Meaning of Ruth 4:9

This declaration by Boaz to the elders and the assembled people marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, signifying the formal and public ratification of his redemption of Naomi's property and, crucially, his marriage to Ruth. By purchasing the ancestral land from Naomi, Boaz not only secured the financial future of Ruth and Naomi but also fulfilled the legal and social obligations of a go'el (kinsman-redeemer). The public pronouncement before witnesses underscores the legitimacy and binding nature of the transaction, ensuring that no future claims could be made against the land or the lineage. This act demonstrates God's providential ordering of events, bringing about justice, restoration, and the continuation of a family line through faithful obedience and adherence to covenantal principles.

Context and Background

The book of Ruth is set during the period of the Judges, a time marked by spiritual and social instability in Israel. Naomi, a Moabite woman who had married an Israelite man, Elimelek, found herself widowed and destitute in her homeland. Her two sons also died, leaving her with her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi, deciding to return to Bethlehem, urged her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. Orpah reluctantly departed, but Ruth, through her famous declaration of loyalty ("Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."), chose to remain with Naomi and return to Bethlehem. In Bethlehem, Ruth, a foreigner, gleans in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy and respected kinsman of Elimelek. Through a series of events, Boaz learns of Naomi's plight and the obligation of a kinsman-redeemer to marry a widow of a deceased relative to preserve their name and inheritance. Boaz, being a closer relative than another identified man, steps forward to fulfill this role.

Key Themes and Messages

• Redemption: The central theme is redemption, both material and familial. Boaz redeems the land from Naomi, ensuring it remains within the family, and he redeems Ruth by marrying her, thus continuing Elimelek's lineage.
• Loyalty and Faithfulness: Ruth's unwavering loyalty to Naomi and her adoption of Israel's God stand in stark contrast to the prevailing moral ambiguity of the Judges period. Boaz's faithfulness to the law and his care for Naomi and Ruth are also prominent.
• Divine Providence: The narrative highlights God's hidden hand working through human actions to bring about His purposes, even in difficult circumstances.
• Inclusion of the Foreigner: Ruth, a Moabite woman, is not only accepted but becomes a vital part of the Israelite lineage, demonstrating God's grace extending beyond ethnic boundaries.
• Covenant and Law: The actions of Boaz are framed within the context of Israelite law concerning the kinsman-redeemer, emphasizing the importance of upholding covenantal responsibilities.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This passage illustrates the concept of spiritual redemption that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth from their destitution and ensured the continuation of their family line, Jesus redeems humanity from the bondage of sin and death, securing eternal life and incorporating believers into God's spiritual family. Boaz's public declaration signifies the certainty and efficacy of his redemptive act, paralleling the public and undeniable reality of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The inclusion of Ruth, a foreigner, speaks to the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, which extends to all who believe, regardless of their background.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The genealogy established through Ruth and Boaz culminates in King David, and ultimately, in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17). This verse, therefore, is a crucial link in the Messianic lineage, demonstrating how God used seemingly ordinary and even foreign individuals to fulfill His grand plan of salvation. It showcases the continuity of God's covenant with Israel and His faithfulness in preserving a people through whom the Savior would come. The emphasis on land and lineage also foreshadows the promised land and the eternal kingdom that God will establish.

Analogies

• Financial Redemption: Imagine a family facing foreclosure on their ancestral home. A generous relative steps in, pays off the debt, and ensures the family can remain in their home, thus preserving its legacy. This is akin to Boaz redeeming Naomi's land.
• Adoption: A child orphaned and without a family is lovingly taken in and incorporated into a new, secure family, given a name and inheritance. This mirrors Ruth being taken into Boaz's family and lineage.
• A Legal Witness: When a significant contract is signed, witnesses are present to ensure its validity. Boaz's public announcement serves this purpose, guaranteeing the legality and finality of his actions, much like the testimony of witnesses in a court of law.

Relation to Other Verses

• Leviticus 25:25: This Levitical law outlines the role of the kinsman-redeemer: "If any of your brothers become poor and sell some of their property, his nearest kinsman is to come and redeem what his brother has sold." Boaz is acting in direct accordance with this statute.
• Deuteronomy 25:5-6: This passage deals with the levirate marriage, a related concept: "If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her brother-in-law should go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The son born to her will be considered the son of the dead brother, that his name may not be wiped out from Israel." While Ruth was not a direct sister-in-law in the levirate sense, the principle of preserving a name and lineage through a kinsman is very similar.
• Matthew 1:5: This verse explicitly names Boaz, Ruth, and Obed in the genealogy of Jesus, directly connecting this event to the coming of the Messiah: "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse."
• Isaiah 59:20: This prophetic verse speaks of a Redeemer coming to Zion: "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declaring a future, ultimate Redeemer.