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Ruth 4

ืจื•ืช ืคืจืง ื“ืณ

Section: ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ยท ื—ืžืฉ ืžื’ื™ืœื•ืช | Book: Ruth | Chapter: 4 of 4 | Day: 615 of 742

Date: October 19, 2027


ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

The fourth chapter of Ruth opens at the gate of Bethlehem โ€” the shaโ€™ar, which in biblical Hebrew is the technical term for the seat of the Sanhedrin, the place where judicial and civil affairs of the town are transacted publicly. Boaz ascends there and sits, and the narrativeโ€™s very first move is a decisive pivot from the private to the public, from the threshold scene of chapter 3 at the threshing floor to the formal halachic theater that will consume the entire first half of the chapter. Everything that had been hinted, promised, and proposed in darkness is now brought into the bright light of communal witness. Boaz the halachic master does everything by the book: he waits for the nearer goโ€™el to pass, convenes ten elders (the minyan required both for formal transactions and, as Chazal note and Malbim cites, for birkat chatanim), and presents the case in a precise sequence designed to produce a lawful, witnessed, unassailable result. The chapter is, in its deepest register, a masterclass in halachic stagecraft.

The confrontation with the unnamed goโ€™el is the chapterโ€™s central literary and moral device. Boaz addresses him as โ€œploni almoniโ€ โ€” a phrase Rashi reads as a moral verdict embedded in the text itself: he was erased from history, left anonymous, because he refused to perform the mitzvah of redemption, and was thereby โ€œorphaned (alman) of Torah wordsโ€ โ€” specifically ignorant of the ruling โ€œAmmonite but not Ammonitess, Moabite but not Moabitessโ€ derived from Devarim 23:4 and codified in Yevamot 76b. Boaz discloses the transaction in two stages with forensic care. First: Naomi is selling the field of Elimelech; will you redeem? The goโ€™el agrees. Then the second half is revealed: the redemption carries with it the acquisition of Ruth the Moabite, wife of the deceased Machlon, in order to establish the dead manโ€™s name on his inheritance. At this the goโ€™el recoils โ€” โ€œI cannot redeem for myself, lest I destroy my own nachalati.โ€ Rashi reads nachalati through Tehillim 127:3, โ€œnachalat Hashem banimโ€ โ€” inheritance means offspring. The goโ€™el fears that Moabite blood will corrupt his line, because he does not know the halachah that Moabitess is permitted. His refusal is thus an act of halachic ignorance, and the textโ€™s refusal to preserve his name is the precise measure of justice: one who refused to perpetuate a dead manโ€™s name shall not have his own name perpetuated either.

The shoe ceremony that follows is one of the most archaeologically rich moments in Tanakh. The narrator pauses the action to note: โ€œlefanim be-Yisraelโ€ โ€” formerly in Israel โ€” this was an older custom, already archaic by the time the story was being told. A man would remove his sandal and hand it to his counterpart as the teudah, the testimony, of a completed transaction. The gesture echoes the chalitzah of Devarim 25:9 but is pointedly distinguished from it: this is kinyan chalifin, transfer by symbolic exchange, not the ceremony of a refused yibum. Ibn Ezra offers the beautiful rationale that the shoe is chosen because, unlike a garment, it is always worn yet can be removed without leaving one naked โ€” it is the universally available token of transfer, something every Israelite always has on his person. Rashi cites the Talmudic dispute in Bava Metzia 47a about who hands the shoe to whom, the buyer or the seller, and the verseโ€™s grammar aligns with one side of that debate. With this single gesture the nearer goโ€™el transfers his claim; Boaz stands clear to act.

What Boaz then declares before the ten elders and all the assembled people is a double acquisition articulated with legal precision: โ€œI have acquired everything of Elimelech, Chilion, and Machlon from Naomi. Also Ruth the Moabite, wife of Machlon, I acquire for myself as wife, to establish the name of the dead on his inheritance.โ€ The two transactions are rhetorically paired but halachically distinct โ€” the field passes through normal kinyan from Naomi, while Ruth enters through the mechanism of yibum so that the children born of this union will carry Machlonโ€™s name on the inheritance line rather than Boazโ€™s. The peopleโ€™s response is one of the most beautifully structured blessings in Tanakh. It unfolds in three distinct movements: to Ruth, may she be like Rachel and Leah who built the house of Israel; to Boaz, may you make might in Ephrath and call your name in Bethlehem; to the children to come, may your house be like the house of Peretz whom Tamar bore to Yehudah. Rashi notes the striking order โ€” Rachel placed before Leah even though Boaz descends from Leah โ€” because Rachel was the mainstay of the house. The reference to Rachel and Leah is more than flattery: they were daughters of Lavan the Aramean, gentile-born women who entered through Yaakov to build Israel, a precise paradigm for Ruth the Moabitess entering to build the house of David. The invocation of Peretz and Tamar is even more daring โ€” the Davidic line is explicitly praised as emerging from an irregular yibum-like union, not in spite of its irregularity but through it.

The chapter closes with a double climax. The neighbor women name the child not after Boaz but after Naomi: โ€œa son has been born to Naomi.โ€ They call him Oved. This seemingly confused naming is in fact the chapterโ€™s most precise theological statement โ€” in the halachic-mystical logic of yibum, Oved is Machlon returning to the world, Naomiโ€™s son restored to her. The inclusio with chapter 1 is exact: she who had declared she โ€œwent out full and returned emptyโ€ now holds at her bosom a child whom the women call better than seven sons. And then, in a final move that reveals what the entire book has been doing all along, the text pivots into formal genealogy โ€” Peretz, Chetzron, Ram, Aminadav, Nachshon, Salmah, Boaz, Oved, Yishai, David. Ten generations, matching the ten from Noach to Avraham. Nachshon is the nasi of Yehudah at Sinai; Salmon, as Chazal teach, married Rachav โ€” so the Davidic line is carried through two female converts, Rachav and Ruth, at its most critical junctures. What began as a famine-narrative about one familyโ€™s grief ends as the origin-story of Israelite monarchy. The pastoral of Bethlehem was all along a royal prologue.


ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ืžืœื‘ื™โ€ื

Malbimโ€™s reading of Ruth 4 is the point at which his two signature interpretive instincts โ€” forensic halachic precision and kabbalistic depth โ€” converge on a single narrative climax. From the first verse he is already mining lexical choice for legal meaning. The name โ€œploni almoniโ€ is not merely, as Rashi has it, a moral erasure; Malbim connects ploni to the root pele (wonder, something requiring clarification) and almoni to alumim (a bundling or binding, as in โ€œmeโ€™almim alumimโ€ โ€” binding sheaves). The goโ€™el is the man of โ€œwondrous connectionโ€ to the case, the one whose involvement both conceals and knots together the halachic problems that the chapter must resolve. This is vintage Malbim โ€” a proper name becomes a thesis statement about the legal work the verse is doing. Then in verse two, with equal precision, he notes that Boazโ€™s convening of ten elders is not a single-purpose gesture but a double-purpose one. Drawing on Chazal, Malbim explains that Boaz needed the beit din assembled before the transaction itself, so that he could teach the halachah of โ€œMoabite but not Moabitessโ€ in a context where he had no personal interest in its outcome; a talmid chacham who rules on a matter involving himself cannot be a qualified teacher of that ruling. The ten are simultaneously the quorum for the kinyan, the beit din for the halachic teaching that will be required, and the minyan for the birkat chatanim that will follow the wedding. Nothing in Boazโ€™s staging is accidental.

The heart of Malbimโ€™s reading is his forensic analysis of the two-part disclosure in verses three through six. He argues that Boazโ€™s conversation with the goโ€™el contains two halachically distinct transactions, and that this is why the goโ€™elโ€™s refusal is articulated with the doubled phrase โ€œki lo uchal ligโ€™olโ€ โ€” I cannot redeem, I cannot redeem. First Boaz presents the field from Naomi; this is ordinary kinyan and the goโ€™el accepts. Then Boaz reveals the critical second layer: Ruth herself holds a share in the field through her widow-rights from Machlon, and that share can only be transferred through yibum, which will further require that the inheritance be titled to the dead husbandโ€™s name, not the levirโ€™s. Two acquisitions, two separate legal mechanisms, two separate results โ€” and the goโ€™elโ€™s refusal applies to both for two cumulative reasons. He cannot accept yibum because his own line will be halachically compromised by carrying a Moabitessโ€™s name (Malbim reads nachalati with Rashi as offspring), and he cannot accept it because he is simply ignorant of the halachah that the prohibition does not extend to Moabite women. The doubled โ€œki lo uchalโ€ is the goโ€™el double-counting his own grounds for refusal. Malbim then turns to verse seven โ€” โ€œlefanim be-Yisraelโ€ โ€” and unpacks why specifically the archaic shoe-kinyan was revived here. Drawing on Bechorot 52, he notes that acquisitions through yibum are among the categories whose land does not revert in the yovel, because that land is halachically considered the dead manโ€™s continuation. He then brings the Midrashic kinyan katzatzah โ€” relatives breaking a cask of nuts before the children of the community as a public marker that someone had sold inheritance to a gentile or married an unfit woman โ€” and explains with great elegance why Boaz could not use this form here. In this case the katzatzah would have been ambiguous: the watching children would not know whether they were being told that the land had been sold outside or that an unfit marriage was being contracted. To prevent this confusion Boaz restored the older, cleaner shoe-kinyan. It is a stunning piece of legal archaeology.

Malbimโ€™s treatment of the chapterโ€™s conclusion is where his kabbalistic register opens fully. In verse thirteen he argues that Boaz did not perform the minimal biblical yibum of biah alone, but first betrothed Ruth through kesef or shtar and only then came to her โ€” the verseโ€™s sequence โ€œva-yikach Boaz et Rut va-tehi lo le-ishahโ€ preceding โ€œva-yavo elehaโ€ establishes the betrothal-before-intimacy order. In verse fourteen he reads the womenโ€™s blessing โ€œasher lo hishbit lakh goโ€™el ha-yomโ€ with precise attention to its tenses: ha-goโ€™el ha-yom, the redeemer today, is the newborn child himself, who is literally Machlon returning to Naomi. The women are not speaking in metaphor; they are articulating the halachic truth of yibum, that the child born of the levir is the dead husband restored to the world. And then in verse sixteen, with Naomi pressing Oved to her bosom, Malbim ascends to his most mystical reading, citing the Arizalโ€™s Sefer ha-Gilgulim on Kohelet 8:9 โ€” the souls held captive by the sitra achra through apparent irregularities. Rachel and Leah, daughters of Lavan, Tamarโ€™s union with Yehudah, Ruth and Naomi from Moab and Ammon โ€” in each case the husks of evil believed they had captured holy souls through โ€œproblematicโ€ unions, when in truth those very unions were the mechanism by which the souls escaped. This, Malbim says, is why David in Tehillim cried out against the slanders about his Moabite origin and answered them with the reminder that Israel itself descends from the union of two sisters. The womenโ€™s threefold blessing in verse eleven โ€” like Rachel and Leah, like Peretz and Tamar โ€” was already perceiving this pattern. And so Malbim reads Ruth 4 as the formal halachic-theological resolution of the entire bookโ€™s dialectic: the Moabite convert is married to the Judean parnas through proper kiddushin, sanctioned by a beit din of ten, transacted by kinyan chalifin with the archaic shoe, producing a child who IS the dead husband returning to his mother and who IS the first father of the Davidic line. The halachic precision and the kabbalistic depth are not two separate readings laid side by side; they are a single vision in which every legal detail is also a rectification of cosmic order, and in which the very last ten names of the chapter trace the path by which exile becomes monarchy.


