Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. And I thought to inform you, saying, ‘Buy it back in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.’”And he said, “I will redeem it.”
(Ruth 4:1-4, NKJV)
Sometimes ancient customs don’t make much sense to our modern minds. However, as my husband and I are currently going through the settlement of his mom’s estate, this idea of redeeming a relative’s property seems pretty straight-forward.
As next of kin, this “close relative” had the right to “redeem” Elimelech’s land and other property. He could buy the land and property, one would assume at a discount. And in the presence of ten elders of the city, the close relative agreed to redeem anything that belonged to Elimelech.
At first blush, it seems like Naomi and Ruth’s future was set. They’d receive monetary compensation that would likely give them funds to support themselves for the foreseeable future. Everything was working out well. Great plan.
Oh, but wait. As always, God’s plan was so much better! It’s getting exciting, folks!
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