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NASB | Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, "The day that you buy the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance." |
Bible Question: Did ancient Israel buy and sell woman as property for a price? |
Bible Answer: Hello Reighnskye; I would like to make a few comments about this book (Ruth) that may interest you in your studying of it. Although women had a lower status than men, and they were probably bought and sold like property, I don’t believe that this is the issue or the implication of this book. Boaz was not buying Ruth. He was redeeming her. There is a difference. She was not to become his slave but his bride. Although this is a historical book, it is in my opinion a very prophetic one as well. In Hosea 12:10 it mentions different ways in which God gave messages (prophecies) to the people. Hosea 12:10 “I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.” The word similitudes means: to be like, to resemble, to liken etc. This is where we get the idea of “prefigurations” or “foreshadowings” such as we see in Gen. 22 where Abraham sacrifices his son Issac. This was a prefiguration or similitude of God the Father sacrificing His only Son Jesus. The roles played here may correspond like this: Naomi is Israel Ruth is the church Boaz is Jesus The near kinsman is the old covenant or John the Baptist Please reread the book of Ruth with these roles in view, then let me know what you think. Iwould be interested in getting your opinion on this. Boaz plays the part of the kinsman redeemer as Jesus is our redeemer. This is also significant in the book of Revelation because there is a section there that could be difficult to understand if you are unfamiliar with the concept of the kinsman redeemer. Blessing to you Aaron |