Ruth 4

Meanwhile, Boaz went up to {the place inside} the town gate {where people conducted their official business}. He sat down there. Just as he had hoped, the man responsible for Naomi’s family came along, the man whom Boaz had mentioned earlier. Boaz called out to him by name and said, “Come over here and sit down.” So the man came over and sat down.

Boaz then gathered ten of the older, well-respected men from the town and said {to them}, “Please sit here {so you can witness our business}.” So they sat down. \*

Then Boaz said to the man responsible for Naomi’s family, “The part of the field that belonged to our relative Elimelek is for sale. Naomi, who recently returned from Moab, is selling it.

I thought that I should tell you {about it} and suggest that you buy {the field} while the people who are sitting here are listening, including these leaders of our people. If you want to buy it back into the family, then do so. But if you do not want to buy it back, then let me know, because you are the closest relative to Elimelek, and I am next after you.” The man replied, “No, I will buy it!” \*

Then Boaz told him, “When you buy the land from Naomi, you will also need to marry Ruth, our deceased relative’s widow from Moab, in order that she may have a son who will inherit the property and who will continue Elimelek’s family line.”

Then the nearer relative said, “Then I cannot buy it back myself. If I did that, I would ruin my own son’s inheritance. You may be responsible for the land and the woman instead of me. I cannot do it.” \*

(At that time in Israel, people had a different way of redeeming {land} or exchanging {goods between them}. In order to make these matters legally binding, one man would take off one of his sandals and give it to the other man. That was the way people in Israel made final what they had agreed to do.)

So after the relative said to Boaz, “You buy the field yourself,” he took off one of his sandals {and gave it to Boaz}. \*

Then Boaz said to the respected men and to all the other people who were there, “Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to Elimelek, Kilion, and Mahlon.

I am also taking Ruth, Mahlon’s widow from Moab, to be my wife. This is in order that she may give birth to a son. Everyone will consider this son to be a descendant of Elimelek. This son will inherit the property and carry on Elimelek’s family name among his relatives and here in his hometown. Today you have seen and heard these things and can speak of them to anyone who asks about them.” \*

All the respected men, and the others who were sitting at the town gate, agreed, and they said, “Yes, we have seen and heard. We pray that God will allow this woman, who will be coming into your home, to be like Rachel and Leah, the two who bore our ancestors and started our people, Israel. May you become great in the clan of Ephrathah and famous here in Bethlehem!

We pray that your family will be like the family of your ancestor Perez, son of Judah and Tamar, because of the many descendants that God will give to you and this young woman.” \*

So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. God enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.

The women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, “Praise God for giving you a man to preserve your family today. We pray to God that people throughout Israel will greatly respect him.

Your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who has been better to you than if you had seven sons, has given birth to him. Therefore, he will make you feel young again, and he will take care of you when you become old.” \*

Then Naomi picked up the baby and held him closely and became a second mother to him.

The women who were living nearby said, “It is as though Naomi now has a son!” They named him Obed. Later, Obed became the father of Jesse, who became the father of {King} David.

Here is a list of the descendants of Perez: Perez’s son was Hezron.

Hezron’s son was Ram. Ram’s son was Amminadab.

Amminadab’s son was Nahshon. Nahshon’s son was Salmon.

Salmon’s son was Boaz. Boaz’s son was Obed.

Obed’s son was Jesse. Jesse’s son was {King} David.