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Class Five – 9.19.18
~Discussion
Ruth Chapter 4 – Discussion notes
Finally, today we’re going to discover the last installment in the love story of Ruth & Boaz, found in Ruth Chapter 4. This final chapter looks towards the future-Ruth and Boaz’s future, Naomi’s future, Israel’s future as a people and a nation, and ultimately your and my future. Each of the main characters in our story had faced difficult seasons in life where darkness prevailed, but God once again proves Himself to be sovereign and faithful. In the end, Ruth and Naomi’s glaring need to both food and family are provided in ways that are exceedingly more abundantly than they could have ever asked or imagined.
As Chapter 4 opens it is the morning after the night on the winnowing floor and we see Boaz doing as he promised, taking steps the first thing the next morning to determine which relative from the clan of Elimilech would become the kinsman redeemer for the deceased Mahlon.
Verses 1-2 Meeting at the city gate
In ancient Israel, the city gate served as the center of commercial, judicial and social activities. Business was conducted here and news was exchanged. Gates were not just a passageway through the city walls, but most often consisted of an inner as well as an outer gate with a passageway in between. Small meeting rooms were often found lining the passageway where elders or council members could be found conducting business. In some more prosperous cities, a small dais or stage was built under the gates so important people could be seated above and away from the regular folks. References in scripture to gates: wisdom uttered (Proverbs 1:21) Judges/officials served administering justice (Deuteronomy 16:18); Councils met (2 Chronicles 18:9); God’s word read (Nehemiah 8:2-3); Prophets proclaimed God’s messages (Jeremiah 17:19-20)
Another sign that Boaz was a prosperous man was his ability to sit with the elders in the town gate (Proverbs 31:23) and thus Boaz knew that if he was going to settle the matter of Ruth’s future, Bethlehem’s city gate was the place to do so publicly and quickly.
“Behold – Soon” the nearer relative “happened by” the gate where Boaz was sitting, waiting. He is never mentioned by name, rather a common Hebrew idiom is used – “My Friend”. This is similar to our usage of “John Doe”. He is but a nameless foot note in history due to his unwillingness to be obedient to God’s commands.
The interaction between Boaz and the relative would have been of interest to the entire community and would need witnesses to the legal aspects of the land transaction, so Boaz asks 10 of the town elders to witness the discussion. This would ensure the legality of the event. Why 10 elders? We do not know, but interestingly enough in later times a quorum of 10 men was required to have a synagogue meeting.
Verses 3-4 Redeeming a Relative’s Property
Boaz has a carefully planned strategy. First he informs “John Doe” that Naomi’s fields were his to redeem, should he choose. The law specified that if a poor Israelite was forced to sell some land, the nearest relative was to redeem the property by buying it back, to keep it in the clan. (Jer. 32:6-12; Lev. 25:25). We are not told in what sense Naomi was “selling” the land that had belonged to Elimelech. Was it land that Elimilech had sold prior to moving to Moab that his son’s would have rights to repurchase if they were alive or if Naomi had the money? Or was it land that still belonged to Elimilech’s family that now had to be sold due to Naomi’s dire circumstances? No information is given as to how she came to own it.
Then, after presenting “John Doe” with the opportunity to purchase this land, Boaz expresses his own desire, as the next in line to do so, should “John” not be interested. However, John is quick to agree to buy the fields, most likely thinking it is a financial windfall since more land would allow him to grow and sell more crops and would also enable his own son (s) to inherit greater holdings. Remember LAND is everything to the Hebrews. To possess land was to ensure survival.
Verses 5-6 Preserving the Dead’s name
After John Doe agreed to the deal, Boaz quickly inserts some additional information. The purchaser (redeemer) must also take responsibility for the widow Naomi as well as the Moabitess widow Ruth and then consummate the marriage so that a male heir could be born to carry on Mahlon’s name. This would ensure this land would pass to that child.
John quickly changes his mind and refuses to become the kinsman redeemer. ”I will redeem it” turned into “I cannot redeem it” as he digests these new facts. For some reason he feared his own estate might be in jeopardy, perhaps his own financial as well as his family’s financial well-being would be threatened by assuming responsibility for a Moabitess widow and her potential future son. He might have had a wife and sons of his own who would have to share their inheritance. Perhaps he wanted nothing to do with the baggage of a Moabite woman. Whatever the reason, he turns down the deal and gives the right to Boaz.
Verses 7-12 – Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer
The understanding between “John Doe” and Boaz was sealed with an exchange of a sandal, which symbolized the transfer of the right to redeem from John to Boaz. The author of Ruth explains the ceremony to his readers because this “sandal” exchange was no longer being practiced at this time of writing (4:7). When John backed out of the deal, Boaz announced he would redeem the property as well as marry Ruth himself. (9-10) Boaz has no reluctance to claim a Moabitess as his wife and to produce an heir with her.
Finally, the second glaring need of these two women is complete – food had been provided and now family was as well. The property was redeemed, Ruth was to be Boaz’ wife and someday a male child would preserve Mahlon’s name and inherit his property. The redemption was complete!
The elders at the gates served as witnesses and offered a prayer of blessing. (Verses 11-12). They asked God to give Boaz children through Ruth as abundantly has He gave Jacob through Rachel and Leah who were mothers to the 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel.
Verses 13-22 -Filling Naomi’s Emptiness
God rewarded Ruth and Boy by giving them the child Obed. Ruth had been barren in Moab during her entire marriage to Mahlon but now her faithful obedience to God had been rewarded with this child. Through this child his grandmother Naomi is also blessed. The women of the town who had witnessed Naomi as bitter and empty, now praised God, giving Him praise for His provision and asking that the child’s name would become famous in Israel, that he would be a restorer of life. Through Obed’s birth, Naomi is indeed restored. She is once again full, no longer empty. Ruth the Moabitess, became the source of joy and fulfillment for Naomi which outweighed her previous losses. By praising Ruth as better than 7 sons, the Hebrew women were expressing that no more perfect blessing could occur.
Verses 16-22 – Ancestors of King David
Naomi becomes the nanny for Obed; she has a grandchild that will become the grandfather of Israel’s most famous King – David, thus he would also be an ancestor of our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus. (Matthew 1:5-6) The genealogy validates the links from Israel’s patriarchs to Kind David and because of the faithfulness of Ruth and Boaz and the faithfulness of God to fulfill the promises to the patriarchs, soon a greater son, a Kinsman Redeemer would be born.
Throughout the book of Ruth God is revealing His character and His intentions towards His creation. Since the original sin in the garden, God has been carrying out His redemptive plan by His Sovereign and Providential actions. Even when we experience death and darkness rules, God is still behind the scenes working on our behalf, for our good and His glory. Ruth is a beautiful illustration of that truth.
Boaz, as a Kinsman Redeemer is a picture of our perfect Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Boaz was qualified as Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer because:
- Right to Redeem – near relative
- Resources to Redeem – financially able to meet her needs
- Resolve to Redeem -Willing to assume responsibility and followed through on his promises to her
Jesus is qualified as our Kinsman Redeemer because
- Right to Redeem – Emmanuel. He became human flesh and lived among us as our near relative
- Resources to Redeem – He was the perfect lamb, without spot or blemish required to pay our sin debt
- Resolve to Redeem – He was willing to be obedient to death to follow His Father’s plan
~Class Five Homework
Read Chapter 5 of “For Such a Time as This” and answer workbook’s questions.
*if you need to purchase a book for this study and you are local you can purchase a book at the Women’s Ministry at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. If you want to purchase the book online click here.
