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Text -- Ruth 4:1-9 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
Boaz Settles the Matter
4:1 Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there . Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said , “Come here and sit down , ‘John Doe ’!” So he came and sat down .
4:2 Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said , “Sit down here !” So they sat down .
4:3 Then Boaz said to the guardian , “Naomi , who has returned from the region of Moab , is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech .
4:4 So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people ! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so . But if not , then tell me so I will know . For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.” He replied , “I will redeem it.”
4:5 Then Boaz said , “When you acquire the field from Naomi , you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite , the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property .”
4:6 The guardian said , “Then I am unable to redeem it , for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option , for I am unable to redeem it.”
4:7 (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel : A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party . This was a legally binding act in Israel .)
4:8 So the guardian said to Boaz , “You may acquire it,” and he removed his sandal .
4:9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people , “You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech , Kilion , and Mahlon .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
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NET Notes: Rut 4:3 Naomi…is selling. The nature of the sale is uncertain. Naomi may have been selling the property rights to the land, but this seems unlikely in l...
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NET Notes: Rut 4:4 Heb “for there is no one besides you to redeem, and I am after you” (NASB similar).
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NET Notes: Rut 4:5 Heb “in order to raise up the name of the deceased over his inheritance” (NASB similar); NRSV “to maintain the dead man’s name...
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NET Notes: Rut 4:6 Here it appears that the acquisition of Ruth along with the land was an obligatory package deal (“When you acquire the field from Naomi, you mus...
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NET Notes: Rut 4:7 Heb “the legal witness”; KJV “a testimony”; ASV, NASB “the manner (form NAB) of attestation.”
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