Although scholars have not determined the authorship of the book of Ruth, this beautiful story of a loyal and loving woman and her kinsman-redeemer is a bright point in a dark period of Israel’s history. The events of the book occurred at a difficult time, “in the days when the judges governed†(1:1), a period of unrelieved chaos when the nation lapsed again and again into worshiping false gods. The book of Ruth is an amazing story of love, loyalty, and redemption, revolving around people who determined in their hearts to walk in integrity, clinging to their God and His precepts.
Ruth: a loyal, loving friend
A famine in the land of Judah causes Elimelech to take his wife, Naomi, and two sons (Mahlon and Chilion) to Moab to live. While in Moab, Elimelech dies, and Mahlon and Chilion (whose names mean “sick†and “pitiful,†respectively) marry Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. Approximately ten years pass, and the two sons die (1:1-5). Naomi decides to return to Judah but pleads with her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab with their families and remarry. Although both Orpah and Ruth protest, Orpah alone is persuaded to remain in Moab (1:6-15).
However, Ruth (whose name means “friendship†in Hebrew) pledges her allegiance to Naomi in one of the most beautiful declarations of love: “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me†(1:16-17). Ruth is willing to sacrifice everything she has ever known and leave the land of her ancestors to follow Naomi to Judah and cling to the God of Israel.
Ruth accompanies Naomi, who is distressed and feels God has treated her bitterly, to Bethlehem. They arrive at the beginning of the barley harvest (1:18-22). In order to make provision for their needs, Ruth goes to glean in the fields “after one in whose sight I find favor†(2:2). As it turns out, she ends up in fields owned by Boaz, a man of great wealth and a kinsman of Elimelech (2:1, 3). Boaz notices Ruth and takes care to protect her, allowing her to glean with his maids and instructing his servants not to touch her (2:4-10). Ruth is humbled by his kindness and asks why Boaz bestows it on her, a foreigner. He credits it to her unselfish loyalty to Naomi (2:11-12).
In addition to ensuring her protection, Boaz makes provision for Ruth and Naomi by serving Ruth a meal and instructing his servants to pull out some grain for her to glean (2:14-17). Naomi is pleased with Ruth’s success and more so when she learns that Ruth has found favor with Boaz (2:18-23).
Boaz: a protecting, providing kinsman-redeemer
Naomi reveals that Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer (see explanation below) and sets a plan in motion to secure his marriage to Ruth. She instructs Ruth to get “gussied up†and go to the threshing room floor. When Boaz comes and lies down, Ruth was to lie at his feet (3:1-5). Ruth obeys, and when Boaz discovers her lying at his feet, she identifies herself and asks “spread your covering over your maid, for you are a kinsman redeemer†(3:9). He blesses her for choosing him instead of a young man, and responds: “I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence†(3:11).
Boaz acknowledges, however, that there is a relative closer to Elimelech’s family and will defer the right to redeem Naomi’s property and Ruth to him. Boaz pledges that if this other relative will not perform this duty, he will. Ruth returns to Naomi in the morning, laden with a gift of barley from Boaz, and they wait to see what happens (3:14-18).
Boaz takes elders to the city gate and waits for the other relative to come by. The other man chooses not to redeem Ruth as part of claiming Naomi’s property, and instead cedes the right to Boaz in front of the elders, who are serving as witnesses (4:1-8). Having followed the law, Boaz redeems the land and takes Ruth as his wife, thus ensuring ongoing protection and provision for her and Naomi. God blesses the union through the birth of their son Obed, the grandfather of King David (4:9-22) and an ancestor of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:1-16).
Our Kinsman-Redeemer
As beautiful as this story of love and loyalty is, understanding the role of the kinsman-redeemer is necessary to fully appreciate how this ancient practice is reflected in the person of Jesus Christ today.
The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer (goel) is used 13 times in Ruth and basically means “one who redeems.†It comes from the verb ga’al, “to redeem, deliver, avenge, act as a kinsman.†The basic use of ga’al had to do with the deliverance of persons or property that had been sold for debt (see Leviticus 25:23-34, 47-55). The responsibility to “redeem†belonged to the nearest relative – brother, uncle, uncle’s son, or a blood relative from his family (Lev. 25:25, 48-49). The person (kinsman) who “redeemed†the one in financial difficulties was known as a kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 2:20).
The role of the kinsman-redeemer is best described in Ruth 4:5: “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.†In essence, the kinsman-redeemer was responsible for preserving the integrity, life, property, and family name of his close relative.
Jesus Christ is our kinsman-redeemer. He is responsible for redeeming us and bringing us closer to our Father, securing our inheritance as His children. Galatians 3: 13-14 tells us that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law…He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.†Titus 2:14 says that Christ gave Himself “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.†We are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus†(Rom. 3:24).
Jesus spread His covering – His own blood – over us that we might be saved. He protects us and provides for us. He defends us (Jer. 50:34) and forgives our sins (Eph. 1:7). Just as His ancestor Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth and Naomi, so He longs to be that person in our lives. Rejoice in the words of Job – “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth†(Job 19:25).
Leave a Reply