ruth-4:1-10-bsb

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:9

And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people ,.... Who were present at the gate of the city, or in court: ye are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's ; all the land which belonged to him, who was the husband of Naomi, and the father of Ruth's husband, whose estate Boaz now bought, paying the value for it to Naomi: and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's ; the two sons of Elimelech, who, had they been living, would have enjoyed their father's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:10

Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife ,.... Which was the condition on which the purchase of the land was, that whoever bought that should take her for his wife; nor did Boaz do evil in marrying her, though a Moabitess. Moab was not one of the nations with whom marriage was forbidden; and though it was a Heathenish and idolatrous nation, and so on that account it was not fit and proper to marry with such, yet Ruth was become a proselytess; nor was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:1

Then went Boaz up to the gate - We have often had occasion to remark that the gate or entrance to any city or town was the place where the court of justice was ordinarily kept. For an account of the officers in such places, see the note on Deuteronomy 16:18 . Ho , such a one ! - sit down here - This familiar mode of compellation is first used here. The original is אלמני פלני פה שבה shebah poh , peloni almoni ! "Hark ye, Mr. Such-a-one of such a place! come... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:2

He took ten men - Probably it required this number to constitute a court. How simple and how rational was this proceeding! The man who had a suit went to the city gates. Here he stopped till the person with whom he had the suit came to the gate on his way to his work. He called him by name, and he stopped and sat down. Then ten elders were called, and they came and sat down. When all this was done, the appellant preferred his suit. Then the appellee returned his answer. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:3

Naomi - selleth a parcel of land - She was reduced to want; the immediate inheritors were extinct, and it was now open for the next heir to purchase the land, and thus preserve the inheritance in the family according to the custom of Israel. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:4

I thought to advertise thee - Both Dr. Kennicott and Father Houbigant have noticed several corruptions in the pronouns of this and the following verses; and their criticisms have been confirmed by a great number of MSS. since collated. The text corrected reads thus: "And I said I will reveal this to thy ear, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me, that I may know; for there... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:5

Thou must buy it also of Ruth - More properly, Thou wilt also acquire Ruth. Thou canst not get the land without taking the wife of the deceased and then the children which thou mayest have shall be reputed the children of Mahlon, thy deceased kinsman. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:6

I cannot redeem it for myself - The Targum gives the proper sense of this passage: "And the kinsman said, On this ground I cannot redeem it, because I have a wife already; and I have no desire to take another, lest there should be contention in my house, and I should become a corrupter of my inheritance. Do thou redeem it, for thou hast no wife; for I cannot redeem it." This needs no comment. But still the gloss of the Targum has no foundation in the law of Moses. See the law, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:7

A man plucked off his shoe - The law of such a case is given at large in Deuteronomy 25:5-9 . It was simply this: If a brother, who had married a wife, died without children, the eldest brother was to take the widow, and raise up a family to the brother deceased; and he had a right to redeem the inheritance, if it had been alienated. But if the person who had the right of redemption would not take the woman, she was to pull off his shoe and spit in his face, and he was ever after... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1

EXPOSITION And Boaz went up, to the gate, and sat there. He "went up," for the city stood, as it still stands, on a ridge (see on Ruth 1:1 ; Ruth 3:6 ). "And sat there," on one of the stones, or stone benches, that were set for the accommodation of the townsfolk. The gateway in the East often corresponded, as a place of meeting, to the forum, or the market-place, in the West. Boaz had reason to believe that his kinsman would be either passing out to his fields, or passing in from... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1

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