Ruth 4:9-11a

Ruth 4:9-11a And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. In order to preserve the family inheritance, when a man died without a son to carry on his family name, the next of kin would marry the widow and name the baby after the dead man. Boaz asked Naomi’s near kinsman if he was going to marry Ruth and carry on the family name. The near kinsman didn’t want to be a stepfather, so he let Boaz marry Ruth. In marrying Ruth, Boaz bought back all of the property that had belonged to Elimelech and his sons. It was as if Boaz became Naomi’s son when he became Ruth’s husband. What a happy couple they were! And when they had a baby, well Grandmother Naomi was absolutely overcome with joy! The little boy’s name was Obed. When Obed grew up he had a son named Jesse and Jesse had a son who was King David!