ืคืจืง ื“ืณ ยท Chapter 4

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื‘ึนืขึทื– ืขึธืœึธื” ื”ึทืฉึทึผืืขึทืจ ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฉึถืื‘ ืฉึธืื ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึตึผื” ื”ึทื’ึนึผืึตืœ ืขึนื‘ึตืจ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื“ึดึผื‘ึถึผืจึพื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืกื•ึผืจึธื” ืฉึฐืื‘ึธื”ึพืคึนึผื” ืคึฐึผืœึนื ึดื™ ืึทืœึฐืžึนื ึดื™ ื•ึทื™ึธึผืกึทืจ ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฉึตืื‘ืƒ

English:

Meanwhile, Boaz had gone to the gate and sat down there. And now the redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned passed by. He called, โ€œCome over and sit down here, So-and-so!โ€ And he came over and sat down.

Boaz goes up to the gate -- the seat of the Sanhedrin -- and calls the unnamed go'el. Rashi reads the anonymous name 'Ploni Almoni' as a moral verdict: his name was erased because he refused the mitzvah of redemption; ploni = concealed (from pele, wonder), almoni = orphaned/without a name (from alman), i.e., orphaned of Torah words because he failed to expound 'Moabite but not Moabitess.' Ibn Ezra notes ploni may be from 'wonder' and almoni from 'mute' (unnamed to the speaker). Malbim reads it differently: ploni points to pele (wondrous clarification needed) and almoni to alumim (connection/bundling, as in 'me'almim alumim'), indicating that the go'el holds a wondrous knotted connection to the case -- one that is about to be resolved. He also notes that the go'el 'happened' to pass by at that moment by divine providence, since Boaz had gone up to summon him formally through a beit din messenger.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืืœืžื•ื ื™. ื•ืœื ื ื›ืชื‘ ืฉืžื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืœื ืื‘ื” ืœื’ืืœ: ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืืœืžื•ื ื™. ืžืชืจื’ื ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื 'ื›ืกื™ ื•ื˜ืžื™ืจ': ืคืœื•ื ื™. ืžื›ืกื” ื•ื ืขืœื ืœืฉื•ืŸ 'ื›ื™ ื™ืคืœื', 'ื”ื™ืคืœื ืžื”' ื“ื‘ืจ': ืืœืžื•ื ื™. ืืœืžื•ืŸ ืžื‘ืœื™ ืฉื. (ืกืคืจื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื, ืืœืžื•ื ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืืœืžืŸ ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ืชื•ืจื”, ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœื“ืจืฉ, ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื ืขืžื•ื ื™ืช, ืžื•ืื‘ื™ ื•ืœื ืžื•ืื‘ื™ืช, ื•ื”ื•ื ืืžืจ, 'ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™':)
So-and-so. But his name was not written because he did not wish to redeem. (His name was Tov; see above 3:13. It is omitted because he did not discharge his duty as kinsman, so he did not merit to be recorded as 'Tov' (good).) Ploni almoni is rendered in Targum on Nevi'im as 'kasi ve-tamir' (concealed and hidden). Ploni: covered and concealed, from the expression 'if there be concealed (yipaleh)' (Devarim 17:8) and 'is anything concealed (ha-yipaleh) from Hashem' (Bereishit 18:14). Almoni: widowed, without a name. (Another version: he is called almoni because he was 'widowed (alman) of the words of Torah,' for he should have expounded 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess, Moabite but not Moabitess'; yet he said 'lest I destroy my own inheritance.')
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืขืœื” ื”ืฉืขืจ. ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืžื ื”ื’ ื•ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœืขื“ื”. ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืืœืžื•ื ื™. ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืŸ 'ืžื•ืคืœื', ื•'ืืœืžื•ื ื™' ืžืŸ 'ืืœื' ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืฉื ื™ื“ื•ืข ืืฆืœ ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ.
He went up to the gate -- such was the custom and the law for the community. Ploni almoni: some say it is from mufla (wondrous), and almoni from alem (mute) -- he has no known name to the speaker.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื‘ืขื– ืขืœื” ื”ืฉืขืจ, ืฉืฉื ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื”ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื“ืขืชื• ืœื”ื–ืžื™ืŸ ืืช ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืข'ื™ ืฉืœื•ื—ื ื“ื‘ื™ ื“ื™ื ื, ื•ื”ื–ืžื™ืŸ ื”' ืฉื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืขื‘ืจ ืฉื. ื•ืขื–'ื ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืขื•ื‘ืจ, ืฉืžืœืช ื”ื ื” ืžื•ืจื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ, ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ืจื›ื• ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ื“ืจืš ืฉื ืจืง ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•ืขื–. ืžืฆื“ ืฉื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉื™'ืœ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืขื ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ื”ื–ืžื™ืŸ ื”' ืฉื™ืขื‘ื•ืจ, ื•ืข'ื› ืืžืจ ืกื•ืจื” ืฉื‘ื” ืคื” ืฉื™ืกื•ืจ ืžื“ืจื›ื• ืฉืจื•ืฆื” ืœืœื›ืช ื•ืœื™ืฉื‘. ื•ืงืจืื• ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืืœืžื•ื ื™, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื™ืฉ ืขืžืš ื“ื‘ืจ ืคืœื, ื›ืžื• ืœืคืœื ื ื“ืจ, ืฉืžื•ืจื” ืขืœ ื‘ื—ื™ืจืช ื”ืžื—ืฉื‘ื”; ื•ืขื ื™ืŸ ืืœืžื•ื ื™ ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืงืฉืจ ื›ืžื• ืžืืœืžื™ื ืืœื•ืžื™ื, ื›ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืงืฉืจ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ืขื ื’ืื•ืœืชื• ืฉื™ืคืœื ื•ื™ื‘ืจืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื”.
And Boaz went up to the gate. There sat the Sanhedrin, and his intention was to summon the go'el through a beit din messenger; but Hashem arranged that the go'el happened to pass by there. Therefore the verse says 'and behold the go'el was passing' -- the word hineh indicates something new, for it was not his habit to pass that way; he passed only because of 'what Boaz spoke' -- that is, because Boaz had expressed his intention to engage with this go'el, Hashem arranged that he pass by. Therefore Boaz said 'sura shevah po' (turn aside and sit here) -- let him turn from his path and sit. He called him 'ploni almoni': ploni refers to a wondrous matter, as in 'ki yafli neder' (when one makes a wondrous vow), which indicates deliberate choice of mind; and almoni is a connection, as in 'me'almim alumim' (binding sheaves). He is called so because the matter of his connection with his kinsman's redemption is a wondrous matter that this meeting will clarify.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึดึผืงึทึผื— ืขึฒืฉึธื‚ืจึธื” ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืื™ื ืžึดื–ึดึผืงึฐื ึตื™ ื”ึธืขึดื™ืจ ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืฉึฐืื‘ื•ึผึพืคึนื” ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฉึตืื‘ื•ึผืƒ

English:

Then [Boaz] took ten elders of the town and said, โ€œBe seated hereโ€; and they sat down.

Boaz convenes ten elders. Malbim brings two Chazalic readings that explain the ten. First, Boaz needed to teach the halachah 'Moabite but not Moabitess' BEFORE engaging in the transaction, because a talmid chacham who rules on a matter in which he has personal interest is disqualified from teaching it; pre-assembling the beit din kept his teaching authoritative. Second, Chazal teach that birkat chatanim requires a minyan of ten; Boaz made sure the ten would be present both for the legal transaction AND for the wedding blessing that would follow.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืงื— ืขืฉืจื” ืื ืฉื™ื. ื—ื–'ืœ ื“ืจืฉื• ืฉื”ื›ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื ื•ื“ืจืฉ ืœืคื ื™ื”ื ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื ืขืžื•ื ื™ืช, ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื“ืช'ื— ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืœื›ื” ืื ืงื•ื“ื ืžืขืฉื” ืืžืจื” ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ืœื•, ื•ืื ืื—ืจ ืžืขืฉื” ืืžืจ ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ืœื• ื›ื™ ื ื•ื’ืข ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ. ื•ืข'ื› ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืœืงื—ืชื ืขืชื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ื ื•ื’ืข ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ, ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ื”ื’ืื•ืœื” ื•ื”ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉื™ื™ืš ืืœ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ืื™ื ื• ื ื•ื’ืข ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ. ื•ืขื•ื“ ืืžืจื• ื—ื–'ืœ ืฉื‘ืจื›ืช ื—ืชื ื™ื ื‘ืขืฉืจื”, ื•ืจืฆื” ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืžื–ื•ืžื ื™ื ืชื›ืฃ ืืœ ื‘ืจื›ืช ื—ืชื ื™ื ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ื‘ื›ืœ ืื•ืคืŸ.
And he took ten men. Chazal expounded that he prepared them and taught before them 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess,' and he understood (as a talmid chacham knows) that if one states a halachic ruling before a ruling is needed it is heeded, but if stated after the case arises the teacher is suspect of personal interest. Therefore he gathered them now, before he would be interested in the matter -- because now the redemption and yibum pertained to the go'el Tov, and Boaz had no personal interest. Chazal also say birkat chatanim requires ten, and he wanted them assembled and ready for the wedding blessing in any case.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืœึทื’ึนึผืึตืœ ื—ึถืœึฐืงึทืช ื”ึทืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึฐืึธื—ึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืœึถืึฑืœึดื™ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ืžึธื›ึฐืจึธื” ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ื”ึทืฉึธึผืื‘ึธื” ืžึดืฉึฐึผื‚ื“ึตื” ืžื•ึนืึธื‘ืƒ

English:

He said to the redeemer, โ€œNaomi, now returned from the country of Moab, must sell the piece of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech.โ€

