Boaz negotiates with a close relative who agrees to redeem Naomi but refused to include Ruth in the redemption.

Ruth 4:1-6

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Ruth [from the land of Moab] wanted to be redeemed by Boaz [Jewish from Bethlehem, Judah], meaning she wanted to be brought under his wing, somewhat like an adoption process. However, there was a senior relative who had the first rights to redeem/adopt Ruth. This is explained in the post on Ruth 3:12-14. Boaz promised Ruth he would talk to the senior relative in an effort to redeem her for himself. This is where the verses of this post begins.

“Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.” Ruth 4:1

Our Lord Jesus Christ had a plan of redemption for the Jewish people, but in the process of fulfilling that plan the Jewish leaders claimed exclusive rights to their version of redeeming people through the laws of Judaism, which they corrupted. Like Boaz, Jesus tried to negotiate with the Jewish leaders to bring redemption to God by believing in Him, not through the letter of the law. Jesus’ attempt to sit down with His close relative, the Jewish people, is explained in this verse, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:11-12

“And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.” Ruth 2:2-4

Boaz brought ten witnesses with him to verify the redemption agreement. Boaz began the negotiation by referring to Naomi, a Jewish woman and native of Bethlehem Judah. The Jewish culture, and Jewish leaders during the days of Jesus, were very comfortable being associated with other members of the Jewish culture. However, their laws prohibited any interaction with non-Jewish Gentiles [such as Ruth, from Moab], as seen in this verse, “Then [Peter] said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28

The close relative was more than willing to buy all the land that Naomi sold. The Jewish culture believed that redemption was only for the Jewish people, not for non-Jewish Gentiles, and were very obliging to redeem Jewish people. Buying the land that once belonged to Naomi’s husband would redeem Naomi by returning the land into the hands of her family, making her a prosperous and respectful person in the Jewish culture.

When our Lord Jesus redeems someone, we are made citizens of the eternal New Jerusalem, and that is the land that He buys for us with His blood. Our Lord Jesus essentially said to the Jewish leaders what Boaz said to his close relative, “If you will redeem the people to God then do it, if not then I will.” Of course, the Jewish leaders said they would and accused Jesus of blasphemy for forgiving sin and associating with “unsavory” people.

“Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead through his inheritance.” And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” Ruth 4:5-6

After the close relative readily agreed to redeem Naomi, Boaz brought up something to be included in the redemption agreement, Ruth, the gentile woman from Moab. Boaz worded the redemption contract to include Ruth with Naomi in a “take it or leave it” offer. Our Lord Jesus gave the Jewish culture a “take it or leave it” offer, and it is found in this one clause, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Our eternal redemption comes when we are raised from the dead, by name, in the name of Jesus Christ. Our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The close relative plainly said to Boaz’s “take it or leave it offer”, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance.” This is exactly what the Jewish leaders said to Jesus Christ, they would not include the redemption of non-Jewish people into their practice because it would have ruined their Jewish culture. And that is exactly why they plotted to put Jesus to death, “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation…Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:48, 53

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1