John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people , etc.] Who were present at the gate of the city, or in court: ye are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s ; all the land which belonged to him, who was the husband of Naomi, and the father of Ruth’s husband, whose estate Boaz now bought, paying the value for it to Naomi: and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s ; the two sons of Elimelech, who, had they been living, would have enjoyed their father’s estate; but they being dead, it devolved on the mother, and after her on the widows, who must therefore agree to the sale of the estate, as Ruth did, (see Ruth 4:5). Of Orpah no notice is taken, because she returned to her own land; and besides Mahlon, the husband of Ruth, was the elder brother, and therefore had the first right to the inheritance; but as it was in the hands of Naomi now, the purchase was made of her principally, and therefore Boaz is said to purchase it of the hand of Naomi ; to whom the money was paid, and who delivered the estate to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-12 - Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their estates, but few know the value of godliness. Such are the wise men of this world whom the Lord charges with folly. They attend not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the salvation of Christ, for fear of marrin their inheritance. But God did Boaz the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessenin himself, and marring his inheritance, has his name, family, an inheritance forgotten.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 בעז1162 לזקנים2205 וכל3605 העם5971 עדים5707 אתם859 היום3117 כי3588 קניתי7069 את853 כל3605 אשׁר834 לאלימלך458 ואת853 כל3605 אשׁר834 לכליון3630 ומחלון4248 מיד3027 נעמי׃5281
