When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. - Deuteronomy 25:5
Last week we learned that the Talmud - a book which contains the teachings of the early Jewish rabbis - equates Ibzan, the 9th judge of Israel, with Boaz. While this identification is not absolute, it is certainly plausible for a variety of reasons. Therefore, for the purposes of this sermon series, we have temporarily suspended our focus on the book of Judges and shifted to the beautiful story of Ruth. This morning, we will do the opposite - we’ll conclude our brief study of Ruth and return to the list of judges.
As you might recall, Naomi brought her foreign-born daughter-in-law Ruth back from Moab to Bethlehem in Israel. Neither of the women had a husband - both were widows. Although they were poor, Ruth was determined to take care of her aging mother-in-law. She went to find and gather grain, and ended up gleaning in the fields of a wealthy man named Boaz. Ruth found favor in Boaz’s sight and continued working in his fields with his maids throughout the barley and wheat harvest. By God’s divine providence, Boaz was actually a close relative of Naomi through her deceased husband Elimelech.
This is where we left off last week. We’ll pick up the story there and learn how the relationship between Boaz and Ruth developed. Turn with me to Ruth chapter 3 and let’s begin.
I. RUTH’S PROPOSAL (Ruth 3:1-18)
Just as Ruth had shown great concern for Naomi, so also Naomi was very concerned for Ruth. She wanted to ensure that her daughter-in-law would be taken care of after she passed away. Therefore, Naomi instructed Ruth to bathe and put on her best clothes. She was to go to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley that night. After he’d finished supper, laid down, and gone to sleep, Ruth was to go uncover his feet and lie down beside them. Ruth did as her mother-in-law instructed.
When Boaz awoke in the middle of the night he was startled to see Ruth lying there at his feet. Ruth asked him to spread his covering over her because he was a close relative. Boaz understood and was humbled by Ruth’s request, noting her kindness to ask him rather than a younger man closer to her own age. Boaz agreed to honor her request, but stated that there was a closer relative than he who had first priority. He assured her that he’d make the proper arrangements the next day - one way or the other. Boaz sent Ruth home early in the morning, before sunlight, with 6 measures of barley for her and Naomi to share.
What did Ruth’s request mean? By asking Boaz to spread his covering over her, Ruth was in effect asking him to marry her (Ezekiel 16:8) and serve as both she and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer. According to Jewish law, the kinsman-redeemer was “a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need”. Boaz agreed to take Ruth as his wife and to provide for and protect both her and Naomi, in the event that the closer relative wouldn’t.
Some interpreters have taught that Ruth waited until Boaz was drunk and then seduced him into a sexual encounter. For several reasons, this interpretation is highly unlikely. For one thing, it runs contrary to the honorable character shown by both Ruth and Boaz up to this point. Secondly, it is completely counter-cultural and undermines the prospect of an acceptable marriage. Besides these general observations, there are several other compelling reasons to dismiss this scandalous claim. I would argue that Naomi’s plan and Ruth’s follow through were elaborately designed to make her proposal more meaningful.
II. BOAZ AND RUTH’S MARRIAGE (Ruth 4:1-22)
Early the next day, Boaz went to the city gate where he was joined by the closest relative. With the elders of the city present, Boaz informed him that Naomi was wishing to sell property that belonged to their “brother” Elimelech. As her closest living relative, he had the first choice on whether or not to buy the property. Boaz explained that, if he chose to purchase the land, he’d also have to acquire Ruth and father a child with her to carry on the name of her deceased husband. The closer relative was unwilling to do that, as doing so would have jeopardized his own inheritance. Therefore, he transferred his right of redemption to Boaz as indicated by giving him his sandal in accordance with the custom of Israel.
