Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down. V1

This chapter continues the final saga of Boaz becoming the Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth. As Boaz revealed in the last chapter, there is someone who is a closer relative to Eliminech, (Naomi’s husband) Even though Boaz wants to be the husband of Ruth, he is willing to do the right thing, and follow the Mosaic Law

As we know God is in complete control and sovereign over this entire situation, He will accomplish His will of bring in the Messiah, Jesus through this love story of Boaz and Ruth

The Gate, is normally a like a public square where official business was completed, there the elders would be for Boaz to preside his case

And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.  V2

Boaz must take this matter in front of atleast 2 to 3 witnesses, based on the Mosaic Law. Again showing how much more righteous Boaz is, he as 10 elders to hear this case and make their recommendation

Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.  Deuteronomy 17:6

Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”  v3-4

The situation has been explained, Naomi has returned to Bethlehem, her husband Elimelech has died and her two sons. This man is next in line to be the Kinsman Redeemer, but if he doesn’t want to fulfill this request, Boaz makes it known he is more than willing to do it!

Here is the stipulation in the Mosaic Law to keep Gods land in Israel and not sell it

The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me. / Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land.  Leviticus 25:23-24

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”   v5-6

Boaz then presents the catch to the other redeemer, if you buy this land, you must also mary Ruth who is a Moabite. I think it’s interesting how Boaz makes it clear Ruth is a Gentile, in my opinion to try and steer him away from any interest

But also Boaz wants to make sure Ruth is taken care of , not just Naomi because he actually cares for her. Also the family line of Ruths deceased husband Mahlon, to keep the family line going

The other man see’s this is more of a complicated deal than just purchasing land, considering this man is probably already married and has children, the acquiring of Naomi and Ruth, will complicate his family line and their ownership of property

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel. Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So he took off his sandal. v7-8

Now the practice of removing the sandal, was a sign of the rejection of the proposed marriage. In this case the man rejected Ruth as his wife and forfeited all claims to their property. This legally allowed Boaz to marry Ruth

5“If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not be married to a stranger outside the family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6And it shall be that the firstborn son which she bears will succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7But if the man does not want to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’ 8Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. But if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to take her,’ 9then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ 10And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.’ Deuteronomy 25

And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” v9-10

It’s official, Boaz has declared Ruth is his wife by the witnesses of the elders. Boaz is the Kinsman Redeemer for Naomi and Ruth, just as Christ is our Redeemer for salvation

And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. V11

This is basically a prophetic message, Rachel and Leah are the women who the 12 tribes of Israel came from. Ruth being a Gentile is being grafted into the Messianic Line of God. I don’t know if anyone realized how prophetic this proclamation was

Secondly they mentioned Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Messiah our Lord Jesus (Micah 5:2)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman.” v12

Another prophetic message, as this is talking about the coming of Christ. The house of Perez is the line of Christ

3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king. Matthew 1

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. V13

The prophecies were being fulfilled, as Ruth gave birth to Obed which is the grandfather to King David.

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! V14

Naomi who believed that she was cursed, has not only been restored but she has been blessed beyond measure by God, as her seed is part of the Messianic line. Boaz, who is a shadow of Christ, has redeemed her, just as Jesus redeems us from the curse by his blood he shed for us on the cross!

And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. v15-16

Restorer of life, exactly what Christ does for us! Defeating sin and death for us, make us part of the family of God in Christ. What Ruth the Gentile did for Naomi is more blessed than having 7 sons!

Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. V17

Another prophetic message, the neighbor women gave Obed his name! This was not a common practice in the Jewish culture. In fact this is the only case this has happened in the entire Old Testament. This had to be another divine message from God

The name Obed means servant, which is fitting since Christ is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53

The birth of Obed was greeted and celebrated by all of Bethlehem, this was a special child not just for the immediate family. Showing the importance of his birth from the beginning

Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. V18-22

Remember the prophetic message about the line of Perez in vese 12

This genealogy the same as Matthew 1

Salmon who married Rahab the Harlot from the book of Joshua, begot Boaz , who begot Obed, who begot Jesse, who begot King David