Ruth Chapter 4
In this chapter we learn about one other responsibility of a kinsman redeemer. He was also responsible for redeeming or buying the land of the widow to ensure that the land remained in the family. In this instance the widow of the story would normally have been Naomi herself, but she was not of childbearing age and so the widow that would be redeemed with the land is Ruth, her daughter-in-law and heir.
Boaz did the right thing by meeting with the men or the elders of the city and by presenting the opportunity to the relative that was closer in relation to Naomi than he was. It was clear that Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, but he also wanted to do the most honorable thing and that was to offer the other closer relative the opportunity first.
Let's Reflect
1. When Boaz saw the closer relative walk by, he asked him to sit with him and the elders. How did he present the opportunity to this man?
2. Was the relative (redeemer) willing to buy the land belonging to Naomi?
3. When the man learned that the land purchased would also include the responsibility of taking Ruth to be his wife, how did he respond?
4. We don’t know why this man declined, perhaps he was already married or perhaps he was going to inherit land that there was also a widow or potential marriage involved with that transaction. Either way he told Boaz that he was declining the offer, and that Boaz should do what?
5. What custom did the redeemer practice to show he was declining the offer and responsibility of kinsman redeemer?
6. The elders happily wished Boaz well with his impending marriage. Their elders were happy for Boaz and Ruth and pronounced a blessing for their marriage of what? See verse 12.
7. Boaz and Ruth were married. Boaz became her kinsman redeemer. And it sounds as if the blessing of verse 12 happened when?
8. Naomi was also blessed in all of this because she now had a grandson. The baby was named Obed. And who did Obed become the grandfather of?
The book of Ruth is more than just a beautiful love story of a Moabite woman who married an Israelite. She experienced the love of being grafted into the family and receiving an inheritance. She was an outsider who was redeemed and brought into the family. Boaz and Ruth became the grandparents of King David and through their lineage our Savior, Jesus Christ the Messiah would be born.
