Promises Fulfilled

Ruth 3-4

            Naomi knows a good thing when she sees it and she sends Ruth to Boaz in order to appeal to his obligations as her kinsman-redeemer, a phrase which occurs 9 times in this short book. A kinsman-redeemer (guardian-redeemer in the NIV) was a close relative who would assume something approaching levirate responsibilities. We bumped into levirate customs earlier in the Bible (see Deuteronomy 25:5-10; also Leviticus 25:47-49, where land is concerned, and Numbers 35:19-21, where the word is translated ‘avenger.’) Levirate obligations were a custom whereby a living brother marries his deceased brother’s widow in order to provide children for his deceased brother and to keep his line alive.

            Ruth’s actions of finding Boaz at the threshing floor, uncovering his feet, and asking to be covered with the corner of his garment are all ways to suggest marriage, a request for Boaz to act as redeemer and provide for her. A couple of language notes add depth to the account. In Hebrew, ‘feet’ can be a euphemism for ‘genitals.’ Her uncovering his feet may be more explicitly a reminder of his levirate responsibilities than we first think. Second, the Hebrew phrase is very similar to Ruth 2:12, where Boaz had blessed Ruth with the words, “May you be rewarded by the Lord, under whose wings you take refuge.” In chapter 3, Ruth literally asks Boaz to spread the wings of his garment over her. She is asking him to provide the protection the Lord has assigned.

            Chapter 4 tells about a hiccup in the plan: there’s a more closely related kinsman, and he is interested in getting Elimelek’s land. (Elimelek was Naomi’s deceased husband and Ruth’s father-in-law.) This unnamed man has no interest, though, in the widow, Ruth; he doesn’t want to put his own estate at risk. So, Boaz becomes Ruth’s redeemer and later her husband.

            It’s a beautiful story. Here is faithful Ruth, who will reject everything about her former life in order to take care of her mother-in-law. Here is faithful Boaz, who will risk his own good fortune in order to take care of Ruth and Naomi. In chapter 1, Naomi tells Ruth to go home because she will not have any more sons that Ruth could marry and she introduces herself as Mara, because she is bitter. In chapter 4, she has the descendant she never expected and her joy is complete. (Interestingly, no one ever calls Naomi Mara in this book. Her bitterness will not endure!)

            Finally, significantly, the son of Boaz and Ruth is listed as the director ancestors of King David. After all the nonsense in Judges, we have a family who is faithful to the Lord, and we see that the story of redemption has not been abandoned. The Savior is still on his way!