1 ARST Meanwhile, Boaz went up to{ the place inside} the town gate{ where people conducted their official business}. He sat down there. Just as he had hoped, the man responsible for Naomi' s family came along, the man whom Boaz had mentioned earlier. Boaz called out to him by name and said,“Come over here and sit down.” So the man came over and sat down. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there. Soon the kinsman-redeemer of whom he had spoken came along, and Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
2 ARST Boaz then gathered ten of the older, well- respected men from the town and said{ to them},“Please sit here{ so you can witness our business}.” So they sat down. BSB BSB: Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
3 ARST Then Boaz said to the man responsible for Naomi' s family,“The part of the field that belonged to our relative Elimelek is for sale. Naomi, who recently returned from Moab, is selling it. BSB BSB: And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4 ARST I thought that I should tell you{ about it} and suggest that you buy{ the field} while the people who are sitting here are listening, including these leaders of our people. If you want to buy it back into the family, then do so. But if you do not want to buy it back, then let me know, because you are the closest relative to Elimelek, and I am next after you.” The man replied,“No, I will buy it!” BSB BSB: I thought I should inform you that you may buy it back in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do so. But if you will not redeem it, tell me so I may know, because there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am next after you.” “I will redeem it,” he replied.
5 ARST Then Boaz told him,“When you buy the land from Naomi, you will also need to marry Ruth, our deceased relative’ s widow from Moab, in order that she may have a son who will inherit the property and who will continue Elimelek' s family line.” BSB BSB: Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”
6 ARST Then the nearer relative said,“Then I cannot buy it back myself. If I did that, I would ruin my own son’ s inheritance. You may be responsible for the land and the woman instead of me. I cannot do it.” BSB BSB: The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”
7 ARST (At that time in Israel, people had a different way of redeeming{ land} or exchanging{ goods between them}. In order to make these matters legally binding, one man would take off one of his sandals and give it to the other man. That was the way people in Israel made final what they had agreed to do.) BSB BSB: Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
8 ARST So after the relative said to Boaz,“You buy the field yourself,” he took off one of his sandals{ and gave it to Boaz}. BSB BSB: So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
9 ARST Then Boaz said to the respected men and to all the other people who were there,“Today you have all seen that I have bought from Naomi all the property that belonged to Elimelek, Kilion, and Mahlon. BSB BSB: At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
10 ARST I am also taking Ruth, Mahlon’ s widow from Moab, to be my wife. This is in order that she may give birth to a son. Everyone will consider this son to be a descendant of Elimelek. This son will inherit the property and carry on Elimelek' s family name among his relatives and here in his hometown. Today you have seen and heard these things and can speak of them to anyone who asks about them.” BSB BSB: Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
11 ARST All the respected men, and the others who were sitting at the town gate, agreed, and they said,“Yes, we have seen and heard. We pray that Yahweh will allow this woman, who will be coming into your home, to be like Rachel and Leah, the two who bore our ancestors and started our people, Israel. May you become great in the clan of Ephrathah and famous here in Bethlehem! BSB BSB: “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.
12 ARST We pray that your family will be like the family of your ancestor Perez, son of Judah and Tamar, because of the many descendants that Yahweh will give to you and this young woman.” BSB BSB: And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
14 ARST The women of Bethlehem said to Naomi,“Praise Yahweh for giving you a man to preserve your family today. We pray to Yahweh that people throughout Israel will greatly respect him. BSB BSB: Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.
15 ARST Your daughter- in- law, who loves you and who has been better to you than if you had seven sons, has given birth to him. Therefore, he will make you feel young again, and he will take care of you when you become old.” BSB BSB: He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 ARST Then Naomi picked up the baby and held him closely and became a second mother to him. BSB BSB: And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
17 ARST The women who were living nearby said,“It is as though Naomi now has a son!” They named him Obed. Later, Obed became the father of Jesse, who became the father of{ King} David. BSB BSB: The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 ARST Here is a list of the descendants of Perez: Perez’ s son was Hezron. BSB BSB: Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19 ARST Hezron’ s son was Ram. Ram’ s son was Amminadab. BSB BSB: Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,
20 ARST Amminadab’ s son was Nahshon. Nahshon’ s son was Salmon. BSB BSB: Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
21 ARST Salmon’ s son was Boaz. Boaz’ s son was Obed. BSB BSB: Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
22 ARST Obed’ s son was Jesse. Jesse’ s son was{ King} David. BSB BSB: Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.
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