Now empowered to act, Boaz readily agreed to buy Naomi’s property and acquire Ruth as his wife, promising to bear a child with her to redeem Elimelech’s family name. All of the elders present were witnesses of Boaz’s pledge. They pronounced blessings on him, Ruth, and the child that would be born of them. So in the days that followed Boaz and Ruth were married and had a son. Naomi was delighted to hold her grandson, and the women of Bethlehem rejoiced because God had restored her good fortune. They named the child Obed, who would later become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
III. ELON (Judges 12:11-12)
After Ibzan (who may have been the same man as Boaz), Elon became the 10th judge of Israel. He is perhaps the least known of the judges. Elon was from the tribe of Zebulun and led Israel for 10 years. He died and was buried in Aijalon in the tribal territory of Zebulun. The Bible contains no information about what he did during his time as judge or if he delivered Israel from a particular adversary. The name Elon means “strong” or “oak tree”. Based on this, some scholars have speculated that Elon provided strong, godly leadership over the tribe of Zebulun during a time of relative peace.
IV. ABDON (Judges 12:13-15)
After Elon, Abdon became the 11th judge of Israel. He was the son of Hillel and lived in the city of Pirathon. Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on 70 donkeys. His large family suggests that he was an extremely wealthy man who yielded significant influence. He judged in Ephraim for 8 years. Abdon died and was buried in Pirathon. Many scholars believe that Abdon was instrumental in helping his tribe - the Ephraimites - regain the respect, status, and acceptance among the other tribes of Israel they’d lost due to their disastrous encounter with the Gileadites during the days of Jephthah.
CONCLUSION
Just as Boaz became Naomi and Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, so also Jesus has become our great Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus is our close relative in the sense that He is the only begotten Son of God and we, as believers, are the born-again children of God. We were depraved and spiritually destitute because of our sin, and our names were destined to be cut off and forgotten. Yet Jesus, our gracious Savior, who exclusively held the right of redemption, sacrificially offered Himself on the cross of Calvary to redeem us, restore us, and give us the assurance of eternal life. Praise the LORD!
In closing, we have now introduced Ibzan (Boaz?), Elon, and Abdon - the 9th, 10th, and 11th judges of Israel. They are all considered “minor judges” and are categorized as diplomatic or civil in their leadership style. This leaves only 1 judge left of the 12 listed in the book of Judges - perhaps the most well known of them all. We will begin discussing his story next week…
Last week we learned that the Talmud - a book which contains the teachings of the early Jewish rabbis - equates Ibzan, the 9th judge of Israel, with Boaz. While this identification is not absolute, it is certainly plausible for a variety of reasons. Therefore, for the purposes of this sermon series, we have temporarily suspended our focus on the book of Judges and shifted to the beautiful story of Ruth. This morning, we will do the opposite - we’ll conclude our brief study of Ruth and return to the list of judges.
As you might recall, Naomi brought her foreign-born daughter-in-law Ruth back from Moab to Bethlehem in Israel. Neither of the women had a husband - both were widows. Although they were poor, Ruth was determined to take care of her aging mother-in-law. She went to find and gather grain, and ended up gleaning in the fields of a wealthy man named Boaz. Ruth found favor in Boaz’s sight and continued working in his fields with his maids throughout the barley and wheat harvest. By God’s divine providence, Boaz was actually a close relative of Naomi through her deceased husband Elimelech.
This is where we left off last week. We’ll pick up the story there and learn how the relationship between Boaz and Ruth developed. Turn with me to Ruth chapter 3 and let’s begin.
I. RUTH’S PROPOSAL (Ruth 3:1-18)
Just as Ruth had shown great concern for Naomi, so also Naomi was very concerned for Ruth. She wanted to ensure that her daughter-in-law would be taken care of after she passed away. Therefore, Naomi instructed Ruth to bathe and put on her best clothes. She was to go to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley that night. After he’d finished supper, laid down, and gone to sleep, Ruth was to go uncover his feet and lie down beside them. Ruth did as her mother-in-law instructed.
When Boaz awoke in the middle of the night he was startled to see Ruth lying there at his feet. Ruth asked him to spread his covering over her because he was a close relative. Boaz understood and was humbled by Ruth’s request, noting her kindness to ask him rather than a younger man closer to her own age. Boaz agreed to honor her request, but stated that there was a closer relative than he who had first priority. He assured her that he’d make the proper arrangements the next day - one way or the other. Boaz sent Ruth home early in the morning, before sunlight, with 6 measures of barley for her and Naomi to share.