Boaz discloses the first half of the case: Naomi is selling the field of Elimelech. Ibn Ezra notes the field may have been large, of which Elimelech owned a share. Malbim reads with precision: Naomi has not yet sold to another (since an ancestral field cannot be redeemed within two years, and verse 5 confirms acquisition 'from the hand of Naomi' directly); rather, she has resolved to sell and the sale has been publicly announced. Malbim also notes the phrase 'chelkat ha-sadeh' -- a portion of the field, not the whole -- suggesting that after the deaths Naomi had received her share through her ketubah and Ruth hers, so Boaz begins by offering only Naomi's portion for redemption.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื”. ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ืฉื“ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื•ื—ืœืง ืžืžื ื• ื”ื™ื” ืœืืœื™ืžืœืš.
'The portion of the field' -- it is possible the field was large, and part of it belonged to Elimelech.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื’ื•ืืœ ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืืฉืจ ืœืื—ื™ื ื• ืœืืœื™ืžืœืš ืžื›ืจื” ื ืขืžื™. ื”ื ื” ืื™ืŸ ืœืคืจืฉ ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ืžื›ืจื” ืœืื™ืฉ ืื—ืจ ื•ืจืฆื” ืฉื™ื’ืืœ ืืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžื™ื“ ื”ืœื•ืงื—, ื“ื”ื ืฉื“ื” ืื—ื•ื–ื” ืื™ื ื• ื ื’ืืœ ื‘ืคื—ื•ืช ืžืฉืชื™ ืฉื ื™ื, ื•ืขื•ื“ ื“ื”ื ืืžืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืงื ื•ืชืš ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžื™ื“ ื ืขืžื™. ื•ืข'ื› ืคื™' ืฉื”ืกื›ื™ืžื” ืœืžื›ื•ืจ ืื•ืชื•, ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื›ืจื– ืฉืฉื“ื” ื–ื• ืขื•ืžื“ืช ืœืžื›ื•ืจ, ื•ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ืืœื• ืžื›ืจื” ืื•ืชื• ืœืžื™ ืฉื™ืจืฆื” ืœืงื ื•ืช. (ืื• ืจ'ืœ ืฉืจืฆืชื” ืœืžื›ื•ืจ ื•ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืœื” ื›ื™ ืื’ืœื” ืื–ื ืš ืชื—ืœื” ื•ืฉืื•ืžืจ ืœืš ืงื ื”.) ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืž'ืฉ ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžืฉืžืข ืจืง ื—ืœืง ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืœื ื›ื•ืœื”, ื›ื™ ืื—ืจ ืฉืžืชื• ื”ืื‘ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ืœืงื—ื” ื ืขืžื™ ื—ืœืง ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื“ื” ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ืชื” ื•ื’ื ืจื•ืช ื ื˜ืœื” ื—ืœืง ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ืชื”, ื•ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืœื• ืชื—ืœื” ืžื”ื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื ืจื•ืฆื” ืœืžื›ื•ืจ ื—ืฆื™ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉืœื” ืฉื™'ืœ ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืฉืœ ืืœื™ืžืœืš.
And he said to the go'el, 'The portion of the field belonging to our brother Elimelech, Naomi has sold.' It cannot mean she already sold to another party and he would redeem from the buyer -- for an ancestral field is not redeemed within less than two years; moreover verse 5 says 'on the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi,' meaning directly. Rather, the sense is: she has agreed to sell, the field has been publicly declared for sale, and it is as if she has already sold it to whoever wishes to purchase. (Or: she wanted to sell, and I told her I would first inform you; hence 'and if he does not redeem' is in the third person, as Boaz recounting what he told Naomi he would say.) The phrase 'chelkat ha-sadeh' -- a PORTION of the field, not the whole -- suggests that after the deaths of the father and sons Naomi took her share through her ketubah and Ruth took her share. Boaz first discloses Naomi's half.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืึฒื ึดื™ ืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึดึผื™ ืึถื’ึฐืœึถื” ืื‡ื–ึฐื ึฐืšึธ ืœึตืืžึนืจ ืงึฐื ึตื” ื ึถื’ึถื“ ื”ึทื™ึนึผืฉึฐืื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึฐื ึถื’ึถื“ ื–ึดืงึฐื ึตื™ ืขึทืžึดึผื™ ืึดืึพืชึดึผื’ึฐืึทืœ ื’ึฐึผืึธืœ ื•ึฐืึดืึพืœึนื ื™ึดื’ึฐืึทืœ ื”ึทื’ึดึผื™ื“ึธื” ืœึดึผื™ ื•ึฐืึตื“ึฐืขึธื” ื›ึดึผื™ ืึตื™ืŸ ื–ื•ึผืœึธืชึฐืšึธ ืœึดื’ึฐืื•ึนืœ ื•ึฐืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ืึทื—ึฒืจึถื™ืšึธ ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ืึถื’ึฐืึธืœืƒ

English:

โ€œI thought I should disclose the matter to you and say: Acquire it in the presence of those seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you are willing to redeem it, redeem! But if you will not redeem, tell me, that I may know. For there is no one to redeem but you, and I come after you.โ€ โ€œI am willing to redeem it,โ€ he replied.

Boaz formally invites the go'el's decision. Rashi glosses 'that I may know, for there is no one else besides you.' Ibn Ezra notes a grammatical point about 've-im lo yig'al' in third person. Malbim reads Boaz's logic: not wanting the ancestral inheritance to fall to outsiders, and respecting the go'el's legal priority, Boaz formally yields the first option -- which the go'el readily accepts, since only Naomi's portion has been disclosed so far.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืื“ืขื” ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื–ื•ืœืชืš. ืงืจื•ื‘ ืœื’ืื•ืœ:
That I may know, for besides you there is no one -- no one as close to redeem.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืื ืœื ื™ื’ืืœ. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื ื”, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืจืื•ื™ ืœื”ื™ื•ืชื• 'ื•ืื ืœื ืชื’ืืœ'. ื•ื›ืŸ 'ื•ื‘ืืฉืช ื ืขื•ืจื™ ืืœ ื™ื‘ื’ื•ื“'. ื•ื–ื” ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ, ื›ื™ ื™ื‘ื’ื•ื“ ืฉื‘ ืืœ ืžืœืช 'ื‘ืจื•ื—ื›ื'. ื•ื›ืŸ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื•. ื•ืื ืœื ื™ื’ืืœ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืื•ืชื”, ื•ืื ื™ ืื“ืข, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื’ื•ืืœ ืงืจื•ื‘ ืžืžืš.
And if he will not redeem. Rabbi Yonah said it should have been 've-im lo tig'al' (second person), similar to 've-be-eshet ne'urekha al yivgod' (Malachi 2:15). But this cannot be, for 'yivgod' refers back to the word 'be-ruchakhem.' The meaning here is: if the go'el will not redeem it, then I will know, for there is no go'el closer than you.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™, ื•ื‘ืืฉืจ ืื™ื ื™ ืจื•ืฆื” ืฉืชืคื•ืœ ื ื—ืœืช ืื—ื™ื ื• ื‘ื™ื“ ื–ืจื™ื, ื•ืืชื” ื”ืงื•ื“ื ื‘ื’ืื•ืœื”, ืœื›ืŸ ืืžืจืชื™ ืื’ืœื” ืื–ื ืš ื•ืื•ืžืจ ืœืš ืงื ื” ืืชื”, ื•ืื ืœื ืชืจืฆื” ืœื’ืื•ืœ ืื ื™ ืื—ืจื™ืš. ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื ื›ื™ ืื’ืืœ, ื•ื‘ืืฉืจ ืœื ื’ืœื” ืจืง ืžื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ืจืฆื” ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื”ื—ืœืง ื”ื–ื”.
'And I said.' Since I do not wish our kinsman's inheritance to fall to strangers, and you have priority in the redemption, I said: I will disclose it to you and say, buy it yourself; and if you do not wish to redeem, I follow after you. And he said 'I will redeem.' Since only Naomi's portion had been disclosed, he was willing to redeem that portion.

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ื‘ึฐึผื™ื•ึนืึพืงึฐื ื•ึนืชึฐืšึธ ื”ึทืฉึธึผื‚ื“ึถื” ืžึดื™ึทึผื“ ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ื•ึผืžึตืึตืช ืจื•ึผืช ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืึฒื‘ึดื™ึธึผื” ืึตืฉึถืืชึพื”ึทืžึตึผืช ืงึธื ึดื™ืชึธ ืœึฐื”ึธืงึดื™ื ืฉึตืืึพื”ึทืžึตึผืช ืขึทืœึพื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชื•ึนืƒ

English:

Boaz continued, โ€œWhen you acquire the property from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabite, you must also acquire the wife of the deceased, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate.โ€

Boaz now discloses the full transaction: the field comes with Ruth. Rashi notes: 'and from Ruth the Moabite' means you must acquire -- and she will only consent through marriage. Ibn Ezra parses the Ketiv 'kaniti' (I have acquired) as a past-for-future usage. Malbim unpacks the double transaction legally: Naomi's portion is acquired through standard kinyan (with money), but Ruth's portion can only be acquired through yibum, and THAT acquisition requires the inheritance to be named after the dead husband -- not the go'el.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืžืืช ืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื”. ืืชื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืงื ื•ืช, ื•ื”ื™ื ืื™ื ื” ืžืชืจืฆื” ืืœื ืื ื›ืŸ ืชืฉืื ื”:
And from Ruth the Moabite -- you must buy the inheritance, and she is not willing to sell unless you marry her.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืืฉืช ื”ืžืช ืงื ื™ืช. ื”ื˜ืขื ืžื–ืืช ื”ืžืœื” 'ืชืงื ื”', ื•ืคื•ืขืœ ืขื‘ืจ ืชื—ืช ืขืชื™ื“. ื›ื™ ื”ืืฉื” ื™ืฉ ืœื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ื”, ื’ื ื”ืื ื™ื•ืจืฉืช ื”ื ืฉืืจ. ื•ื ื›ืชื‘ 'ืงื ื™ืชื™', ื•ื”ื˜ืขื 'ื›ืŸ ืืงื ื” ืื ื™'.
'You have acquired the wife of the deceased.' The sense of 'kanita' is 'you will acquire' -- a past-tense verb used for future action. For the woman has a ketubah, and also the mother inherits what remains. It is written 'kaniti' (I acquired), meaning 'thus I myself will acquire.'
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ื•ืขื–. ืื– ื’ืœื” ืœื• ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉื'ื ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ืœื‘ื“, ื›ื™ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ื”ืงื•ื ื” ื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ื™ืฆื˜ืจืš ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื’ื ื”ื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ืจื•ืช (ื•ื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื ืฉื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ื™ืงื ื” ื‘ืื—ื“ ืžื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืงื ื™ื” ืฉืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ื”ื ืฉื“ื”, ืื‘ืœ ื—ืœืง ื”ืฉื™ื™ืš ืœืจื•ืช ืœื ื™ืงื ื” ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื–ื” ืจืง ื‘ื“ืจืš ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉื™ื™ื‘ื ืืช ืจื•ืช, ื•ืžืžื™ืœื ื™ื–ื›ื” ื‘ื”ืฉื“ื”, ืจืง ืฉืื– ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ืงื™ื ืฉื ื”ืžืช ืขืœ ื ื—ืœืชื• ืื—ืจ ืฉื‘ื ืœื–ื›ื•ืช ื‘ื—ืœืง ื–ื” ืข'ื™ ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉืขื™'ื› ื™ืงื•ื ืข'ืฉ ื”ืžืช ืœื ื—ืœื”). ื•ื–'ืฉ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืงื ื•ืชืš ื”ืฉื“ื”, ืจ'ืœ ืœื ืชืงื ื” ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืจืง ื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ืœื‘ื“, ืจืง ืชืงื ื” ื”ืฉื“ื” ื›ืœื” ื‘ืฉื ื™ ื—ืœืงื™ื•. ื•ื™ืฉ ื—ื™ืœื•ืง ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ ืงื ื™ืชื: ืฉื—ืœืง ืฉืœ ื ืขืžื™ ืชืงื ื” ืžื™ื“ ื ืขืžื™ ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืงื ื™ื”, ื•ืชืชืŸ ื›ืกืฃ ืžื—ื™ืจื•; ืืžื ื ื”ื—ืœืง ื”ืฉื ื™ ืฉืชืงื ื” ืžืืช ืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื” [ื‘ื–ื” ืœื ืืžืจ ืžื™ื“, ื›ื™ ื–ื” ืœื ื ืงื ื” ืžื™ื“ ืœื™ื“ ืข'ื™ ื›ืกืฃ] ืืฉืช ื”ืžืช ืงื ื™ืช, ื‘ื—ืœืง ื”ื–ื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืืชื” ืœืงื ื•ืช ืืฉืช ื”ืžืช ืข'ื™ ื™ื‘ื•ื, ื•ืขืžื” ืชื–ื›ื” ื’ื ื‘ื—ืœืง ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ืฉ ืชื ืื™ ืœื”ืงื™ื ืฉื ื”ืžืช ืขืœ ื ื—ืœืชื•, ืฉื ื—ืœื” ื–ื• ืชืงืจื ืข'ืฉ ืืฉืช ื”ืžืช ืœื ืขืœ ืฉืžืš ื›ื“ื™ืŸ ื™ื‘ื•ื.
And Boaz said. Now Boaz disclosed to him that Naomi's portion could not be redeemed alone, for the one who buys Naomi's portion must also redeem Ruth's portion. (There is a distinction between them: Naomi's portion can be acquired by one of the standard means of kinyan; but Ruth's portion cannot be so acquired -- only through yibum. Only by performing yibum with Ruth will he automatically acquire the field; and in that case it is required to establish the dead man's name on his inheritance, since the portion is obtained through yibum, and thereby the inheritance is named after the dead.) Thus 'on the day you buy the field' -- meaning you will not buy only the PORTION (Naomi's) alone, but the entire field in its two parts. There is a distinction in the manner of acquisition: Naomi's portion you acquire directly from Naomi through normal kinyan, paying its value in money. But Ruth the Moabitess's portion -- for this the verse does NOT say 'from Naomi' (miyad), because this is not acquired directly for money; rather 'the wife of the deceased you have acquired' -- you acquire her through yibum, and through her you acquire the field as well, on the condition that the inheritance be named after the dead, as is the rule of yibum.

