4:1 the city gate The social hub of a city. People passed through the gate on their way to fields or threshing floors. The gate was a marketplace (2 Kgs 7:1), a place of assembly where prophets would speak (1 Kgs 22:10), and the location where city elders (Deut 21:19; 22:15) or kings (2 Sam 15:2) made legal rulings.

the redeemer See note on Ruth 3:12; and note on 3:13.

4:2 the elders of the city By presenting the situation before the city elders, Boaz acts in accordance with the procedures for the levirate law outlined in Deut 25:5–10.

4:3 the tract of land Initially, Boaz does not mention Ruth—he simply focuses on the land. A redeemer was responsible for buying land to keep it in the family (Lev 25:25).

4:4 I want to redeem The man initially agrees to redeem the land without knowing about Ruth. He probably recognizes this as an opportunity to make a good investment. See note on Ruth 4:6.

4:5 you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of the dead man Boaz now inserts the condition: The redeemer would not only redeem the land, he would also marry Ruth.

raise up for the name of the dead The redeemer was responsible for producing an heir to continue the line of the deceased (Deut 25:6).

4:6 I ruin my inheritance Redeeming Ruth and producing an heir for the line of Elimelech would damage his own children’s inheritance.

4:7 in former times Apparently, this custom was unfamiliar to the original audience and required an explanation.

removed his sandal The actions described here differ slightly from those described in Deut 25:8–10, where the widow removes the sandal. Here the exchange of the sandal merely indicates the man’s decision to pass his right of redemption to Boaz. In Deuteronomy 25, the person who refuses his duty as redeemer is disgraced, but that sentiment is absent here.

4:10 the wife of Mahlon This is the first mention of which of Naomi’s sons Ruth married.

raise up the name of the dead Boaz’s decision could potentially have the same negative financial implications that had concerned the closer relative. See note on Ruth 4:6.

4:12 Perez An ancestor of Boaz (vv. 18–22), Perez was born to Judah through circumstances related to the practice of levirate marriage (Gen 38).

4:13 Yahweh enabled her to conceive Ruth may have been barren, as she was Mahlon’s wife for 10 years without producing any offspring. See note on Ruth 1:4.

4:14 the women This group likely includes some or all of the same women who greeted Naomi and heard her complaint in Ruth 1:19–21.

Yahweh who today did not leave you without In 1:19–21, Naomi complained that Yahweh dealt bitterly with her. Here, the women point out that Yahweh has been with her the whole time and has now provided a redeemer. The redeemer referenced in this verse is likely the son who would continue the lineage of Naomi and her late husband, not Boaz.

4:15 He shall be for you a restorer of life Naomi’s life would be restored in that her lineage would now continue through Ruth and Boaz’s child.

He shall be for you a restorer of life and a sustainer in your old age A son would provide for Naomi as she got older.

is better for you than seven sons A strong statement about the value of Ruth. Sons were more valuable because the inheritance and family name was passed through the male heir (see note on v. 6). The number seven is symbolic of completeness.

4:17 A son has been born to Naomi Although the child was born to Boaz and Ruth, it would continue the lineage of Naomi and her deceased husband and son. See note on v. 5; note on v. 6.

the father of Jesse, the father of David The story ends by revealing the son born to Ruth and Boaz was the grandfather of King David.

4:18 the descendants of The book closes with a short genealogy covering Perez to David. This genealogy is repeated in 1 Chr 2:4–15 and Matt 1:3–6. See note on Gen 5:1.

4:21 and Salmon fathered Boaz Boaz’s mother was Rahab, the prostitute who hid Israelite spies (Josh 2:1–21) and was delivered when Jericho was destroyed (Josh 6). See Matt 1:5.

4:22 Jesse fathered David The genealogical information in these final verses of the book reveals the importance of the story. Obed was King David’s grandfather. Obed’s birth does not simply offer a satisfying resolution to the story of Naomi and Ruth. The redemption of Ruth ultimately leads to the birth of King David.