\u201cNow Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 4:1). City gates were the customary places to do public business in those days, where the elders of the city would hold court (Deuteronomy 21:19).<\/p>\n First, Boaz encountered the previously mentioned relative and invited him to sit down (Ruth 4:1; cf. 3:12-13). The name of the relative was either unknown to the narrator or deliberately omitted. The actual record states \u201cCome aside so and so<\/em>.\u201d Then, he brought ten of the city\u2019s elders (Ruth 4:2). The value of witnesses should never be forgotten (2nd Corinthians 13:1).<\/p>\n Previously unmentioned in the narrative is the fact that Naomi had sold land which belonged to Elimelech (Ruth 4:3). Evidently, more communication took place between Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz than is directly stated; else he would not have been aware of the land transaction. Boaz invited the kinsman to redeem the land as the Law provided (Leviticus 25:23-31), and the man was pleased to do so (Ruth 4:4).<\/p>\n Boaz let the man know that the widow Ruth came with the land as a package deal (Ruth 4:5). If he claimed the status of redeeming relative for the land (Leviticus 25:25) he would need to do likewise for the woman (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). With this condition presented to him, the relative declined to fulfill the role of a redeemer (Ruth 4:6). Had he merely acquired the land, he would have increased his own possessions accordingly. However, with the marriage, he would have gained the financial obligation of a wife, the financial obligation of the children produced by that marriage, and the land would be inherited by Ruth\u2019s son in the name of her late husband, not in his own name; and thus he would have lost the amount he invested in the redemption price of the land.<\/p>\n The unnamed relative removed his sandal and gave it to Boaz as confirmation of the deal (Ruth 4:7-8). This was customary at the time the story took place, but not when it was written down (Ruth 4:7) at least two generations later (Ruth 4:22). In later times, a written deed was customary (Jeremiah 32:6-15). The custom appears to have been derived from the Law of Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:7-10), yet in this instance was clearly not an application of that Law for two reasons. First, it is here described as merely customary, not legally required. Second, the woman in this instance did not fulfill the entirety of what the Law prescribed, for she did not spit in the man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n They confirmed what they had witnessed (Ruth 4:9-11). They invoked the blessing of Jehovah that Ruth would be as fruitful as Rachel and Leah (Ruth 4:11), the matriarchs of Israel. They further invoked God\u2019s blessing that Boaz would prosper and be famous as a Bethlehemite (Ruth 4:11). They furthermore invoked divine blessing that the house of Boaz and Ruth would be likened to that Perez (Ruth 4:12), the son of Judah by Tamar, the woman he redeemed, in a way, though dubiously (Genesis 38). Like Ruth, Tamar was a foreign woman, and she was an ancestor of Boaz\u2019s (Ruth 4:18-21).<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 4:13). Notice that it was the Lord who gave conception; children are the gift of God (Psalm 127:3-5). Bearing a son was, of course, the goal of Levirate marriage to produce an heir for Ruth\u2019s late husband (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).<\/p>\n They blessed Jehovah for providing Naomi an heir, asking that he be made famous (Ruth 4:14). Of course, he was, at least indirectly, famous as the grandfather of Israel\u2019s great king David (Ruth 4:22) and was included in the ancestry of Christ Jesus (Matthew 1:5). They saw the child as a restorer of life for Naomi (Ruth 4:15) in contrast to the bitterness with which she returned to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:20-21). They also esteemed Ruth very highly, describing her love as better than that of seven sons (Ruth 4:15).<\/p>\n Naomi herself, the child\u2019s grandmother, became a nurse to Obed (Ruth 4:16), which demonstrated a physical fulfillment of his role as her restorer, though she was the one nourishing him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe neighbor women gave him a name, saying, \u2018There is a son born to Naomi.\u2019 And they called his name Obed<\/em>\u201d (Ruth 4:17). Apparently, the village was very much a part of each person\u2019s intimate life in that place and time. Even so, however, the consent of the parents was necessary for they could have overruled (Luke 1:59-63). Yet the name, which means either \u201cWorshipper\u201d or \u201cServant\u201d, stuck.<\/p>\n Obed became the grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:17, 22) and an ancestor of Christ Jesus (Matthew 1:5).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRuth\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ruth: Chapter 4 1. Where did Boaz go to conduct the transaction? \u201cNow Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there\u201d (Ruth 4:1). City gates were the customary places to do public business in those days, where the elders of the city would hold court (Deuteronomy 21:19). 2. Who all did he ask…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":19824,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19837","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20424,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ruth\/joy-returns\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":0},"title":"Joy Returns","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Joy Returns Text: Ruth 4 Understanding What You Read: Why do you suppose the near relative is not named? Why did the near relative change his mind about redeeming Elimelech\u2019s property? How was the near relative\u2019s refusal to redeem Elimelech\u2019s property confirmed? Why wasn\u2019t Boaz concerned that marrying Ruth would\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19834,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":1},"title":"Ruth: Chapter 3","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth: Chapter 3 1. What would Naomi seek for Ruth? Whereas previously Naomi had desired and prayed that Ruth would find rest with a new husband (Ruth 1:9), presently Naomi would proactively seek out her daughter-in-law\u2019s security with a new husband. \u201cThen Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \u2018My daughter,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20418,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ruth\/an-opportunity-to-repay\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":2},"title":"An Opportunity to Repay","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"An Opportunity to Repay Text: Ruth 3 Understanding What You Read: What did Naomi wish to obtain for Ruth? How was Ruth to prepare herself? How was she to gain Boaz\u2019s notice? What did Boaz praise Ruth for not doing? Where was it inappropriate for a woman to be? What\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19830,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/ruth\/ruth-chapter-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":3},"title":"Ruth: Chapter 2","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Ruth: Chapter 2 \u00a0 1. Who was Boaz? Boaz was \u201ca man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech\u201d (Ruth 2:1). Thus, he was suited to do the duty of a kinsman to Ruth, on behalf of her late husband. Boaz was the son of Rahab (Matthew 1:5), presumably\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0018-7.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19817,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ruth\/kindness-shown\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":4},"title":"Kindness Shown","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Kindness Shown Text: Ruth 1:19-2:23 Understanding What You Read: Why did Naomi\u2019s return cause a stir in Bethlehem? What new name did Naomi want to be called? Why? Who did Naomi think caused her problems? Was this a lack of faith on her part? What did Ruth volunteer to do?\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/scan0015-7.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22407,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/survey-of-the-bible\/survey-of-the-bible-ruth\/","url_meta":{"origin":19837,"position":5},"title":"Survey of the Bible – Ruth","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Survey of the Bible - Ruth by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ruth 1:15-18 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The book of Ruth takes place during the later years covered by the book of Judges - Ruth 1:1 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It serves as a contrast to the overall gloomy description of the decay of Israel - Judges\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19837"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19837\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Who all did he ask to come aside?<\/h4>\n
3. What opportunity did Boaz inform his relative of and was the man interested?<\/h4>\n
4. What condition did Boaz further inform the relative of and how did that information affect his choice?<\/h4>\n
5. How was the transaction completed?<\/h4>\n
6. How did the witnesses respond?<\/h4>\n
7. What transpired when Ruth became Boaz’s wife?<\/h4>\n
8. Describe the reaction of the neighbor women.<\/h4>\n
9. Who became a nurse to the child?<\/h4>\n
10. Who named the child?<\/h4>\n
11. Who were Obed’s notable descendants?<\/h4>\n