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4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
4:2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
4:7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
4:8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
4:11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 4:12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
4:15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
4:16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it 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.
4:18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 4:19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 4:20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 4:21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 4:22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.


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Everything King James Bible:Ruth
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Ruth
Book: Ruth
Chapter: 4

Overview:
The Kinsman refuses to redeem Ruth's inheritance. (1-8) Boaz
marries Ruth. (9-12) Birth of Obed. (13-22)

1-8 This matter depended On the laws given By Moses about
inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular
and legal manner. This Kinsman, when he heard the conditions of
the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the
great Redemption; they are not willing to Espouse religion; they
have heard Well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they
will give it their good Word, but they are willing to part with
it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own
inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair
and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what
all must make Conscience of, who would approve themselves true
Israelites, without guile. Honesty will be found the best
policy.

9-12 Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their
estates, but few know the value of Godliness. Such are the Wise
men of this world, whom the Lord charges with folly. They attend
not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the Salvation of
Christ, for fear of marring their inheritance. But God did Boaz
the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the
Kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his
inheritance, has his name, family, and inheritance forgotten.

13-22 Ruth bore a son, through whom Thousands and myriads were
born to God; and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was
instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved By him;
even of us Gentiles, as Well as those of Jewish descent. She was
a Witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly
forsaken them, but that in due time they should become one with
his Chosen people, and partake of his Salvation. Prayer to God
attended the Marriage, and praise to him attended the Birth of
the Child. What a pity it is that pious language should not be
more used among Christians, or that it should be let fall into
formality! Here is the descent of David from Ruth. And the
period came when Bethlehem-Judah displayed greater wonders than
those in the history of Ruth, when the outcast Babe of another
forlorn female of the same race appeared, controlling the
counsels of the Roman master of the world, and drawing princes
and Wise men from the East, with treasures of Gold, and
Frankincense, and Myrrh to his feet. His name shall endure for
ever, and all nations shall Call Him blessed. In that Seed shall
all the nations of the Earth be blessed.

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