John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then went Boaz up to the gate , etc.] In the middle of the day, as Josephus says, to the gate of the city, where people were continually passing and repassing to and from the country, and where he was most likely to meet with the person he wanted to see and converse with, and where courts of judicature were usually held, and where it was proper to call one to determine the affair he had in hand; so the Targum, “and Boaz went up to the gate of the house of judgment of the sanhedrim:” and set him down there ; waiting for the person or persons passing by, with whom be chose to speak: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by ; the kinsman that was nearer than he, of whom he had spoke to Ruth, that if he would not redeem her, he would; a “behold” is prefixed to this, to observe the providence of God that ordered it so, that he should come that way just at the time Boaz was sitting there, and waiting for him; who perhaps was going into his field to look after his threshers and winnowers, as Boaz had been: unto whom he said, ho, such an one ; calling him by his name, though it is not expressed; which the writer of this history might not know, or, if he did, thought it not material to give it, some have been of opinion that it is purposely concealed, as a just retaliation to him, that as he chose not to raise up seed to his kinsman, to perpetuate his name, so his own is buried in oblivion; though it might be done in his favour, that his name might not be known, and lie under disgrace, for refusing to act the part he ought according to the law to have done; hence the plucking off the shoe, and spitting in his face, were done to such an one by way of contempt and reproach. The words are “peloni almoni”, words used by the Hebrews of persons and places, whose names they either could not, or did not choose to mention, which two words are contracted into “palmoni” in ( Daniel 8:13). The name of this man was “Tob” or “Tobias”, according to some Jewish writers, (see Gill on “ Ruth 3:13”), to him Boaz said, turn aside, and sit down here; and he turned aside, and sat down ; instead of going right forward, as he intended, about his business, he turned on one side as he was desired, and sat down by Boaz.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, an doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. Thi kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. I like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willin to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are willin to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair an open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all mus make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites without guile. Honesty will be found the best policy.
Original Hebrew ובעז1162 עלה5927 השׁער8179 וישׁב3427 שׁם8033 והנה2009 הגאל1350 עבר5674 אשׁר834 דבר1696 בעז1162 ויאמר559 סורה5493 שׁבה3427 פה6311 פלני6423 אלמני492 ויסר5493 וישׁב׃3427
