“Kinsmen at the Gate”

 “Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.” (Ruth 4:1)

What does this “Kinsman” mean? In this case it is about inheritance. When Naomi’s husband died his inheritance passed to the oldest son. When the oldest son died, it went to the youngest son. When the youngest son died the inheritance went to Naomi.

Naomi has decided to sell a parcel of land. The rules of buying land is that the kin of Naomi can bid on it first. If the kinsmen do not buy it, then the people of the city can bid on it. Boaz wants to buy it, but there is a kinsmen that is in the line of inheritance before him.

Boaz could have tried to sneak the purchase of the land, but he advertised the sell to his kinsman that was in line for it ahead of him. Boaz’s kinsman says he will buy it. But there is a snag that Boaz reveals to his kinsman. If you buy Naomi’s inheritance then you must also buy Ruth’s inheritance. The snag is that Ruth is not Hebrew.

The kinsman was going to buy Naomi’s inheritance until he heard about Ruth’s lineage. So the kinsman took of his shoe and gave it to Boaz. I know that sounds odd, but it is a traditional sign of agreement. Boaz, to seal the deal, had elders around him to confirm that the contract was fulfilled.

With the contract with the kinsman’s agreement, Boaz announces that he will marry Ruth.

The book of Ruth begins with Naomi being emptied by the loss of her husband and sons. Ruth follows Naomi back to Bethlehem and becomes the husband of Boaz. Boaz restores Naomi, and by Ruth he delivers a son. Obed, the son of Ruth and Boaz, begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

Stay Tuned…