Ruth + Boaz
Ruth Chapters 3 – 4 Read it here
Ruth continues to build her own family as she encourages Boaz’s interest in her.
While clearly Ruth is active on her own behalf, the law of the day requires Boaz to gain the right to marry her from another relative who has a closer right. This is similar to the laws that require a man to marry his brother’s widow in order that she may be cared for.
The NIV uses the translation “guardian-redeemer” for the family heads who are responsible for redeeming family members in bad situations. Here it is clear that Boaz and Ruth both want the relationship; it is not just a matter of following the legal code.
In following the law, Boaz first offers the relative who has greater claim both Ruth and the property Naomi is selling. While the relative wants the property, he fears marrying Naomi would risk his plans for his estate, and allows Boaz to both purchase the property and to take Ruth as his wife.
The two marry and give birth to Obed, who is the grandfather of King David, meaning that Ruth is King David’s great-grandmother and an ancestor of Jesus. This introduces yet another gentile into Jesus’s lineage.