. This deal was about giving oneself for another with no thought of what he would get out of it. Boaz's and Ruth's firstborn son became the grandfather of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

What about the women? It is clear from chapter four, that this child was a redeemer of Naomi (verse 14). And the son was said to have been born to her (verse 17). What about Ruth? Wasn't he the son and redeemer of Ruth, too? Yes! Ruth gave herself for Naomi and her deceased father-in-law, and found herself redeemed (in the social sense). She was already redeemed by God, under Whose wings she had come for refuge (Chapter 2 verse 12). The women of the town said she was better to Naomi than seven sons (4:15). This was the ultimate compliment for a woman in Israel at that time. No woman in Israel was considered better than even one son, let alone seven. And Ruth the Moabitess became Ruth the Israelite. Can you see why this is my favorite story in all of the Old Testament?