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื”ึทื’ึนึผืึตืœ ืœึนื ืื•ึผื›ึทืœ ืœึดื’ึฐืื‡ืœึพืœึดื™ ืคึถึผืŸึพืึทืฉึฐืื—ึดื™ืช ืึถืชึพื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชึดื™ ื’ึฐึผืึทืœึพืœึฐืšึธ ืึทืชึธึผื” ืึถืชึพื’ึฐึผืึปืœึธึผืชึดื™ ื›ึดึผื™ ืœึนืึพืื•ึผื›ึทืœ ืœึดื’ึฐืึนืœืƒ

English:

The redeemer replied, โ€œThen I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own estate. You take over my right of redemption, for I am unable to exercise it.โ€

The go'el refuses. Rashi's powerful reading: 'nachalati' (my inheritance) means my offspring, as in 'nachalat Hashem banim' (Tehillim 127:3) -- he feared giving his offspring a stigma, since the Torah says 'neither an Ammonite nor a Moabite may enter' (Devarim 23:4), and he erred by not expounding 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess.' Ibn Ezra offers both readings -- his inheritance, or a hint to his wife. Malbim reads the doubled 'ki lo uchal lig'ol' as covering both reasons: (a) he cannot redeem because the land would not be in his name but the dead man's; (b) he did not know the halachah 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess, Moabite but not Moabitess.'
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™. ื–ืจืขื™. ื›ืžื• 'ื ื—ืœืช ื”' ื‘ื ื™ื'. ืœืชืช ืคื’ื ื‘ื–ืจืขื™, ืฉื ืืžืจ, 'ืœื ื™ื‘ื ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืžื•ืื‘ื™'. ื•ื˜ืขื” ื‘'ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื ืขืžื•ื ื™ืช':
For I would mar my own inheritance -- 'nachalati' (my inheritance) = my offspring, as in 'nachalat Hashem banim' (Tehillim 127:3). He feared giving his offspring a stigma, for it says 'Neither an Ammonite nor a Moabite may enter Hashem's community' (Devarim 23:4) -- but he erred by not expounding 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess.'
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™. ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื• ื ื—ืœื” ืจื‘ื”. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืจืžื– ืขืœ ืืฉืชื•. ื’ืืœ ืœืš. ื”ื ื” ื ืชืชื™ ืœืš ืจืฉื•ืช, ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ืœื ืื•ื›ืœ.
'Lest I ruin my inheritance' -- he had a large estate. Some say it hints at his wife. 'Redeem for yourself' -- I have given you the authority, for I cannot.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ, ืข'ื– ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ืื•ื›ืœ ืœื’ืืœ ืœื™, ื“ื™ื™ืง ืžืœืช ืœื™ ืจ'ืœ ืฉืœื ืื•ื›ืœ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืขืฆืžื™ ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืขืœ ืฉืžื™. ื'ื› ืื ื™ ื™ืจื ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™, ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ื™ืงืจื ืขืœ ืฉืžื™, ื•ืข'ื› ื’ืืœ ืœืš ืืชื” ืืช ื’ืื•ืœืชื™ ื›ื™ ืœื ืื•ื›ืœ ืœื’ืื•ืœ. ื•ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื–'ืœ ื”ื•ื ืœื ื“ืจืฉ ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื ืขืžื•ื ื™ืช, ื•ืขื–'ื ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™. ื•ื™'ืœ ืฉืข'ื– ื›ืคืœ ื›ื™ ืœื ืื•ื›ืœ ืœื’ืื•ืœ, ืขืœ ืฉื ื™ ื˜ืขืžื™ื ืืœื”.
And the go'el said. He replied: I cannot redeem 'for myself' (li) -- precisely with the word li, meaning: I cannot take it such that it will be in my name. In that case I fear lest I destroy my inheritance, since the land will not be called by my name. Therefore 'redeem for yourself my redemption; for I cannot redeem.' According to Chazal, he also did not expound 'Ammonite but not Ammonitess' -- and on this he said 'lest I destroy my inheritance' (my offspring). It is possible the doubled 'ki lo uchal lig'ol' covers both of these reasons.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื–ึนืืช ืœึฐืคึธื ึดื™ื ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืขึทืœึพื”ึทื’ึฐึผืึปืœึธึผื” ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพื”ึทืชึฐึผืžื•ึผืจึธื” ืœึฐืงึทื™ึตึผื ื›ื‡ึผืœึพื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ ืฉึธืืœึทืฃ ืึดื™ืฉื ื ึทืขึฒืœื•ึน ื•ึฐื ึธืชึทืŸ ืœึฐืจึตืขึตื”ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื–ึนืืช ื”ึทืชึฐึผืขื•ึผื“ึธื” ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœืƒ

English:

Now this was formerly done in Israel in cases of redemption or exchange: to validate any transaction, one party would take off a sandal and hand it to the other. Such was the practice in Israel.

