"Ho, such a one!" Clarke explains the statement as following, "The original is shebah poh, peloni almoni! "Hark ye, Mr. Such-a-one of such a place! come and sit down here." This is used when the person of the individual is known, and his name and residence unknown. almoni comes from alam, to be silent or hidden, hence the Septuagint render it by κρυφε thou unknown person: peloni comes from palah, to sever or distinguish; you of such a particular place. Modes of compellation of this kind are common in all languages." There statement and it's vague nature would indicate to us that it was not the Lord's intention through inspiration to reveal who the nearest of kinsmen was, but rather the focus to be upon Boaz. Where the scripture is silent we must remain silent as well.
The place of redemption here is in the city gate. The place of our redemption is outside the gate.
The ten elders of the city were present, but this transaction was witnessed by a great deal more people of the city. (v9 - "all the people") There must have been an interest by all in this transaction. First whether the nearest redeemer would mar his inheritance, and second whether Boaz, whose mother was Rahab a Canaanite, would get his opportunity to do the work of the redeemer.
Naomi is still linked with Moab as a reference to who she is. Even after repentance, lingering consequences to sin can still remain. When the Lord appeared before Moses, he was reminded of the kindness of God, but also of the long lasting effects as a result of iniquity.
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)
"parcel_of (ha) land" - parcel of the field
"thought to advertise thee" - will_reveal in thine ear
"redeem" - redeem_as_a_goel
Boaz does not seek to do anything underhanded or wrong. In a way, he ends up presenting the opportunity to redeem in a way that best suits him (though completely honest). We know that the Lord was in control of the situation, and that his will would come out of it. As Boaz will become the redeemer, the will of the Lord is made evident that it is His will to have a two faithful women, Canaanite in Rahab and a Moabite in Ruth, to be in the line of Christ.
Boaz revealing the need to redeem Ruth was a tip that she has come to lay at his feet before this occasion. He was the one who was let know that the possessions of Elimelech was up for redemption by a kinsmen.
The night before, he charged the men that "let it not be known that a woman came into the floor." (Ruth 3:14) It does not need to be announced, since it will soon become evident. This parallels the time spent at our Redeemers feet. Time we spend with Him does not need to be announced, as it will soon become evident by action.
"right" - right_of_redemption
"mar my inheritance" - the nearer redeemer was most concerned about what Ruth was, rather than what she is. She was a Moabitess, noted for their lazy actions, but what she demonstrated herself to be was nothing of the sort, a hardworking and virtuous woman.
Edersheim states the following: "No kinsman had performed the kinsman's duty to Ruth, and therefore no kinsman could claim the privilege of redemption connected with the land. With the hand of Ruth the land had, so to speak, been repudiated. But as the kinsman had virtually refused to do his part, and Naomi was unable to maintain her property, she disposed of it, and that quite in the spirit of the law. There was no wrong done to any one. The only ground for passing he land to a kinsman would have been, that he would preserve the name of the dead... It would have been the grossest injustice to have allowed the privilege of redeeming a property to the kinsman who refused to act as kinsman. Instead of preserving a name in Israel, it would in reality have extinguished it for ever."
"drew off his shoe" - This would complete the transaction as stated in v7. The redeemer must be both willing and able, Boaz was both while the nearer redeemer in this case was not willing though able. Our Redeemer was both willing and able.
The value of the purchase does not matter, but what matters is that the value was good enough for all. The redemption covered from Elimelech through Ruth. The redemption price that our Redeemer paid is good enough for all (1 John 2:2)
Not until here, is it revealed who of the sons actually married which wife. It was Mahlon that was married to Ruth, and Chilion who was married to Orpah.
This blessing certainly came to fruition. For from this family line would come not just a great nation, but a great King whose kingdom shall have no end (Lu. 1:33): the Son of David (Mk. 12:35), the Lord Jesus Christ. He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). He will reign in righteousness (Isa. 32:1).
"Ephratah" - fruitfulness
"Tamar" - Since Ruth was a virtuous woman, they were prepared to receive the Moabitess as a mother in Israel, even as Thamar had proved in the ancestry of Boaz.
"the Lord gave" - It is beautiful to see that though the Lord in the beginning took away bringing Naomi home empty, the Lord gave.
Deuteronomy 7:9: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
"Better than seven sons" - cf. Job 1:2: And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:13: He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Job was a man who was ultimately blessed by God. He had seven sons. Perhaps this is a reference to one who continued in faith in God in spite of calamity that occurred. Ruth displayed the faith of Job, though she had no reason to follow the God of her husband Chilion who punished him, her father-in-law and brother-in-law. Up to the point of her leaving Moab, there is no indication of any kindness that God showed to Ruth: Yet she declared Him her God (1:16).
Naomi adopted the son, as he was to take the place of her other sons since he was the product of the redeemer in order to carry on the family name and possessions.
Obed - "serving," after the character of his mother and would likely look after his grandmother.
Jesse - "wealth," after the character of his grandfather
David - "beloved," after the name of whom he is the line to, our Lord Jesus Christ.
These names given in Matthew 1:5 state that Salmon married Rahab.
These generations from Perez to Nahshon cover 430 years from Egypt through the wilderness, and the last five names from Salmon to David are 476 years between the end of the wilderness until the death of David. Obviously some names and links were skipped over because the importance is most to arrive at David.
The point of the genealogy at the end is to link Boaz the redeemer with David, and David the is later linked with our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The story which began with poverty, has ended in riches which will lead to kingship and lead to a King not mentioned whose kingdom shall have no end.
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