Ruth 1:18

Context

1:18 When Naomi¹ realized that Ruth² was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her.³

Ruth 4:4

Context
4:4 So I am legally informing you:⁴ Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people!⁵ If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so.⁶ But if not, then tell me⁷ so I will know.⁸ For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.”⁹ He replied, “I will redeem it.”

[1:18] ¹tn Heb “she”; the referent (Naomi) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:18] ²tn Heb “she”; the referent (Ruth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:18] ³tn Heb “she ceased speaking to her.” This does not imply that Naomi was completely silent toward Ruth. It simply means that Naomi stopped trying to convince her to go back to Moab (see F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 84-85).

[4:4] ⁴tn Heb “and I said [or perhaps, “thought to myself”], ‘I will [or “must”] uncover your ear, saying’”; NAB “So I thought I would inform you”; NIV “I thought I should bring the matter to your attention.”

[4:4] ⁵tn The phrase “before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people” appears to refer to the leaders who were specially chosen as witnesses (v. 2) and the larger group of community leaders standing by. It is possible, however, that the phrases “before those sitting here” and “before the leaders of my people” are appositional and that both refer to the ten leaders mentioned in v. 2 (cf. NLT “in the presence of these witnesses”).

[4:4] ⁶tn Heb “if you will redeem, redeem” (KJV, NASB, NRSV all similar); NCV “If you want to buy back the land, then buy it.”

[4:4] ⁷tn Heb “but if he will not redeem, tell me.” Most English versions emend the third person verb form (“he”) to the second person form because Boaz is addressing the closer relative. But it is possible that he briefly addresses the witnesses and refers to the closer relative in the third person. See J. M. Sasson, Ruth, 118.

[4:4] ⁸tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verb form with vav indicates purpose or result.

[4:4] ⁹tn Heb “for there is no one besides you to redeem, and I am after you” (NASB similar).