The narrator pauses to describe the ancient custom. Rashi explains ge'ulah = sale, temurah = exchange; the shoe is the kinyan, like our kinyan sudar (transfer by handkerchief); Chazal dispute whether the buyer or seller hands over the shoe. Ibn Ezra parses 'lefanim' as 'in bygone days' and explains that the shoe is universally available and can be removed without leaving the person naked. Malbim offers a stunning legal-archaeological reading: kinyan chalifin (the shoe-based kinyan) was practiced 'in earlier times' during the first Yovel cycle, then replaced by kinyan katzatzah (breaking a cask of nuts before children to publicly mark a sale or unfit marriage), then by kesef/shtar/chazakah. Boaz revived the shoe-kinyan specifically because katzatzah would be ambiguous here (unclear whether marking a sale or an unfit marriage), and land acquired through yibum does not revert in Yovel anyway.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืขืœ ื”ื’ืื•ืœื”. ื–ื• ืžื›ื™ืจื”: ืชืžื•ืจื”. ื–ื• ื—ืœื™ืคื™ืŸ: ืฉืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื ืขืœื•. ื–ื”ื• ืงื ื™ืŸ, ื›ืžื• ืฉืื ื• ืงื•ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ืกื•ื“ืจ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื ืขืœ. ื•ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–ื›ืจื•ื ื ืœื‘ืจื›ื” ื ื—ืœืงื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ, ืžื™ ื ืชืŸ ืœืžื™. ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืงื•ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœื™ื• ืฉืœ ืงื•ื ื” ื•ื‘ืขื– ื ืชืŸ ืœื’ื•ืืœ, ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืงื•ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื ื” ื•ื’ื•ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ืœื‘ืขื–: ื•ื–ืืช ื”ืชืขื•ื“ื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืขื“ื•ืช:
Concerning redemption -- this is a sale. And exchange -- this is an exchange. A man would take off his shoe -- this is the kinyan, just as we acquire title with a scarf in lieu of a shoe. Our Rabbis differed (Bava Metzia 47a) on who gave the shoe to whom: some say one acquires title with the acquirer's utensil and Boaz gave his shoe to the redeemer; some say one acquires with the seller's utensil and the redeemer gave his shoe to Boaz. This was the validation in Israel -- the law of testimony.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืœืคื ื™ื. ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ื ืฉืขื‘ืจื•, ื›ืžื• ื”ืคื ื™ื ืฉื”ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื. ืขืœ ื”ื’ืืœื”. ืื ืื“ื ื™ื’ืืœ ืื• ื™ื—ืœื™ืฃ ืฉื“ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื”. ื•ื–ืืช ื”ืชืขื•ื“ื”. ืžื’ื–ืจืช ืขื“ื•ืช ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ื™ื• ืžืขื™ื“ื™ื, ื•ื™ืฉ ืžืคืจืฉ ื‘ืžืœืช 'ืชืขื•ื“ื”' - ืจื’ื™ืœื•ืช ื•ืžื ื”ื’. ื•ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ.
Lefanim -- in bygone days, as 'panim' (front/former). Concerning redemption -- if a man redeems or exchanges field for field. 'And this is the teudah' -- from the root 'witness'; they would testify about this. Some explain 'teudah' as habit and custom. The first reading is correct.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื–ืืช ืœืคื ื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ืืžืจ ื‘ืžื“' ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื• ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืžื ืขืœ ื•ื‘ืกื ื“ืœ, ืฉื ืืžืจ ืฉืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื ืขืœื•. ื—ื–ืจื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืงืฆืฆื”, ื•ืžื”ื• ื“ื™ืŸ ืงืฆืฆื”: ืืžืจ ืจ' ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจ ืื‘ื™ืŸ, ื›ืœ ืžื™ ืฉืžื•ื›ืจ ืฉื“ื”ื• (ืœืขื›ื•'ื) ื”ื™ื• ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื• ืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ื—ื‘ื™ืช ืžืœืื” ืงืœื™ื•ืช ื•ืื’ื•ื–ื™ื ื•ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ืคื ื™ ื”ืชื™ื ื•ืงื•ืช, ื•ื”ืชื™ื ื•ืงื•ืช ืžืœืงื˜ื™ื ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื ืงืฆืฅ ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืžืื—ื•ื–ืชื•. ื›ืš ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื•ืฉื ืืฉื” ืฉืื™ื ื” ื”ื•ื’ื ืช ืœื•, ื”ื™ื• ื”ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ื—ื‘ื™ืช ืžืœืื” ืงืœื™ื•ืช ื•ืื’ื•ื–ื™ื ื•ืฉื•ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืชื™ื ื•ืงื•ืช, ื•ื”ืชื™ื ื•ืงื•ืช ืžืœืงื˜ื™ื ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืื‘ื•ื“ ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืžืžืฉืคื—ืชื•. ื—ื–ืจื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื‘ืฉื˜ืจ ื•ื‘ื—ื–ืงื”. ืœืค'ื– ืžืคืจืฉ ืž'ืฉ ื•ื–ืืช ืœืคื ื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืงื“ื ื›ืžื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื”ื™ื• ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ื—ืœื™ืคื™ื, ื›ื™ ืื—'ื› ื”ืชื—ื™ืœื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืงืฆืฆื” -- ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžืœืคื ื™ื: ืฉืžืœืช ืžืœืคื ื™ื ืžื•ืจื” ืฉื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ื•ื”ื’ ืขืชื” ื”ื•ื ื ื•ื”ื’ ื›ืŸ ืžื™ืžื™ ืงื“ื, ืื‘ืœ ืžืœืช ืœืคื ื™ื ืžื•ืจื” ืฉื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื ื•ื”ื’ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืงื“ื ืœื ืื—'ื›, ื›ืžื• ื”ืืžื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ื”. ื•ืœืค'ื– ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืฉืงื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื ื‘ื˜ืœ ืื—'ื›. ื•ื™'ืœ ื”ื˜ืขื: ืขืคืž'ืฉ ื”ืชื•ืก' ื‘ืขืจื›ื™ืŸ (ื“ืฃ ืœืž'ื“) ืฉื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื—ื•ื–ืจ ืœื‘ืขืœื™ื ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืžืชื ื” ืข'ืž ืœื”ื—ื–ื™ืจ ืื• ืฉืืœื” ืื• ืฉื›ื™ืจื•ืช ืื™ื ื• ื ืงื ื” ื‘ื—ืœื™ืคื™ืŸ; ื•ื™ืงืฉื” ืข'ื– ื”ื ืงื ื™ืŸ ื—ืœื™ืคื™ืŸ ืœืžื“ื™ื ืŸ ืžื‘ื•ืขื– ื•ืฉืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื ืขืœื•, ื•ืฉื ื™ื•ืจืฉ ื”ื•ื™ ื•ืกื•ืคื• ืœื—ื–ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ, ื›ืž'ืฉ ืจ' ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ ื“ืื—ื™ืŸ ืฉื—ืœืงื• ืœืงื•ื—ื•ืช ื”ื ื•ืžื—ื–ื™ืจื™ื ื–ืœ'ื– ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื•ืื– ื”ื™ื” ื”ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื ื•ื”ื’. ื•ื™'ืœ ืขืคืž'ืฉ ื‘ื’ื™ื˜ื™ืŸ (ื“ืฃ ืž'ื—) ืืžืจ ืจ' ื—ืกื“ื ืžื—ืœื•ืงืช ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ืฉื ื™, ืื‘ืœ ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื“'ื” ืžื‘ื™ื ื•ืงื•ืจื, ื“ืื›ืชื™ ืœื ืกืžื™ืš ื“ืขืชื™ื”; ื•ืข'ื› ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ืงื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืงื ื™ืŸ ืกื•ื“ืจ, ืื‘ืœ ืื—ืจ ื”ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœื ื™ื›ืœื• ืœืงื ื•ืช ื‘ืง'ืก ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื™ื“ืขื• ืฉื™ื•ื—ื–ืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื•ืกืžื›ื• ื“ืขืชื ืข'ื–, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืชืงื ื• ืงื ื™ืŸ ืงืฆืฆื”. ืื‘ืœ ื‘ืงื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืฉืœ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœื ื™ื›ืœื• ืœืงื ื•ืช ื‘ืงืฆืฆื”, ื“ื”ื ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจ ืคืŸ ืืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื ื—ืœืชื™ ืฉืœื ื“ืจืฉ ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื ืขืžื•ื ื™ืช, ื•ืื ื”ื™ื• ืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ื—ื‘ื™ืช ื•ืฉื•ื‘ืจื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืชื™ื ื•ืงื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉืื™ื ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืžื›ืจื” ืื—ื•ื–ืชื” ืจืง ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื ืฉื ืืฉื” ืฉืื™ื ื” ื”ื•ื’ื ืช ืฉืข'ื– ื”ื™ื• ื’'ื› ืขื•ืฉื™ืŸ ืงืฆืฆื”, ื•ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ืžื“' ื•ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘ื•ืช (ื“ืฃ ื›ื—) ื›ื™ืฆื“ ืงืฆืฆื” ืื—ื“ ืžืŸ ื”ืื—ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืฉื ืืฉื” ืฉืื™ื ื” ื”ื•ื’ื ืช ื•ื›ื•'. ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื—ื–ืจ ื•ื ื”ื’ ืงื ื™ืŸ ื—ืœื™ืคื™ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื”ื•ื’ ืœืคื ื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื›ื™ ืืฃ ืฉืขืชื” ื”ื™ื” ื”ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ืฉืื—ืจ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื”ืœื ื”ืฉื“ื” ืฉืงื ื” ืข'ื™ ื™ื‘ื•ื ื’'ื› ืื™ื ื• ื—ื•ื–ืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ, ื•ื›ืž'ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื›ื•ืจื•ืช (ื“ืฃ ื 'ื‘) ื•ืืœื• ืฉืื™ืŸ ื—ื•ื–ืจื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื•ื›ื•' ื•ื”ืžื™ื‘ื. ื•ื–'ืฉ ื•ื–ืืช ืœืคื ื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื’ื•' ื•ื–ืืช ื”ืชืขื•ื“ื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ืจ'ืœ ืื—ืจ ืฉืงื ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื ื”ื’ ืœืคื ื™ื ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื‘ืœ ื”ื' ืœื›ืŸ ืฉื ื–ืืช ื”ืชืขื•ื“ื” ื’ื ืขืชื” ืฉืœื ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืงื ื•ืช ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืงืฆืฆื”.
And this was formerly in Israel. The Midrash says: 'In the beginning they would acquire with sandal and shoe, as it says, A man took off his shoe; then they reverted to acquiring through katzatzah; what is katzatzah? Rabbi Yossi bar Avin said: whoever sold his field to a gentile, his relatives would bring a jug full of parched grain and nuts and break it before the children, and the children would gather up and say, So-and-so has been cut off from his inheritance. Similarly when one married an unfit woman, his relatives would bring a jug of parched grain and nuts and break it before the children, who would gather up and say, So-and-so has been lost from his family. Later they reverted to acquiring through kesef (money), through shetar (document), and through chazakah (taking possession).' According to this, the phrase 'lefanim be-Yisrael' refers specifically to early times such as the days of Yehoshua, when they acquired through chalifin, because afterwards they began to acquire through katzatzah. (There is a distinction between 'lefanim' and 'milfanim': milfanim indicates that what is now customary was also so from earlier times, while lefanim indicates that the practice was so in earlier times but not thereafter -- as in 'ha-Emim lefanim yashvu bah.') Thus this kinyan was later abolished. The reason: Tosafot in Arakhin 34b note that anything that returns to its owner (gift-on-condition-of-returning, lending, renting) cannot be acquired through chalifin. One could object: but we derive kinyan chalifin specifically from Boaz and 'va-yishlof ish na'alo,' and that is a yibum-acquisition, and the yorein inherits and the land reverts to the dead's estate in the Yovel (as R. Yochanan said: when brothers divide the inheritance they are like purchasers from each other and must return to each other at the Yovel)! The answer is found in Gittin 48a: Rav Chisda said the dispute about kinyan sudar applies to the second Yovel and onward, but in the first Yovel all agree one brings first-fruits and recites, for he has not yet fixed his mind on the eventual return. So for the duration of the first Yovel cycle they acquired through kinyan sudar (including chalifin); after the first Yovel, since people now knew the land would return, they 'fixed their minds' on this and these kinyanim no longer worked. Thus they instituted kinyan katzatzah. But in Boaz's case they could not use katzatzah: the first go'el had refused, citing 'lest I destroy my inheritance' (he had not expounded 'Moabite but not Moabitess'), and if they brought a jug and broke it before the children, the children would think it was because Boaz had married an unfit woman, not because of a land-sale. Hence Boaz reverted to the ancient chalifin-kinyan (valid during the first Yovel and here too, because yibum-acquired land also does not revert in Yovel, per Bechorot 52: 'and these do not return in the Yovel... and the yibum-marrier'). This is the sense of 've-zot lefanim be-Yisrael' and 've-zot ha-teudah be-Yisrael' -- since this kinyan operated in earlier times during the first Yovel, here too it served as the instrument of testimony, for kinyan katzatzah was unusable.

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื”ึทื’ึนึผืึตืœ ืœึฐื‘ึนืขึทื– ืงึฐื ึตื”ึพืœึธืšึฐ ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึฐืืœึนืฃ ื ึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืƒ

English:

So when the redeemer said to Boaz, โ€œAcquire for yourself,โ€ he drew off his sandal.

The go'el completes the transfer. Ibn Ezra weighs both readings from Bava Metzia 47a: Boaz drew off his own shoe and gave it to the go'el (kinyan through the acquirer's implement), or the go'el drew his off and gave it to Boaz (through the seller's implement); he explains the symbolism of the shoe as that which can be removed without leaving one naked, unlike other garments. Malbim adds that once the go'el authorized Boaz to redeem, the kinyan sudar transferred his entire legal standing to Boaz.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ื™ืฉืœืฃ ื ืขืœื•. ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉืœืฃ ื ืขืœื• ื•ื ืชืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืœื’ื•ืืœ, ื•ื”ื ื” ื–ื” ื›ืืฉืจ ืืžืจื• ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื• ื–'ืœ ื—ืœื™ืคื™ืŸ. ื•ื”ื˜ืขื: ืฉืงื‘ืœืช ื–ื” ื”ื ืขืœ, ื•ื ืชืช ืชื—ืชื™ื• ื’ืื•ืœืชืš. ื•ื˜ืขื ื ืขืœ, ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ื ืžืฆื ืชืžื™ื“, ื•ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื”ืกื™ืจ ื—ืœื•ืง ืื• ืžื›ื ืกื™ื ืฉืœื ื™ืฉืืจ ืขืจื•ื. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืฉืœืฃ ื ืขืœื• ื•ื ืชื ื• ืœื‘ื•ืขื–, ื•ื”ื˜ืขื: ื›ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœืš ื–ื” ื”ื ืขืœ, ื›ืŸ ื”ื’ืื•ืœื”.
And he drew off his shoe. Boaz drew off his shoe and gave it to the go'el -- this is what our sages called 'chalifin.' The sense is: by your accepting this shoe, you have given up your redemption claim in exchange. The reason for a shoe: it is always worn, and unlike a tunic or trousers one cannot remove it leaving oneself naked. Some say the go'el drew off his shoe and gave it to Boaz, the sense being: just as I have given you this shoe, so I give you the redemption.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืœื‘ืขื–, ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ืจืฉื”ื• ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื”ืงื ื” ืœื• ื‘ืงื ื™ืŸ ืกื•ื“ืจ. ื•ื”ืจืฉื‘'ื ื›ืชื‘ ื‘ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ืŸ (ื“ืฃ ื›ื) ืขืžืฉ'ืฉ ื›ื“ืืžืจ ืจื ื‘'ื™ ืœืงืจื•ื‘ ืงืจื•ื‘ ืงื•ื“ื, ื•ื”ืœื ืงื“ื™ืžืช ื”ืงืจื•ื‘ ืชื—ืœื” ื'ืฆ ืงืจื ื“ื™ืœืคื™ื ืŸ ืžื”ืงืจื•ื‘ ืืœื™ื•, ื•ืชื™' ื“ืขืงืจ ืงืจื ืืชื™ ืœืขื›ื‘ ื“ื•ืงื ื›ืกื“ืจ ื”ื–ื”, ืฉืื ื”ื“ื•ื“ ืื™ื ื• ืืžื™ื“ ื•ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืืžื™ื“ ืื™ื ื• ื ื’ืืœ. ื•ื–ื” ืกื•ืชืจ ืœืž'ืฉ ื’ื‘ื™ ื‘ื•ืขื– ืฉื“ื•ื“ื• ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœื’ืื•ืœ ื•ื ื’ืืœ ืข'ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ื•, ื•ืฆ'ืœ ืฉื–ื” ืขืฆืžื• ื”ื˜ืขื ืฉืงื‘ืœ ืงื ื™ืŸ, ืฉื–ื›ื” ืœื• ืข'ื™ ืงื‘ืœืช ืงื ื™ืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืขื•ืžื“ ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื• ื•ื›ื—ื• ื›ื›ื—ื•.
And the go'el said to Boaz. After he had granted him permission to redeem, he acquired it for him by kinyan sudar. The Rashba writes in Kiddushin 21 on the Gemara's 'the closer kinsman comes first' -- we already derive this from 'the closest to him'; he answers that the main verse comes to establish that only THIS specific order is valid: if the uncle is unable and the nephew is able, the uncle still does not redeem. But that contradicts our case where the dod did not wish to redeem and his nephew did! Rather, the very reason Boaz received the kinyan is that it substituted him fully in the go'el's place, so his power equals the go'el's.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึถืจ ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืœึทื–ึฐึผืงึตื ึดื™ื ื•ึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธื ืขึตื“ึดื™ื ืึทืชึถึผื ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื›ึดึผื™ ืงึธื ึดื™ืชึดื™ ืึถืชึพื›ื‡ึผืœึพืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึถืึฑืœึดื™ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึตืช ื›ื‡ึผืœึพืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึฐื›ึดืœึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผืžึทื—ึฐืœื•ึนืŸ ืžึดื™ึทึผื“ ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ืƒ

English:

And Boaz said to the elders and to the rest of the people, โ€œYou are witnesses today that I am acquiring from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.โ€

Boaz's formal declaration: he acquires the property. Malbim reads: he summoned all present as witnesses to the field-transaction -- this was through kesef, shtar, and chazakah, the standard methods outside a yibum context.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืขื– ืœื–ืงื ื™ื, ืขืค'ื– ื”ื–ืžื™ืŸ ืืช ื›ืœื ืœืขื“ื™ื ืฉืงื ื” ืžื™ื“ ื ืขืžื™ ืืช ื›ืœืœ ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื•ื–ื” ืงื ื” ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื‘ืฉื˜ืจ ื•ื‘ื—ื–ืงื”, ื›ืž'ืฉ ืฉื—ื–ืจื• ืœืงื ื•ืช ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื‘ืฉื˜ืจ, ืจ'ืœ ื›ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื™ื‘ื•ื.
And Boaz said to the elders. Based on this he now summoned everyone as witnesses that he had acquired from Naomi the entire field; this was through money, document, and taking possession (as stated that they reverted to acquiring through kesef, shtar, and chazakah -- that is, when not in a yibum context).

