1Meanwhile, Boaz went up to the city gate, and sat down there, and when the relative of whom Boaz spoke came by, he said, “Turn aside, my friend, and sit down here.” And he turned aside, and sat down. 2And then Boaz also said to ten men of the elders of the city, “Please sit down here.” And they sat down. 3And he said to his relative (guardian-redeemer), “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, is selling a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's; 4And I thought I should speak to you, and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those here, and in the presence the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then let me know, for there are no others to redeem it except you, and me, after you.” And his relative said, “I will redeem it.” 5Then said Boaz, “On the day that you buy the field from Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth, the Moabitess, the widow of Naomi’s dead son, to maintain the name of the dead with his inheritance.” 6At this, his relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, or I may endanger my own inheritance. Redeem it yourself; for I cannot redeem it.” 7Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and transferring inherited property, to confirm the matter: a man removed his shoe (sandal), and gave it to the other; and this was how they publicly validated the transaction in Israel. 8Therefore, the relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his shoe. 9And Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all the property of Elimelech, and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon, from the hand of Naomi. 10Furthermore, I have also acquired Ruth, the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife, to raise up and preserve the name of the deceased upon his inheritance, so that his name is not cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day.” 11And all the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and like Leah, the two from whom the house of Israel was built, and may you have standing in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem; 12And let your family be like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, by the children which the LORD shall give you by this young woman.” 13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, Who has not left you this day without a kinsman (guardian-redeemer); may his name be famous in Israel. 15And he shall restore your life, and nourish you in your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth. 16And Naomi took the child, and laid him in her bosom, and cared for him. 17And the women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed.” Obed was later the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron; 19Hezron was the father of Ram; Ram was the father of Amminadab; 20Amminadab was the father of Nahshon; Nahshon was the father of Salmon; 21Salmon was the father of Boaz; Boaz was the father of Obed; 22Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse fathered David. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |