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More Ruth commentaries
Ruth 1:1-14
Choices we make in life
Ruth 1:15-22
Ruth is committed to Naomi
Ruth 2:14-23
Boaz invites Ruth to lunch
Ruth 3:1-18
Ruth’s redemption is assured
Ruth 4:1-6
Sacrifice is necessary
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Sacrifice is necessary
Ruth 4:1–6
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
I once heard the story of a lonely woman walking home in a cold snow storm. The storm became so intense that the woman decided to lay down in the hollow of a rock. There she covered her tiny baby boy with every ounce of clothing she had on. When the rescuers found the mother … More
Boaz goes up to the gate of the city and sits down to wait on his relative to come by (v. 1). This was a meeting place for both the townspeople and outsiders who came by on their way to the market or to do business. The gate in those days was also a place to do legal business.
It seems that Elimelech had owned a small portion of land that Naomi would now like to sell. It had to be redeemed by some legal representative of the family so Boaz asks this “other kinsman” if he would like to buy it (v. 3). Boaz had called together ten elders to witness their conversation (v. 2). At first the man said he would buy the land (v. 4). Then Boaz brings out the fact that Ruth as well as Naomi is involved in their transaction (v. 5). She has a stake in this field because she is the widow of Naomi’s son and this involves marrying her to raise up a child for the deceased who would become an heir of this portion of land. This was a more complicated situation than the kinsman wanted to get involved in. It could involve quite a sacrifice and then the land would not belong to his family but to the sons of Ruth. Under these circumstances he withdrew his claim to redeem which now gave Boaz the right to take it (v. 6).Application
Ruth had given up her home, her country and her family to go God’s way. She desired to please God and not herself. When she chose His way, God is working for her and on her behalf. Does that remind you of Jesus who gave up His heavenly home because of His love for us? What kind of a sacrifice have I made for His sake?
Ruth 4:1-6 (English Standard Version)
Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, "Turn aside, friend; sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down. Then he said to the redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say, 'Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.' If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you." And he said, "I will redeem it." Then Boaz said, "The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance." Then the redeemer said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it."
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