10 Moreover Ruth H7327 the Moabitess, H4125 the wife H802 of Mahlon, H4248 have I purchased H7069 to be my wife, H802 to raise up H6965 the name H8034 of the dead H4191 upon his inheritance, H5159 that the name H8034 of the dead H4191 be not cut off H3772 from among H5973 his brethren, H251 and from the gate H8179 of his place: H4725 ye are witnesses H5707 this day. H3117
And it shall be, that the firstborn H1060 which she beareth H3205 shall succeed H6965 in the name H8034 of his brother H251 which is dead, H4191 that his name H8034 be not put out H4229 of Israel. H3478
Husbands, G435 love G25 your G1438 wives, G1135 even as G2531 Christ G5547 also G2532 loved G25 the church, G1577 and G2532 gave G3860 himself G1438 for G5228 it; G846
And I took H5749 unto me faithful H539 witnesses H5707 to record, H5749 Uriah H223 the priest, H3548 and Zechariah H2148 the son H1121 of Jeberechiah. H3000 And I went H7126 unto the prophetess; H5031 and she conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 a son. H1121 Then said H559 the LORD H3068 to me, Call H7121 his name H8034 Mahershalalhashbaz. H4122
Marriage G1062 is honourable G5093 in G1722 all, G3956 and G2532 the bed G2845 undefiled: G283 but G1161 whoremongers G4205 and G2532 adulterers G3432 God G2316 will judge. G2919
Yet ye say, H559 Wherefore? H4100 Because the LORD H3068 hath been witness H5749 between thee and the wife H802 of thy youth, H5271 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: H898 yet is she thy companion, H2278 and the wife H802 of thy covenant. H1285
And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 that I will cut off H3772 the names H8034 of the idols H6091 out of the land, H776 and they shall no more be remembered: H2142 and also I will cause the prophets H5030 and the unclean H2932 spirit H7307 to pass H5674 out of the land. H776
And Jacob H3290 fled H1272 into the country H7704 of Syria, H758 and Israel H3478 served H5647 for a wife, H802 and for a wife H802 he kept H8104 sheep.
And Jacob H3290 loved H157 Rachel; H7354 and said, H559 I will serve H5647 thee seven H7651 years H8141 for Rachel H7354 thy younger H6996 daughter. H1323 And Laban H3837 said, H559 It is better H2896 that I give H5414 her to thee, than that I should give H5414 her to another H312 man: H376 abide H3427 with me.
Whoso findeth H4672 a wife H802 findeth H4672 a good H2896 thing, and obtaineth H6329 favour H7522 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ruth 4
Commentary on Ruth 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Ru 4:1-5. Boaz Calls into Judgment the Next Kinsman.
1. Then went Boaz up to the gate of the city—a roofed building, unenclosed by walls; the place where, in ancient times, and in many Eastern towns still, all business transactions are made, and where, therefore, the kinsman was most likely to be found. No preliminaries were necessary in summoning one before the public assemblage; no writings and no delay were required. In a short conversation the matter was stated and arranged—probably in the morning as people went out, or at noon when they returned from the field.
2. he took ten men of the elders of the city—as witnesses. In ordinary circumstances, two or three were sufficient to attest a bargain; but in cases of importance, such as matrimony, divorce, conveyancing of property, it was the Jewish practice to have ten (1Ki 21:8).
3. Naomi … selleth a parcel of land—that is, entertains the idea of selling. In her circumstances she was at liberty to part with it (Le 25:25). Both Naomi and Ruth had an interest in the land during their lives; but Naomi alone was mentioned, not only because she directed all the negotiations, but because the introduction of Ruth's name would awaken a suspicion of the necessity of marrying her, before the first proposition was answered.
4. there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee—(See on De 25:5). The redemption of the land of course involved a marriage with Ruth, the widow of the former owner.
Ru 4:6-8. He Refuses the Redemption.
6. The kinsman said, I cannot redeem it …, lest I mar mine own inheritance—This consequence would follow, either, first, from his having a son by Ruth, who, though heir to the property, would not bear his name; his name would be extinguished in that of her former husband; or, secondly, from its having to be subdivided among his other children, which he had probably by a previous marriage. This right, therefore, was renounced and assigned in favor of Boaz, in the way of whose marriage with Ruth the only existing obstacle was now removed.
7, 8. a man plucked off his shoe—Where the kinsman refused to perform his duty to the family of his deceased relation, the widow was directed to pull off the shoe with some attendant circumstances of contemptuous disdain. But, as in this case, there was no refusal, the usual ignominy was spared; and the plucking off the shoe, the only ceremony observed, was a pledge of the transaction being completed.
Ru 4:9-12. He Marries Ruth.
9. Boaz said unto the elders, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was … Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi—Although the widow of Chilion was still living, no regard was paid to her in the disposal of her husband's property. From her remaining in Moab, she was considered to have either been married again, or to have renounced all right to an inheritance with the family of Elimelech.
10. Ruth the Moabitess … have I purchased to be my wife—This connection Boaz not only might form, since Ruth had embraced the true religion, but he was under a legal necessity of forming it.
11. all the people and the elders, said, We are witnesses—A multitude, doubtless from curiosity or interest, were present on the occasion. There was no signing of deeds; yet was the transfer made, and complete security given, by the public manner in which the whole matter was carried on and concluded.
the Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah—This was the usual bridal benediction.
12. let thy house be like the house of Pharez—that is, as honorable and numerous as his. He was the ancestor of the Beth-lehem people, and his family one of the five from which the tribe of Judah sprang.
Ru 4:13-18. She Bears Obed.
17. Obed—means "servant."
18-22. these are the generations of Pharez—that is, his descendants. This appendix shows that the special object contemplated by the inspired author of this little book was to preserve the memory of an interesting domestic episode, and to trace the genealogy of David. There was an interval of three hundred eighty years between Salmon and David. It is evident that whole generations are omitted; the leading personages only are named, and grandfathers are said, in Scripture language, to beget their grandchildren, without specifying the intermediate links.