Boaz followed the custom of redemption as there was a relative before him to be the kinsman redeemer. He set up a meeting at the town gate with ten elders present to inform the relative about Naomi’s return from Moab and her desire to sell a piece of land belonging to her husband, Elimelech. As the first in line, he has the right to buy it. If does not wish to then he would as the next in line. The relative accepted to buy it, but changed his mind after Boaz told him he must marry the widow of the dead son “to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” He immediately declined and offered it to Boaz.

Verse 7 provides the custom for redemption. One must take off his sandal to give to the other to relinquish his rights to redeem it to another person. So as he took his sandal and gave it to Boaz, Boaz said to all those present: You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place.

The family received three blessings. The first was from the elders, We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman. The second, God blessed Boaz and Ruth with a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, and the father of David. The third, to Naomi by the women, Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.

The book ended with the genealogy of Perez, the father of Hezron. Hezron, the father of Ram, and Ram, the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab, the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon, the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz, the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

Lessons:

1. Boaz did things the right way unlike the people living in the period of the Judges who did what was right in their own eyes. We must do the right thing, and not because everyone is doing it.

2. The relative, after hearing that he must marry Ruth, changed his mind because of selfish reasons. Like many, he wanted the benefits but without the responsibilities.

3. When we are willing to accept the responsibilities for the benefits, people and God will bless us just as they blessed Boaz and his new family.

Reflective Prayer: O Lord, I will do the right thing even when everyone else is doing it another way as it pleases You and we will gain the favor from man as well.