John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. Then said Boaz , etc.] In order to try the kinsman, whether he would abide by his resolution, he acquaints him with what he had as yet concealed: what day thou buyest the field of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead ; the wife of Mahlon, who was dead, the eldest son of Naomi, and so his widow, Ruth the Moabitess, had the reversion of the estate; wherefore the purchase must be made of her as well as of Naomi, and the purchase could not be made of her without marrying her; which, though no law obliged to, yet it seems to be a condition of the purchase annexed to it by Naomi, that she would sell it to no man, unless he would consent to marry Ruth, for whose settlement she had a great concern, having been very dutiful and affectionate to her; which is clearly intimated in the next clause: to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance ; and so Naomi had another end to answer thereby, not only to provide a good husband for her daughter-in-law, but to perpetuate the name of her son, agreeably to the design of the law in ( Deuteronomy 25:5).
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 ויאמר559 בעז1162 ביום3117 קנותך7069 השׂדה7704 מיד3027 נעמי5281 ומאת854 רות7327 המואביה4125 אשׁת802 המת4191 קניתי7069 להקים6965 שׁם8034 המת4191 על5921 נחלתו׃5159
