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PROVIDENCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGE (7)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
Ruth 4:1-10

Deuteronomy 25:7-10

 

“…his brother’s wife come unto him

…loose his shoe from off his foot…”

 

PROVIDENCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGE (7)
 
The account of the legal process that was taking place at the gate of the city was interrupted in order to give an explanation of a custom of the period. This probably indicates that even at the time of the writing of the Book of Ruth, the custom explained was no longer in practice. This is seen in the phrase “this was the manner in former time in Israel” (Ruth 4:7). This ceremony seemed to be related, but was different in practice to that which was set in the Law of Moses. In this custom, the kinsman who was unwilling to perform the duty of the redeemer, was to take off his shoe and give it to Boaz. In the Law of Moses, it was the widow who remove the shoe, and spat on his face.
 
“…and this was a testimony in Israel” (Ruth 4:7). The act described here seemed to be not only distinct from the one in Deuteronomy in performance, it seemed to be distinct in effect too. In Deuteronomy, it was presented as an act of contempt on the widow’s part by which she reproached the man who refused to marry her and raise up a seed for his brother. Here in the Book of Ruth, as the nearer kinsman removed his shoe and handed it over to Boaz, it was as if he was transferring or ceding his rights for redeeming the property and with it, marrying Ruth to Boaz, especially when the kinsman said to Boaz, “redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it” (Ruth 4:6). What may not be very clear to us, since it is a custom of a different time and people, is the significance of the shoe in all these. Was the shoe in the possession of the widow (in the case of Deuteronomy 25) and in this verse, the possession of Boaz, a token of the evidence of holding the property rights? The writer did, however, point out that “this was a testimony in Israel.” It is important to highlight the distinction between what was given in the Law of Moses and what was happening here. There was no widow at the gate. It was between two brothers, though the matter concerned their dead brother and his widow. There was no mention of another kinsman in Deuteronomy. Here in the Book of Ruth, Ruth went to Boaz, not knowing there was another kinsman, and Boaz got the rights instead.
 
THOUGHT: Negligence of duty brings shame, while being responsible brings blessings.

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to be responsible and to order my life well.

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