Ruth 4

Boaz treateth in the place of judicature with the other kinsman, that was nearer then himself, whether he will make use of his right of redemption, and marry Ruth right, Boaz calleth the Court and the people to bear witness, and with congratulation of all the stander-by, marrieth Ruth, 6. Who heareth him Obed, Davids grand-father, 13. The Genealogy of, Perez unto David, 18.

1. And Boaz went up to the gate, [Where they kept Court, & the people assembled together] and sat him (down) there: and behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, [See chapter 3. 12.] passed by : so be [viz. Boaz] said: Turn in hither, sit (down) thou, such an one, [Heb. Peloni Almoni. A phrase used by the Hebrews, when they mean any one, whose name they know not, or (it may be) have for gotten or intend not to name, instead whereof we use to say N. N. or, thou man, whatever be thy name. See also 2 Kings 6:8.] sit thee (down) here: and he turned in thither, and sat him (down).

2. And he, [viz. Boaz] took ten men of the eldest of the City, [See 1 Kings 21. on v. 8.] and said; Set ye (down) here, and they sat them (down).

3. Then said he unto that redeemer; Naomi that is come again out of the Land of Moabites, hath sold [viz. through need and want. See Levit. 25. 25.] the parcel of Land, which was our brother [i.e. kinsman] Elimelechs.

4. And I said; [Oth. thought. See Genes. 20. on v. 11.] I will reveal it (before) thine ear, [Heb. I will discover it before thine ear: i.e. I will make thee hear it; I will reveal to thee, or make known to thee that which thou art ignorant of, that thou, as being the nearest to do. When the ears are covered, a man can hardly hear, on the contrary, when they uncovered, and free, or open, a man heareth well. See the like phrase, 1 Sam 9. 15. and the annotate. there. Item 2 Sam 7. 27. Job 33:16.] Saying, Take [Buy, Purchase, and so in the following verses] it in the sence of the inhabitants, et so in the presence of the eldest of my people, if thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; and if it also shall not be redeemed, tell it me, that I may know it: for there is none, besides thee, that can redeem it, and I after thee: [i.e. I am the next after thee] then he said; I will redeem it.

5. But Boaz said; That the day, when thou takest the Land of the hand of Naomi, then thou shalt also take it Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, [viz. Machlon, the son of Elimelech,] to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. [That is, as being sold and alienated not only by Naomi, but also by Ruth; and in that respect thou must also marry Ruth, to raise up seed unto her deceased husband, (whose next kinsman thou art) according to the Law, Deuteronomy 25:5.]

6. Then said that redeemer; I shall not be able to redeem it for my self, lest peradventure I mar mine inheritance. [That is, lose it, and likewise my name die. For if he should beget but one son by Ruth, the same should be held and accounted as the son of the party deceased, and bear his name according to the Law, Deuteronomy 25:6. so that this redeemer’s name should thereby be as it were dead] do thou redeem my redemption, [i.e. that, whereunto I have the right of redeeming] for thyself, for I shall not be able to redeem it.

7. Now this was concerning all resignation; [Or, heretofore, in times past] (a custom) in Israel, concerning the redeeming and concerning the changing, or public alienation, to confirm the whole matter, the man plucked off his shoe, [Compare Deut. 25. on v. 9.] and gave it to his neighbour: [To whom he resigned up his right, and was thereof himself for the future debarred] and this was a testimony in Israel. [that a man resigned up his right of any land or inheritance to another, to be enjoyed and possessed by him as his own.]

8. Therefore this kinsman said unto Boaz: Take thou it for thy self; and he pluckt off his shoe. [Forasmuch as here is no mention made of Ruth, and Naomi had commandeth her to keep herself quiet, and to let Boaz alone with the business, chap 3. 18. therefore from thence may be gathered, that Ruth was not here present; neither did manage this business before the Court, but Boaz. Otherwise the Law, Deuteronomy 25:9. would doubtless have been prosecuted, unless the same had been mitigated by man’s liking.

9. The said Boaz unto the eldest, and (unto) all the people; Ye are witnesses this day, that I have taken or purchased all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chili alienated or sold by Naomi, as above v. 5.]

10. Moreover, I purchase [heb. buy, get, obtain] also Ruth, the Moabitess the wife of Machlon, for a wife unto me, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not rooted out from his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

11. And all the people that were in the gate , together with the eldest, said; we are witnesses: the LORD make this woman that cometh into thine house, as Rachel, and as Lea, who both did build the house of Israel; [i.e. increased the house of Jacob by bringing forth Children. See Genes. 16. on vers. 2.] and deal courageously, [Or, make, get riches, attain mighty, grow powerful, mighty,] in Ephrata, and make (thy) name famous [Heb. proclaim the name] in Bethlehem.

12. And let thy house of Perez, (whom Thamar bare unto Juda) [Here, and in the following verses is discovered the main cause, wherefore the Holy Ghost is pleased to insert this whole History of Ruth into the Canonical books of the Holy Scripture, and to preserve the same: to wit, that the Messias should spring forth from Juda, Genesis 49:10. whose generalogy (according to the flesh) is related in the following verses, unto David, and so from David unto Christ, Matth. chapter 1. and Luke chapter 3.] of the seed, which the LORD shall give thee, by this young woman.

13. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became a wise unto him, and he went in unto her: [See Genes. 6. on vers. 4.] And the LORD gave her, that she conceived, [Heb. conception] and bare a son.

14. Then said the women unto Naomi; praised [Heb. blessed] be the LORD, who hath not omitted to give thee this day [Heb. who hath not caused to cease unto thee this day] a redeemer: [Meaning the son of Ruth, who as heir did enter into his fathers (viz. Machlons, who was Naomies son) seed, as from the sequel may be gathered. Others understand this of Boaz] and let his name be famous [Heb. proclaimed, or, named. Compare above v. 11.] in Israel.

15. He shall be unto thee a cherisher of the soul [Heb. a restorer, of the soul: i.e. he shall restore thy life and vigour, and make these as it were young again. Compare Psal. 19. on vers. 8. and 23. 3. Lament 1. 11, 19.] and to maintain [Or, feed, support. See the like use of the Hebrew word, Genes. 45. 11. and 47. 12. 1 Kings 18:4. which loveth thee, hath born him, which [viz. Daughter in Law Ruth] is better to thee than seven sons; [that is, than many sons. See Genes. 4. on v. 15.]

16. And Naomi took that child, and set it upon her lap, and became his Nurse.

17. And the neighbour women gave him a name, saying, Unto Naomi is a son born: and they called his name Obed; this is the father of Isai, [heb. Ischai] the father of David.

18. Now these are the births [i.e. offspring, posterity, who were born and descended from Perez.] of Perez; Perez begat Hezron. [Heb. Chetsron]

19. And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

20. And Amminabad begat Nahesson, [Heb. Nachschon] and Nahesson begat Salmon.

21. And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed.

22. And Obed begat Isai, and Isai begat David.