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื’ึทื ืึถืชึพืจื•ึผืช ื”ึทืžึนึผืึฒื‘ึดื™ึธึผื” ืึตืฉึถืืช ืžึทื—ึฐืœื•ึนืŸ ืงึธื ึดื™ืชึดื™ ืœึดื™ ืœึฐืึดืฉึธึผืื” ืœึฐื”ึธืงึดื™ื ืฉึตืืึพื”ึทืžึตึผืช ืขึทืœึพื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชื•ึน ื•ึฐืœึนืึพื™ึดื›ึธึผืจึตืช ืฉึตืืึพื”ึทืžึตึผืช ืžึตืขึดื ืึถื—ึธื™ื• ื•ึผืžึดืฉึทึผืืขึทืจ ืžึฐืงื•ึนืžื•ึน ืขึตื“ึดื™ื ืึทืชึถึผื ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนืืƒ

English:

โ€œI am also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife, so as to perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his estate, that the name of the deceased may not disappear from among his kinsmen and from the gate of his home town. You are witnesses today.โ€

Boaz's second declaration, formally pairing with the first. Rashi: the phrase 'to establish the name of the dead on his inheritance' means that since his wife walks in and out of the estate, people say 'this was Machlon's wife,' and thereby his name is remembered. The repetition 'you are witnesses today' emphasizes that the marriage is a separate legal act from the field sale, each requiring its own testimony.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœื”ืงื™ื ืฉื ื”ืžืช ืขืœ ื ื—ืœืชื•. ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืืฉืชื• ื™ื•ืฆืื” ื•ื‘ืื” ื‘ื ื—ืœื”, ื•ืžื›ื ืกืช ื•ืžื•ืฆื™ืื”, ืื•ืžืจื™ื 'ื–ืืช ื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉืช ืžื—ืœื•ืŸ', ื•ืฉืžื• ื ื–ื›ืจ ืขืœื™ื”:
To perpetuate the name of the deceased upon his inheritance: since his wife goes and comes on the estate and brings in and takes out, people say 'this was Machlon's wife,' and his name is thereby remembered upon it.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึนึผืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ื›ื‡ึผืœึพื”ึธืขึธื ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื‘ึทึผืฉึทึผืืขึทืจ ื•ึฐื”ึทื–ึฐึผืงึตื ึดื™ื ืขึตื“ึดื™ื ื™ึดืชึตึผืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืึถืชึพื”ึธืึดืฉึธึผืื” ื”ึทื‘ึธึผืึธื” ืึถืœึพื‘ึตึผื™ืชึถืšึธ ื›ึฐึผืจึธื—ึตืœ ื•ึผื›ึฐืœึตืึธื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื‘ึธึผื ื•ึผ ืฉึฐืืชึตึผื™ื”ึถื ืึถืชึพื‘ึตึผื™ืช ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื•ึทืขึฒืฉึตื‚ื”ึพื—ึทื™ึดืœ ื‘ึฐึผืึถืคึฐืจึธืชึธื” ื•ึผืงึฐืจึธืึพืฉึตืื ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึตื™ืช ืœึธื—ึถืืƒ

English:

All the people at the gate and the elders answered, โ€œWe are. May God make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the House of Israel! Prosper in Ephrathah and perpetuate your name in Bethlehem!โ€

The people's blessing -- the first of three. Rashi notes that despite descending from Leah, they place Rachel first because she was the mainstay of the house. Ibn Ezra adds: Rachel was mentioned first because she was Yaakov's wife of his initial intention; 'make might' is akin to 'make me wealth' -- since you did not marry her for money. Malbim reads the blessing as a threefold structure: (a) to Ruth, may she be righteous like Rachel and Leah, also daughters of a gentile (Lavan), who through Yaakov built Israel; (b) to Boaz, may you make might in Ephrath (his family's noble lineage) and renown in Bethlehem (his city); (c) a blessing to the children (next verse).
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ืจื—ืœ ื•ื›ืœืื”. ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžืฉื‘ื˜ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ืžื‘ื ื™ ืœืื”, ืžื•ื“ื™ื ื”ื ืขืœ ืจื—ืœ ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืขื™ืงืจื” ืฉืœ ื‘ื™ืช, ื•ื”ืงื“ื™ืžื• ืจื—ืœ ืœืœืื”: ื•ืงืจื ืฉื. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, 'ื™ื’ื“ืœ ืฉืžืš':
Like Rachel and Leah -- even though they were from the tribe of Yehudah and from the descendants of Leah, they conceded that Rachel was the mainstay of the house and mentioned Rachel first. 'And be famous' -- may your name become great.
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื›ืจื—ืœ ื•ื›ืœืื”. ื”ืงื“ื™ื ื‘ืจื—ืœ, ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉืช ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืชื—ืœืช ืžื—ืฉื‘ืชื•. ื•ืขืฉื” ื—ื™ืœ. ื›ืžื• ืขืฉื” ืœื™ ืืช ื”ื—ื™ืœ ื”ื–ื”, ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืœื ืœืงื—ืชื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืžืžื•ืŸ.
Like Rachel and Leah -- he mentioned Rachel first because she was Yaakov's wife at the beginning of his intention. 'And make might' -- as in 'he has made for me this wealth' -- for you did not take her for money.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจ ืขื“ื™ื, ื•ื’ื ื‘ืจื›ื• ืื•ืชื ื‘ืจื›ืช ื—ืชื ื™ื, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืฉืœืฉ ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช: ื] ื‘ืจื›ื” ืืœ ื”ืืฉื” -- ืฉื”ื’ื ืฉื”ื™ื ื‘ืช ืขื›ื•'ื, ืžืฆื“ ืฉื‘ืื” ืืœ ื‘ื™ืชืš ื‘ื™ืช ืฆื“ื™ืง ื›ืžื•ืš ืชื”ื™ื” ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชื” ื›ืจื—ืœ ื•ื›ืœืื” ืฉื”ื™ื• ื’'ื› ื‘ื ื•ืช ืœื‘ืŸ ื”ืืจืžื™, ื•ืข'ื™ ืฉื ื–ื“ื•ื•ื’ื• ืœื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ื ื• ืฉืชื™ื”ื ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื›ืŸ ื™ื‘ื ื” ืžืžื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื ืืžืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื ื‘ื™ืช ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉื‘ื–ื” ืชืœื•ื™ ื”ืฆืœื—ืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื‘] ื‘ืจื›ื” ืœื‘ืขื–, ื•ืืžืจ ื•ืขืฉื” ื—ื™ืœ ื‘ืืคืจืชื” -- ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืขื™ืจื•, ื•ืืคืจืช ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืžืฉืคื—ืชื• ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื™ื•ื—ืกื™ื, ืฉืชืขืฉื” ื—ื™ืœ ืฉื–ื” ื›ื•ืœืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืœืžื™ื•ืช ืขื“ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืœืชืคืืจืช ืœื›ืœ ืžืฉืคื—ืช ืืคืจืชื”, ื•ืชืงืจื ืฉื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื, ืฉืข'ื™ ืคืจืกื•ื ืฉืžืš ื™ืชืคืจืกื ืฉื ืขื™ืจืš ืœืฉื‘ื— ื•ืœืชื”ืœื” ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื›ืžื•ื”ื• ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ื”.
And all the people at the gate and the elders said, 'Witnesses.' And they also blessed them with the chatanim blessings, which had three parts: (a) a blessing to the woman -- that although she is a daughter of gentiles, by virtue of coming to your house, a righteous man's house, she should be in her righteousness like Rachel and Leah, who were also daughters of Lavan the Aramean; and through their union with Yaakov the two of them built the house of Israel. So too may a faithful house be built from her, namely the house of the monarchy, upon which hangs the success of the entire house of Israel. (b) A blessing to Boaz: 'make might in Ephrath,' for Bethlehem is the name of his city and Ephrath the name of his distinguished family; may you make might -- which encompasses all perfections -- such that you become the glory of the entire family of Ephrath, 'and call a name in Bethlehem,' meaning through the fame of your name the name of your city will become renowned in praise, because a man like him was born in it.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื•ึดื™ื”ึดื™ ื‘ึตื™ืชึฐืšึธ ื›ึฐึผื‘ึตื™ืช ืคึถึผืจึถืฅ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื™ึธืœึฐื“ึธื” ืชึธืžึธืจ ืœึดื™ื”ื•ึผื“ึธื” ืžึดืŸึพื”ึทื–ึถึผืจึทืข ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึดืชึตึผืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืœึฐืšึธ ืžึดืŸึพื”ึทื ึทึผืขึฒืจึธื” ื”ึทื–ึนึผืืชืƒ

English:

โ€œAnd may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah โ€” through the offspring that God will give you by this young woman.โ€

The blessing's third part. Rashi notes Peretz is invoked because he is their ancestor. Malbim reads this as a blessing to the future children: although they will be born of a yibum-union and named after the dead, take comfort -- the house of Peretz was also born from a yibum-like union (Tamar and Yehudah), and Peretz is nonetheless traced to Yehudah and became the glory of his father's house. So too shall this house be.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืฅ. ืฉื™ืฆืื• ืžืžื ื•:
Like the house of Peretz -- from whom they were descended.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื™ืชืš ื’] ื‘ืจื›ื” ืœื”ื‘ื ื™ื ืฉืชื•ืœื™ื“, ืฉื”ื’ื ืฉื”ื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ื‘ืžื” ื•ื™ืงืจืื• ืข'ืฉ ื”ืžืช, ื‘ื›'ื– ื”ืœื ื’ื ื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืฅ ืฉื™ืœื“ื” ืชืžืจ ื”ื™ื” ื’'ื› ืžืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ื, ื•ื™ืฆื ืžืžื ื” ืคืจืฅ ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืชื™ื—ืก ืœื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ืขืœื™ื• ื ืชืœื” ื›ืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ื•, ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื™ืฉืชื›ืœืœ ืžืŸ ื”ื–ืจืข ืืฉืจ ื™ืชืŸ ื”' ืœืš ืžืŸ ื”ื ืขืจื” ื”ื–ืืช.
And may your house (be like the house of Peretz). This is the third blessing -- to the children he will bear. Even though they are the sons of yibum and will be named after the dead, consider: the house of Peretz whom Tamar bore was itself a matter of yibum, and Peretz emerged from it and was ascribed to Yehudah, and upon him hung the entire honor of his father's house. So too shall be the house that will be built up from the seed that Hashem will give you from this maiden.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึดึผืงึทึผื— ื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ืึถืชึพืจื•ึผืช ื•ึทืชึฐึผื”ึดื™ึพืœื•ึน ืœึฐืึดืฉึธึผืื” ื•ึทื™ึธึผื‘ึนื ืึตืœึถื™ื”ึธ ื•ึทื™ึดึผืชึตึผืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืœึธื”ึผ ื”ึตืจึธื™ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึทืชึตึผืœึถื“ ื‘ึตึผืŸืƒ

English:

So Boaz married Ruth; she became his wife, and he cohabited with her. God let her conceive, and she bore a son.