What did Ruth’s request mean? By asking Boaz to spread his covering over her, Ruth was in effect asking him to marry her (Ezekiel 16:8) and serve as both she and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer. According to Jewish law, the kinsman-redeemer was “a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need”. Boaz agreed to take Ruth as his wife and to provide for and protect both her and Naomi, in the event that the closer relative wouldn’t.
Some interpreters have taught that Ruth waited until Boaz was drunk and then seduced him into a sexual encounter. For several reasons, this interpretation is highly unlikely. For one thing, it runs contrary to the honorable character shown by both Ruth and Boaz up to this point. Secondly, it is completely counter-cultural and undermines the prospect of an acceptable marriage. Besides these general observations, there are several other compelling reasons to dismiss this scandalous claim. I would argue that Naomi’s plan and Ruth’s follow through were elaborately designed to make her proposal more meaningful.
II. BOAZ AND RUTH’S MARRIAGE (Ruth 4:1-22)
Early the next day, Boaz went to the city gate where he was joined by the closest relative. With the elders of the city present, Boaz informed him that Naomi was wishing to sell property that belonged to their “brother” Elimelech. As her closest living relative, he had the first choice on whether or not to buy the property. Boaz explained that, if he chose to purchase the land, he’d also have to acquire Ruth and father a child with her to carry on the name of her deceased husband. The closer relative was unwilling to do that, as doing so would have jeopardized his own inheritance. Therefore, he transferred his right of redemption to Boaz as indicated by giving him his sandal in accordance with the custom of Israel.
Now empowered to act, Boaz readily agreed to buy Naomi’s property and acquire Ruth as his wife, promising to bear a child with her to redeem Elimelech’s family name. All of the elders present were witnesses of Boaz’s pledge. They pronounced blessings on him, Ruth, and the child that would be born of them. So in the days that followed Boaz and Ruth were married and had a son. Naomi was delighted to hold her grandson, and the women of Bethlehem rejoiced because God had restored her good fortune. They named the child Obed, who would later become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
III. ELON (Judges 12:11-12)
After Ibzan (who may have been the same man as Boaz), Elon became the 10th judge of Israel. He is perhaps the least known of the judges. Elon was from the tribe of Zebulun and led Israel for 10 years. He died and was buried in Aijalon in the tribal territory of Zebulun. The Bible contains no information about what he did during his time as judge or if he delivered Israel from a particular adversary. The name Elon means “strong” or “oak tree”. Based on this, some scholars have speculated that Elon provided strong, godly leadership over the tribe of Zebulun during a time of relative peace.
IV. ABDON (Judges 12:13-15)
After Elon, Abdon became the 11th judge of Israel. He was the son of Hillel and lived in the city of Pirathon. Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on 70 donkeys. His large family suggests that he was an extremely wealthy man who yielded significant influence. He judged in Ephraim for 8 years. Abdon died and was buried in Pirathon. Many scholars believe that Abdon was instrumental in helping his tribe - the Ephraimites - regain the respect, status, and acceptance among the other tribes of Israel they’d lost due to their disastrous encounter with the Gileadites during the days of Jephthah.
CONCLUSION
Just as Boaz became Naomi and Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, so also Jesus has become our great Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus is our close relative in the sense that He is the only begotten Son of God and we, as believers, are the born-again children of God. We were depraved and spiritually destitute because of our sin, and our names were destined to be cut off and forgotten. Yet Jesus, our gracious Savior, who exclusively held the right of redemption, sacrificially offered Himself on the cross of Calvary to redeem us, restore us, and give us the assurance of eternal life. Praise the LORD!
In closing, we have now introduced Ibzan (Boaz?), Elon, and Abdon - the 9th, 10th, and 11th judges of Israel. They are all considered “minor judges” and are categorized as diplomatic or civil in their leadership style. This leaves only 1 judge left of the 12 listed in the book of Judges - perhaps the most well known of them all. We will begin discussing his story next week…