Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
Then Boaz said, 'On the day you buy the field from Naomi, you must also marry Ruth the Moabite woman, who was married to the man who died, so that you can have children to carry on the dead man's name and keep his property in the family.'
Boaz is explaining that buying Naomi's land comes with the responsibility of marrying Ruth to preserve her deceased husband's family line.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, during the period of the Judges, there was a custom called levirate marriage where a close relative could marry a widow to preserve the family name and inheritance, ensuring the deceased's line continued. In this story, Boaz is addressing another relative about purchasing Naomi's land, but he explains that buying it requires also marrying Ruth, the Moabite widow of Naomi's son, to uphold this tradition and secure the family estate. This reflects the cultural emphasis on family lineage, property redemption, and social obligations in Israelite society.
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