The marriage is consummated and Oved is born. Malbim reads the verse's sequence carefully: Boaz did NOT perform the minimalist Torah-level yibum (biah alone); rather, he first formally betrothed Ruth through kesef or shtar ('va-yikach' and 'va-tehi lo le-ishah' precede 'va-yavo eleha'), and only then consummated. The reason: since Ruth's connection to Machlon was itself through gerut rather than standard marriage, the yibum here was customary rather than Torah-obligatory, and Boaz used standard kiddushin. That she conceived immediately (though with Machlon, who was young, she had not borne) is attributed to Hashem's providence.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื™ืงื— ื‘ืขื–. ืžืกืคืจ ืฉืœื ื ื”ื’ ื›ืžื™ื‘ื ืืช ืืฉืช ืื—, ืฉืื– ื™ื‘ืžื” ื™ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื” ื•ื™ื‘ืžื”, ื•ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ ื›ืกืฃ ื•ืฉื˜ืจ ืื™ืŸ ืงื•ื ื™ื ืจืง ืขื•ืฉื™ื ืžืืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื“ืจื‘ื ืŸ; ื›ื™ ื™ื‘ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืืœื ืžืฆื“ ื”ืžื ื”ื’ ืœื‘ื“, ื•ืงื“ืฉ ืื•ืชื” ื‘ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ ื›ืกืฃ ืื• ืฉื˜ืจ ืฉืขื–'ื ื•ื™ืงื— ื‘ืขื– ืืช ืจื•ืช ื•ืชื”ื™ ืœื• ืœืืฉื”, ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื‘ื ืขืœื™ื”, ื•ืื—'ื› ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื”, ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”' ืœื” ื”ืจื™ื•ืŸ ืขืค'ื™ ื”ืฉื’ื—ืชื• ื”ืจืชื” ืชื›ืฃ, ื”ื’ื ืฉืขื ื‘ืขืœื” ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื—ื•ืจ ืœื ื™ืœื“ื”.
And Boaz took. The verse tells us he did not behave as one performing yibum on a brother's wife (where 'her yavam shall come upon her and yibem her,' and kiddushin of kesef or shetar do not effect acquisition, only ma'amar, which is Rabbinic). This yibum was only by custom, and he betrothed her with kiddushin of kesef or shetar -- hence 'Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife' BEFORE 'he came upon her.' And afterwards 'he came upon her, and Hashem gave her conception' -- by divine providence she conceived immediately, though with her first husband the young man she had not borne.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึนึผืืžึทืจึฐื ึธื” ื”ึทื ึธึผืฉึดืื™ื ืึถืœึพื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ื‘ึธึผืจื•ึผืšึฐ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึนื ื”ึดืฉึฐืื‘ึดึผื™ืช ืœึธืšึฐ ื’ึนึผืึตืœ ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื•ึฐื™ึดืงึธึผืจึตื ืฉึฐืืžื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœืƒ

English:

And the women said to Naomi, โ€œBlessed be God, who has not withheld a redeemer from you today! May his name be perpetuated in Israel!โ€

The women address Naomi. Ibn Ezra glosses: 'who has not left you without a redeemer' because the name of the dead would be established. Malbim reads: two distinct clauses. 'Ha-go'el ha-yom' (the redeemer today) refers to the newborn child himself -- he IS the dead Machlon returning via yibum, and thus Naomi's own redeemer, the one who saves her from dying childless. 'Yikareh shemo be-Yisrael' is the future-tense blessing: may his name be renowned.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ืืฉืจ ืœื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืช ืœืš ื’ื•ืืœ. ื”ื˜ืขื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื™ื•ืงื ืฉื ื”ืžืช ืขืœ ื ื—ืœืชื•.
Who has not withheld a redeemer from you -- the reason being that the name of the dead would be established upon his inheritance.
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืืžืจื ื” ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื•ื’ื•' ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”' ืืฉืจ ืœื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืช ืœืš ื’ื•ืืœ ื”ื™ื•ื, ืจ'ืœ ืžื” ืฉื ื•ื’ืข ืืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืฆืจื™ืš ื‘ืจื›ื” ืœื”' ืฉืœื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืช ืœืš ื’ื•ืืœ, ื›ื™ ื‘ื ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ื™ืœื“ ื”ื–ื”, ื›ื ื•ื“ืข ืžื•ืกื“ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ื ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ืžืช ื‘ืขืฆืžื•, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื•ืืœ ืฉืœืš ืฉืœื ืชืžื•ืช ืขืจื™ืจื™. ื•ืžื” ืฉื ื•ื’ืข ืขืœ ื”ืขืชื™ื“ ื™ืงืจื ืฉืžื• ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžื’ื“ื•ืœื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืžืื ืฉื™ ื”ืฉื.
And the women said, 'Blessed is Hashem who has not withheld from you a redeemer today.' Meaning: as concerns today, blessing is owed to Hashem that He has not withheld from you a redeemer -- for your son is born in this child, as is known from the foundation of yibum, that the newborn IS the dead himself, and he is your redeemer from dying childless. And as concerns the future, 'may his name be called in Israel' -- may he be among the great of Israel and a man of renown.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ืœึธืšึฐ ืœึฐืžึตืฉึดืื™ื‘ ื ึถืคึถืฉื ื•ึผืœึฐื›ึทืœึฐื›ึตึผืœ ืึถืชึพืฉึตื‚ื™ื‘ึธืชึตืšึฐ ื›ึดึผื™ ื›ึทืœึธึผืชึตืšึฐ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพืึฒื”ึตื‘ึทืชึถืšึฐ ื™ึฐืœึธื“ึทืชึผื•ึผ ืึฒืฉึถืืจึพื”ึดื™ื ื˜ื•ึนื‘ึธื” ืœึธืšึฐ ืžึดืฉึดึผืื‘ึฐืขึธื” ื‘ึธึผื ึดื™ืืƒ

English:

โ€œHe will renew your life and sustain your old age; for he is born of your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons.โ€

The women's closing praise of Ruth. Ibn Ezra parses 'ulchalkel' from 'va-yichalkel Yosef' (he sustained) or alternatively 'who shall sustain' (Mishlei 18:14). Malbim completes the theological frame: the child will restore Naomi's soul -- he is Machlon's soul returned to this world -- and will sustain her old age, since he is born of a daughter-in-law who loves her and will therefore work to provide for her.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื•ืœื›ืœื›ืœ. ืžื˜ืขื 'ื•ื™ื›ืœื›ืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ'. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ื›ืžื• 'ื•ืžื™ ืžื›ืœื›ืœ ืืช ื™ื•ื ื‘ื•ืื•'.
'And sustain' -- from 'va-yechalkel Yosef' (and Yosef sustained). Some say it is like 'who will sustain the day of his coming.'
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืœืžืฉื™ื‘ ื ืคืฉ, ืจ'ืœ ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืืช ื ืคืฉ ืžื—ืœื•ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืช ืืœ ื”ืขื•ื”'ื–, ื•ื ืคืฉื• ื”ื•ื ื ืคืฉ ืžื—ืœื•ืŸ ื‘ื ืš, ื•ื”ื•ื ื’'ื› ื™ื›ืœื›ืœ ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืชืš, ื‘ืืฉืจ ื ื•ืœื“ ืžื›ืœืชืš ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื ืื•ื”ื‘ืช ืื•ืชืš, ื•ื™ืฉืชื“ืœื• ืœื›ืœื›ืœ ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืชืš.
And he will be to you a restorer of soul. That is, he has returned the soul of Machlon a second time to this world, and his soul is the soul of Machlon your son. And he will also sustain your old age, because he was born of your daughter-in-law who loves you, and they will strive to support you in your old age.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึดึผืงึทึผื— ื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ืึถืชึพื”ึทื™ึถึผืœึถื“ ื•ึทืชึฐึผืฉึดืืชึตื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื—ึตื™ืงึธื”ึผ ื•ึทืชึฐึผื”ึดื™ึพืœื•ึน ืœึฐืึนืžึถื ึถืชืƒ

English:

