1 Then went Boaz vp to the gate, and sate him downe there: and beholde, the kinseman of whome Boaz spake, came by, vnto whom he said, Ho, such a one: turne aside, sit downe here. And hee turned aside, and sate downe.
2 And hee tooke ten men of the Elders of the citie, and said, Sit ye downe here. And they sate downe.
3 And he said vnto the kinseman: Naomi that is come againe out of the countrey of Moab, selleth a parcell of land, which was our brother Elimelechs.
4 And I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it, but if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell mee, that I may know: for there is none to redeeme it, besides thee, and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeeme it.
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitesse, the wife of the dead, to raise vp the name of the dead vpon his inheritance.
6 ¶ And the kinseman said, I cannot redeeme it for my selfe, lest I marre mine owne inheritance: redeeme thou my right to thy selfe, for I cannot redeeme it.
7 Now this was the maner in former time in Israel, concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirme all things: a man plucked off his shooe, and gaue it to his neighbour: and this was a testimonie in Israel.
8 Therfore the kinseman said vnto Boaz, Buy it for thee: so he drew off his shooe.
9 ¶ And Boaz saide vnto the Elders, and vnto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I haue bought all that was Elimelechs, and all that was Chilions, and Mahlons, of the hande of Naomi.
10 Moreouer, Ruth the Moabitesse, the wife of Mahlon, haue I purchased to be my wife, to raise vp the name of the dead vpon 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.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the Elders said, Wee 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 bee famous in Bethlehem.
12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, ( whom Tamar bare vnto to Iudah) of the seed which the Lord shall giue thee of this yong woman.
13 ¶ So Boaz tooke Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in vnto her, the Lord gaue her conception, and she bare a sonne.
14 And the women said vnto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord which hath not left thee this day without a kinseman, that his name may bee famous in Israel:
15 And he shalbe vnto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law which loueth thee, which is better to thee then seuen sonnes, hath borne him.
16 And Naomi tooke the childe, and laid it in her bosome, and became nurse vnto it.
17 And the women her neighbours gaue it a name, saying, There is a sonne borne to Naomi, and they called his name Obed: hee is the father of Iesse the father of Dauid.
18 ¶ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begate Hezron,
19 And Hezron begate Ram, and Ram begate Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begate Nahshon, and Nahshon begate Salmon,
21 And Salmon begate Boaz, and Boaz begate Obed,
22 And Obed begat Iesse, and Iesse begate Dauid.
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.