ruth-4:1-16-web

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1-2

A primitive council. The writer of this book depicts for us in this passage a very picturesque scene. We observe— 1. The place of judgment and public business . "Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates … throughout thy tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment." The parents of the disobedient son were to "bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place." Absalom, when plotting against his father's authority, "Stood... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1-12

The bridal of Boaz and Ruth. I. THERE WERE SOME OBSTACLES IN THE WAY . There were none, indeed, in Boaz's heart; it was full of pure esteem and love for Ruth. There were none in his financial circumstances; he was able to provide amply for her comfort, and for all his own necessities and conveniences. There were none in his physical condition; he had been temperate in all things, and was in the enjoyment of health and strength. Neither were there any obstacles in Ruth's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:2

And he took ten men of the elderly inhabitants of the city, and he said, Sit ye here; and they sat down . Boaz wished to have a full complement of witnesses to the important transaction which he contemplated. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:3

And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has resolved to sell the portion of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. Boaz, it is evident, had talked over with Ruth the entire details of Naomi's plans, and could thus speak authoritatively. Naomi, we must suppose, had previously taken Ruth into full confidence, so that Boaz could learn at second- hand what in other circumstances he would have learned from Naomi herself. The verb which we have rendered... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:3-8

The goel. Every nation has its own domestic and social usages. Among those prevalent in Israel was the relationship of the goel . He was the redeemer, or the next kinsman of one deceased, whose duty it was to purchase an inheritance in danger of lapsing, or to redeem one lapsed. The duties were defined in the Levitical law. According to the custom and regulation known as Levirate, he was expected to marry the widow of the deceased, and to raise up seed unto the dead, in case no issue... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4

And I said (to myself). There is little likelihood in the opinion of those who maintain, with Rosenmüller, that the expression, "I said," refers to a promise which Boaz had made to Ruth (see Ruth 3:13 ). It is a primitive phrase to denote internal resolution. There is a point where thought and speech coalesce. Our words are thoughts, and our thoughts are words. I will uncover thine ear, that is, "I will lift the locks of hair that may be covering the ear, so as to communicate something... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4-6

Our own inheritance. "Lest I mar mine own inheritance." How many do this? They have noble inheritances, but in a multitude of ways they mar them. I. THERE IS THE INHERITANCE OF PHYSICAL HEALTH . Most precious; not to be gotten for fine gold. Yet how often it is injured by sloth and sin, by intemperance and lust, or by the overtaxed brain, and neglect of the simple economy of health. II. THERE IS THE INHERITANCE OF A GOOD NAME . This too is a priceless... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:5

And Boaz said, In the day when thou acquirest the land from the hand of Naomi, and from Ruth the Moabitess, (in that day) thou hast acquired the wife of the deceased, to establish the name of the deceased upon his inheritance. So we would punctuate and render this verse. Boaz distinctly informed his relative that if the land was acquired at all by a kinsman, it must be acquired with its living appurtenance, Ruth the Moabitess, so that, by the blessing of God, the Fountain of families, there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:6

And the kinsman said, I am not able to perform, for myself, the kinsman's part, lest I should destroy my inheritance. Perform thou, for thyself, the kinsman's part devolving on me, for I am not able to perform it. The moment that Ruth was referred to, as the inseparable appurtenance of Elimelech's estate, a total change came over the feelings of the anonymous relative and the spirit of his dream. He "could not ," so he strongly put it, perform the kinsman's part. The probability is that he... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:3-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:4-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:6

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