Ruth 4:7-12

Ruth 4:7-12

[7] Now this was the manner in former time  in Israel  concerning redeeming  and concerning changing,  for to confirm  all things;  a man  plucked off  his shoe,  and gave  it to his neighbour:  and this was a testimony  in Israel.  [8] Therefore the kinsman  said  unto Boaz,  Buy  it for thee. So he drew off  his shoe.  [9] And Boaz  said  unto the elders,  and unto all the people,  Ye are witnesses  this day,  that I have bought  all that was Elimelech's,  and all that was Chilion's  and Mahlon's,  of the hand  of Naomi.  [10] Moreover Ruth  the Moabitess,  the wife  of Mahlon,  have I purchased  to be my wife,  to raise up  the name  of the dead  upon 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,  We 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 be famous  in Bethlehem:  [12] And let thy house  of Pharez,  whom Tamar  bare  unto Judah,  of the seed  which the LORD  shall give  thee of this young woman. 

What does Ruth 4:7-12 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Probably the practice of standing on land one possessed led to the custom of using the sandal as a symbol of possession in land transactions ( Ruth 4:7; cf. Genesis 13:17; Deuteronomy 1:36; Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:3; Joshua 14:9). [1] Many scholars believe that it was the kinsman who removed his sandal to symbolize the completion of the transaction ( Ruth 4:8).
Boaz"s emphasis on raising up the name of the deceased ( Ruth 4:10), namely, Mahlon, and his father, Elimelech, shows Boaz"s concern for the reputation and posterity of his family line. These were important concerns in Israel because of God"s promises concerning Abraham"s seed and especially Judah"s descendants ( Genesis 49:10).
"The ancients believed that when a person"s name is never mentioned after his death, he ceases to exist ( Isaiah 14:20)." [2]
The witnesses to Boaz"s transaction wished God"s blessing of numerous descendants on him. They cited Rachel and Leah, both of whom, like Ruth , had joined the Israelites and had entered their land from alien nations that had demonstrated hostility to God"s people. Rachel"s tomb was near Bethlehem. She and her sister had given Jacob12sons directly and through their maids. They had indeed "built the house of Israel" ( Ruth 4:11). The people also wished wealth (cf. Ruth 2:1; Ruth 3:11) and fame on Boaz, which he did obtain thanks to God"s blessing on his family, especially through Ruth and David. Ephrathah means "fruitful."
The reference to Perez ( Judges 1:1-204) is also significant. There are many parallels between the story of Boaz and Ruth and the story of Perez"s parents, Judah and Tamar ( Genesis 38). Ruth and Tamar were both foreigners who had married into Israel. The first husbands of both women died leaving them widows. Both women participated in levirate marriages. Tamar seduced Judah under cover of a disguise, but Ruth encouraged Boaz under the cover of night. When Judah and Tamar appeared before a public tribunal they were ashamed and condemned, but when Boaz and Ruth did so they received praise and blessing. In both cases the husbands were considerably older than the wives. Both women, however, bore sons in the Davidic messianic line, Ruth honorably and Tamar dishonorably. Tamar bore Perez, and Ruth bore Obed (lit. he who serves; Ruth 4:21). Obed lived up to his personality trait name by serving as Boaz and Ruth"s Song of Solomon , and as Naomi"s grandson.
"Like Ruth , Tamar was a foreigner who perpetuated a family line threatened with extinction, one which later became Judah"s leading house, and thereby gained herself fame as its founding mother. If fertile, may not the equally creative (ch3) foreigner, Ruth , also preserve Elimelech"s line, and, if that line became famous, thereby earn a similar grand destiny?" [3]
Perez"s descendants included many leaders who were a blessing to Israel. The tribe of Judah led the Israelites in the wilderness march and in the settlement of the land following Joshua"s death ( Numbers 10:14; 1713547105_7).
The witnesses also recognized that children are a gift from God ( Ruth 4:11; cf. Psalm 127:3-5). They prayed that Boaz would achieve wealth (standing, valor, worth, ability; Heb. hayil) in Israel (cf. Ruth 2:1; Ruth 3:11). God is the source of all blessing.