How does Deuteronomy 25:5 connect to the story of Ruth and Boaz? The Law Stated: Deuteronomy 25:5 “If brothers dwell together and one of them dies without having a son, the wife of the deceased shall not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her.” Key Features of the Law • Preserves the deceased man’s name and inheritance (v. 6) • Keeps land within the clan (Numbers 36:7) • Requires the closest male relative to step in; refusal brings public shame and the removal of a sandal (Deuteronomy 25:7-10) The Situation in Ruth • Elimelech’s family relocates to Moab; sons Mahlon and Chilion marry Ruth and Orpah (Ruth 1:1-4). • All three men die, leaving Naomi and the two widows childless (Ruth 1:5). • Naomi returns to Bethlehem; Ruth loyally accompanies her (Ruth 1:16-22). • Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, notices Ruth gleaning in his fields (Ruth 2:1-12). • Naomi identifies Boaz as a “kinsman-redeemer” (Hebrew goel, Ruth 2:20). Direct Links to Deuteronomy 25 in Ruth 3–4 • Closest relative first: Boaz tells Ruth, “There is a redeemer nearer than I” (Ruth 3:12); exactly the priority order implied in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. • Legal assembly at the gate: Boaz gathers elders to settle the matter (Ruth 4:1-2), paralleling the public setting of Deuteronomy 25:7-8. • Land and lineage tied together: Boaz offers to redeem Elimelech’s field and marry Ruth “to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance” (Ruth 4:5, 10; cf. Deuteronomy 25:6). • Sandal ceremony: the nearer relative removes his sandal, symbolizing his relinquishment (Ruth 4:7-8), echoing Deuteronomy 25:9-10. Why Boaz Qualifies Though Not a Brother • With no surviving brothers, the responsibility passed to the next closest male kinsman (goel); Boaz acts in the spirit and intent of Deuteronomy 25:5. • Prophets later apply “brother” language broadly to clan relations (e.g., Jeremiah 32:7-8). God’s Purposes on Display • Protecting the vulnerable: Ruth, a foreign widow, is brought under covenant care (Leviticus 19:33-34). • Preserving the messianic line: Boaz and Ruth become great-grandparents of David (Ruth 4:17; Matthew 1:5-6). • Showcasing faithful love (hesed): Boaz mirrors the LORD’s redemption of His people (Isaiah 54:5). Takeaways for Believers • God’s laws are not cold regulations but provisions of mercy. • He sovereignly weaves obedience into His redemptive plan, even through unexpected people. • The ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer, Christ, fulfills the pattern, securing an eternal inheritance for all who trust Him (Hebrews 2:11-17; 1 Peter 1:3-4). |
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