Naomi took the child and held it to her bosom. She became its foster mother,

The climactic image: Naomi holds the child. Ibn Ezra briefly glosses the sense. Malbim opens his most mystical register, citing the Arizal's Sefer ha-Gilgulim: the souls of Rachel, Leah, Tamar, and Ruth/Naomi were all captured by the klipot through seemingly-irregular unions -- but those very unions were the mechanism of their rescue. David himself (in Tehillim) addressed the slander about his Moabite origin by reminding that Israel itself descends from the union of two sisters. The women's threefold blessing (verse 11) was perceiving this pattern all along.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืœื‘ื™ืดืMalbim
ื•ืชืงื— ื ืขืžื™ ืืช ื”ื™ืœื“. ืขืค'ื– ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื• ืœืื•ืžื ืช, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื ื” ืžืžืฉ, ื•ืชืฉื ืื•ืชื• ื›ืื ื”ืื•ืžื ืช ืืช ื‘ื ื”. ื•ื”ืฉื›ื ื•ืช ืืžืจื• ืฉื™ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืœื ืขืžื™, ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื”ืืžืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืŸ ื ืขืžื™ ืžืฆื“ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ื, ื•ื›ืŸ ืงืจืื• ืฉืžื• ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืŸ ื ืขืžื™, ื•ืฉืžื• ื”ืขืฆืžื™ ืงืจืื• ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขืœ ืฉืขืชื™ื“ ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืืช ื”', ื•ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื™ืฉื™ ืฉืžืžื ื• ื ืฆืžื— ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“. ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจ ื”ืืจ'ื™ ื–'ืœ ื‘ืกืคืจ ื”ื’ืœื’ื•ืœื™ื (ืข'ืค ืขืช ืืฉืจ ืฉืœื˜ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืื“ื ืœืจืข ืœื•) ืฉื”ื ืฉืžื•ืช ื”ืขืฉื•ืงื•ืช ื‘ื™ื“ ืขื•ืฉืงื™ื”ื, ื›ื— ื‘ื˜ืงืœื ื“ืขืฉืงื™ืช ื ืฉืžืชื™ืŸ ื'ื ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืืช ื”ื ืฉืžื” ืžื”ื ื›ื™ ื”ื ื™ื•ื ืงื•ืช ืฉืคืข ืขืœ ื™ื“ื; ื•ืžืจืžื™ื ืื•ืชื ืฉืžืจืื™ื ืœื”ื ืžืงื•ื ืคื’ื•ื ื•ื—ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื ืฉืฉื ืชืฉืืจ ื”ื ืฉืžื” ื‘ื™ื“ื, ื•ืœื‘ืกื•ืฃ ืชืชื’ื‘ืจ ื”ื ืฉืžื” ืขืœ ืขื•ืฉืงื™ื”. ื•ื›ืŸ ื ืฉืžืช ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ื ืชื ื• ื‘ืจื—ืœ ื•ืœืื” ืฉื”ื™ื• ืื—ื™ื•ืช, ื•ื—ืฉื‘ื• ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืืจื• ื”ื ืฉืžื•ืช ื‘ื˜ื•ืžืื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื ืฉืื• ื‘ืื™ืกื•ืจ; ื•ื›ืŸ ื ืฉืžืช ืคืจืฅ ื‘ืชืžืจ, ื•ื ืฉืžืช ืจื•ืช ื•ื ืขืžื™ ื‘ืขืžื•ืŸ ื•ืžื•ืื‘. ื•ืข'ื› ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืขื“ ืžื” ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ืœื›ืœืžื”, ื•ืืžืจ ื‘ืžื“' ืฉื”ื™ื• ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉื‘ื ืžืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ ืœื”ื ืืžืจื• ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื›ื ื•ืืชื ืœื ื‘ืืชื ืžืื™ืกื•ืจ ืฉืชื™ ืื—ื™ื•ืช ื•ื“ื•ืžื•. ื•ื–ืืช ื”ืจื’ื™ืฉื• ื”ืขื ื•ื”ื–ืงื ื™ื ื•ืืžืจื• ื™ืชืŸ ื”' ืืช ื”ืืฉื” ื•ื›ื•' ื›ืจื—ืœ ื•ื›ืœืื”, ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื™ืชืš ื›ื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื™ืœื“ื” ืชืžืจ, ืฉื›'ื– ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ื›ืจื— ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ื”ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื”ืืœื” ื‘ืžืจืžื” ื–ื• ืžื™ื“ ืขื•ืฉืงื™ื”ื ื›ื—.
And Naomi took the child. Accordingly she became his omenet (guardian/nurse), for he was literally her son. She carried him as a nursing mother carries her own son. And the neighbor women said 'a son is born to Naomi' -- for this is the truth: he is Naomi's son through yibum. They named him so, because he is Naomi's son; and his personal name they called Oved, on account of his destiny to serve (le-oved) Hashem; and he is the father of Yishai, from whom grew the kingdom of David. The Arizal explained in Sefer ha-Gilgulim (on the verse 'a time when man has ruled over man to his evil') that souls held captive by their oppressors cannot easily be extracted, for the oppressors feed upon them. The souls are rescued by being allowed into a place that appears flawed, so the oppressors imagine the souls will remain in their hands; in the end the soul overcomes its oppressor. Thus the souls of the Shevatim came into Rachel and Leah, who were sisters, and the oppressors thought the souls would remain in impurity since these women had been taken in prohibition. So too the soul of Peretz came into Tamar, and the souls of Ruth and Naomi into Moab and Ammon. And therefore David said (Tehillim) 'sons of men -- how long will you turn my glory to shame?' The Midrash says they would say he came from Ruth the Moabite, and he answered them 'commune with your own heart upon your bed and be silent' -- you yourselves have not come from the forbidden union of two sisters. The people and the elders perceived this when they said 'may Hashem make the woman like Rachel and Leah' and 'may your house be like the house of Peretz whom Tamar bore.' All this was necessary to extract these souls through this apparent stratagem from the hand of their oppressors.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึดึผืงึฐืจึถืื ึธื” ืœื•ึน ื”ึทืฉึฐึผืื›ึตื ื•ึนืช ืฉึตืื ืœึตืืžึนืจ ื™ึปืœึทึผื“ึพื‘ึตึผืŸ ืœึฐื ื‡ืขึณืžึดื™ ื•ึทืชึดึผืงึฐืจึถืื ึธื” ืฉึฐืืžื•ึน ืขื•ึนื‘ึตื“ ื”ื•ึผื ืึฒื‘ึดื™ึพื™ึดืฉึทืื™ ืึฒื‘ึดื™ ื“ึธื•ึดื“ืƒ

English:

and the women neighbors gave him a name, saying, โ€œA son is born to Naomi!โ€ They named him Obed; he was the father of Jesse, father of David.

The naming, and the chapter's first explicit link to David. Ibn Ezra enters into a long chronological discussion -- how can Peretz to David span only ten generations across ~366 years? He works out that each patriarch fathered a child at age 84-91. He also suggests Oved was named for being 'born of an elderly man' and because his mother had abandoned her land for Hashem -- so the child would 'serve Hashem' (Oved Hashem).
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจืIbn Ezra
ื™ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืœื ืขืžื™. ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื” ืœื‘ืŸ. ืื‘ื™ ื“ื•ื“. ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืืœ ื™ืฉื™ ื’ื ืืœ ืขื•ื‘ื“, ื›ืžื• ืืœื”ื™ ืื‘ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืืœื”ื™ ืื‘ื™ ื™ืฆื—ืง; ื“ืจืš ืกื‘ืจื ื›ื™ ื ื—ืฉื•ืŸ ืžืช ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ, ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ืขืจ ื•ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขืœ ื“ื’ืœ ื•ื ื•ืกืข ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืงื•ื“ื ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ืขื•ื“, ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืžื–ื›ื™ืจื• ืฉื ื›ื ืก ื‘ืืจืฅ, ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ ืื—ืจ. ื•ื”ื ื” ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื›ื ืก ืœืืจืฅ ืขื“ ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ื“ื•ื“ ืจืง ืฉืก'ื• ืฉื ื”, ื›ื™ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืฉืžื•ื ื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื”ื™ื ื”ืฉื ื” ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ืช ืœืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”. ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื—ื™ ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื”. ื•ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื” ื”ืœื›ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ. ื•ืื ืืžืจื ื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉืœืžื•ืŸ ื›ืืฉืจ ื ื›ื ืก ืœืืจืฅ ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื”, ื”ื ื” ื”ื ืืจื‘ืขื” ืฉืœืžื•ืŸ ื•ื‘ื•ืขื– ื•ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื•ื™ืฉื™, ื”ื ื” ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื•ื”ื•ื ื‘ืŸ ืชืฉืขื™ื ื•ืื—ืช ืฉื ื”. ื•ืื ื™ืงื•ื ืžืขืจืขืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื ื—ืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืฆืจื™ื ืคื—ื•ืช ืžืขืฉืจื™ื ืฉื ื”, ื”ื ื” ื ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™'ื— ืฉื ื”, ื•ืœื ื ื—ืกืจ ืฉื ื•ืช ืœื›ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ. ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ื”ื™ื• ื—ืžืฉื”, ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ื•ืœื™ื“ ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ื”ื•ื ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื ื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืข, ื•ื–ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™. ื›ื™ ื”ื ื” ื‘ื•ืขื– ื–ืงืŸ ื”ื™ื”, ื•ื–ื” ืœืžื“ื ื• ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืืžืจ ืœืจื•ืช ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ืœื›ืช ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื; ื’ื ื™ืฉื™ ื–ืงืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืืช ื“ื•ื“, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืฉืžื™ื ื™ ืœื‘ื ื™ื•. ื•ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉื ืงืจื ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“ื• ื–ืงืŸ, ื•ืœื ืœืงื— ื”ืืฉื” ื›ื™ ืื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืฉื; ื•ื’ื ื”ืื ืขื–ื‘ื” ื“ืชื” ื•ืืจืฅ ืžื•ืœื“ืชื”, ื•ื—ืกืชื” ื‘ืฆืœ ื›ื ืฃ ื”ืฉื, ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ืŸ ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื”ืฉื, ื›ื™ ืจื•ื‘ื™ ื”ื‘ื ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœืื‘ ื•ืœืื, ื›ื™ ื”ื ื”ืฉื•ืจืฉื™ื.
'A son is born to Naomi' -- similar to 'and she had a son.' 'Father of David' -- it is possible it refers back to both Yishai and to Oved, as in 'God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitzchak.' Reasoning: Nachshon died in the wilderness -- it is not possible that he was a youth yet the banner-bearer of his tribe, journeying before all Israel. Also Scripture mentions him entering the land, implying he would be the tribe's leader. Between the entry into the land and David's birth is only 366 years (Scripture says 'in the 480th year after Israel came out of Egypt,' in Shlomo's fourth year; David lived 70 years; they journeyed 40 years in the wilderness). If Salmon entered the land at one year old, then Salmon, Boaz, Oved, and Yishai each fathered a child at 91. If Nachshon left Egypt under 20 and we reckon him at 18, the number is 5, and each would father a child at 84. This seems plausible, for Boaz was already elderly, as we learn from his saying to Ruth not to go after the young men; Yishai too was old when he fathered David, as David was his eighth son. Perhaps he was called Oved because an old man fathered him, and because his mother left her religion and homeland to take refuge under Hashem's wing -- so the son would be Oved Hashem, since most children resemble their parents.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึตืœึถึผื” ืชึผื•ึนืœึฐื“ื•ึนืช ืคึธึผืจึถืฅ ืคึถึผืจึถืฅ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพื—ึถืฆึฐืจื•ึนืŸืƒ

English:

This is the line of Perez: Perez begot Hezron,

The genealogy begins. Rashi explains: having traced David's lineage through Ruth the Moabitess (the human, narrative side), Scripture now traces it through Yehudah (the royal, tribal side). Both lines converge in Oved.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืืœื” ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืคืจืฅ. ืœืคื™ ืฉื™ื—ืก ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ืขืœ ืฉืžื” ืฉืœ ืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ื” ื—ื–ืจ ื•ื™ื—ืกื• ืขืœ ืฉื ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”:
These are the generations of Peretz. Since Scripture traced David's lineage through the name of Ruth the Moabite, it returns and traces his lineage through the name of Yehudah (the symbol of royalty).

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื—ึถืฆึฐืจื•ึนืŸ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพืจึธื ื•ึฐืจึธื ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพืขึทืžึดึผื™ื ึธื“ึธื‘ืƒ

English:

Hezron begot Ram, Ram begot Amminadab,

The second link in the chain. Chetzron was a grandson of Yehudah (Bereishit 46:12); Ram is otherwise little-known; Aminadav will reappear as the father of Nachshon, the prince of Yehudah at Sinai.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึทืžึดึผื™ื ึธื“ึธื‘ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพื ึทื—ึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐื ึทื—ึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพืฉึทื‚ืœึฐืžึธื”ืƒ

English:

Amminadab begot Nahshon, Nahshon begot Salmon,

The third link. Nachshon ben Aminadav is the nasi (prince) of the tribe of Yehudah at Sinai (Bamidbar 1:7, 2:3), the bannerman who leads Israel's march, and -- per Chazal (Sotah 37a) -- the first to step into the Yam Suf. Salmon (here spelled Salmah) is, in Chazal's tradition, the husband of Rachav the convert.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืฉึทื‚ืœึฐืžื•ึนืŸ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพื‘ึนึผืขึทื– ื•ึผื‘ึนืขึทื– ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพืขื•ึนื‘ึตื“ืƒ

English:

Salmon begot Boaz, Boaz begot Obed,

The fourth link bridges the narrative and the genealogy. Boaz the hero of the Megillah is here placed in his ancestral line, and Oved -- born of Boaz and Ruth -- is now the carrier of the royal seed forward.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึนื‘ึตื“ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพื™ึดืฉึธืื™ ื•ึฐื™ึดืฉึทืื™ ื”ื•ึนืœึดื™ื“ ืึถืชึพื“ึธึผื•ึดื“ืƒ

English:

Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.

The book concludes with David's name -- the first time he is mentioned in Tanakh in chronological narrative sequence. Ten generations from Peretz to David: exactly the span from Noach to Avraham. The Megillah that began with famine, emptiness, and exile in Moab ends with the name of the anointed king of Israel. Chesed has become monarchy; emptiness has become the Davidic line.

โ† Ruth 3 | Song of Songs 1 โ†’

Back to Ruth | Back to Nach Yomi

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