Ruth 4
4Meanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, "Come over and sit down here, my friend!" So the man came over and sat down.H5927H1162H5927H8179H3427H1350H1162H1696H5674H559H1945H6423H492H5493H3427H5493H34272Boaz selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, "Sit down here." So they sat downH3947H6235H582H2205H5892H559H3427H34273and Boaz addressed the related redeemer directly: "A portion of a field belonging to our relative Elimelech is up for sale by Naomi, who recently returned from the country of Moab.H559H1350H5281H7725H7704H4124H4376H2513H7704H251H4584So I thought to myself I ought to tell you that you must make a public purchase of this before the town residents and the elders of my people. So if you intend to act as the related redeemer, then do so. But if not, let me know, because except for you - and I after you - there is no one to fulfill the duties of a related redeemer." The man responded, "I will act as related redeemer."H559H1540H241H559H7069H3427H2205H5971H1350H1350H1350H5046H3045H1350H2108H310H559H13505Boaz continued, "On the very day you buy the field from Naomi, you're also "buying" Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of her dead husband, so the family name may be continued as an inheritance."H559H1162H3117H7069H7704H3027H5281H7069H7327H4125H802H4191H6965H8034H4191H51596At this, the nearer related redeemer replied, "Then I am unable to act as related redeemer, because that would complicate my own inheritance. You act instead as the related redeemer, because I cannot do so."H1350H559H3201H1350H7843H5159H1350H1353H3201H13507During Israel's earlier history, all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party, thereby creating a public record in Israel.H6440H3478H1353H8545H6965H1697H376H8025H5275H5414H7453H8584H34788So when the nearer related redeemer said to Boaz, "Make the purchase yourself," he then took off his sandal.H1350H559H1162H7069H8025H52759At this, Boaz addressed the elders and all of the people: "You all are witnesses today that I hereby redeem everything from Naomi that belonged to Elimelech, including what belonged to Chilion and Mahlon,H1162H559H2205H5971H5707H3117H7069H458H3630H4248H3027H528110along with Mahlon's wife Ruth the Moabite woman. I will marry her to continue the family name as an inheritance, so that the name of the deceased does not disappear from among his relatives, nor from the public record. You are all witnesses today!"H7327H4125H802H4248H7069H802H6965H8034H4191H5159H8034H4191H3772H5973H251H8179H4725H5707H311711Then all of the assembled people - along with the elders who were there - said, "We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who enters your house like Rachel and Leah, who together established the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah, and may you excel in Bethlehem!H5971H8179H2205H559H5707H3068H5414H802H935H1004H7354H3812H8147H1129H1004H3478H6213H2428H672H7121H8034H103512Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, from the offspring that the Lord gives you from this young woman."H1004H1004H6557H8559H3205H3063H2233H3068H5414H529113So Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, and when he had marital relations with her, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son.H1162H3947H7327H802H935H3068H5414H2032H3205H112114Then the women of Bethlehem said to Naomi, "May the Lord be blessed, who has not left you today without a related redeemer. May his name become famous throughout Israel!H802H559H5281H1288H3068H7673H3117H1350H8034H7121H347815And he will restore your life for you and will support you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who has borne him, is better for you than seven sons!"H7725H5315H3557H7872H3618H157H2896H7651H1121H320516Naomi took care of the child, taking him to her breast and becoming his nurse.H5281H3947H3206H7896H2436H53917So her women neighbors gave the child a nickname, which is "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.H7934H7121H8034H559H1121H3205H5281H7121H8034H5744H1H3448H1H173218This is the genealogy of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron,H8435H6557H6557H3205H269619Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab.H2696H3205H7410H7410H3205H599220Amminadab fathered Nashon, and Nashon fathered Salmon.H5992H3205H5177H5177H3205H800921Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed. 22Then Obed fathered Jesse, who fathered David.H8012H3205H1162H1162H3205H5744
Columbus, OH
