Power In His Presence

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DISCUSS AND ANALYZE THE CONCEPT OF KINSMAN REDEEMER IN THE BOOK OF RUTH.

To tackle this question, I would like to start by defining the concept of “kinsman redeemer”. I will do this by also explaining the key words. What is a kinsman-redeemer? The description of “kinsman” is someone who is a “nearest male blood relative. If anyone from poverty was unable to redeem his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to redeem it.” The Hebrew word for “kinsman” is “goel.” “Redeemer” is defined as “one charged with the obligation of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs.” The Hebrew word for Redeemer is also “goel.” In Biblical times, these words were interchangeable. If a man was the redeemer of a family, he must have been a kinsman. And if he was a kinsman, then it followed that he was a redeemer for the family. Back in Ruth’s day, the kinsman redeemer avenged deaths, claimed inheritances for poor family members, and married the widow of a dead male relative. He played a role very similar to the one that Jesus played for all mankind, but for his family.

Naomi needed a kinsman redeemer to save them from the oppression of penury and despair. Ruth and Naomi were bereft of the hope as to whether they would be blessed or not. Nevertheless, they banked on God’s providence and God led them to the abundant and plentiful fields and loving arms of that munificent, God-fearing man, Boaz. Naomi’s environs calls for an entity who can be a catalyst for a unique blessings on her life as well as her daughter-in-law.

To clarify the phrase “Kinsman Redeemer”, let’s observe Ruth 4:4…

“And I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it”.

Obviously, we can notice the word “redeem” mentioned many times over in the above verse. It is the translation of the Hebrew word gawal and lets us know the reason the kinsman was so important in the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth illustrates the law of the kinsman-redeemer. The law of the kinsman-redeemer is involved in is referred to as “the law of redemption.”

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER

The concept of the Kinsman redeemer in the book of Ruth thrives on the character and attitude of Boaz, and this is seen clearly in his love fir Ruth. You can’t read the book of Ruth without realizing that as soon as Ruth met Boaz in the field, Boaz fell in love with her immediately. We ca n discover here that Boaz was not only in love with her, but he was kin to her and thus could become her redeemer, based upon love.

The requirements for someone to be a Kinsman Redeemer is, first, the man in question must be a near kinsman. Boaz was a near Kinsman to Naomi and being a near kinsman, he was a mighty man of wealth, he was a mighty man of valor, and he was a mighty man of law.

In the second chapter of Ruth, verse 1, Boaz is introduced as a “mighty man of wealth.” I surmise here that this statement could be translated “mighty man of valor” or “of strength.” Boaz had the ability to “redeem” Ruth because he was the nephew of Elimelech. Being the near kinsman, he was able to redeem the land.

According to Scriptures, we are given three requirements of a Kinsmen-Redeemer.

1. He must be a near kinsman. In other words, he must be related to the needing redemption. (Not spiritual redemption, but the redemption of property or life).

(Lev 25:48-49 ASV) “After that he is sold he may be redeemed: one of his brethren may redeem him; or his uncle, or his uncle’s son may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be waxed rich, he may redeem himself“.

2. The second requirement of the kinsmen-redeemer is that he has the ability to pay the debt. The reason for this is obvious, at the root of the word redemption is the idea of a payment to settle a debt. One may be related by blood, but if he did not have the resources available all the desire in the world would not settle the debt.

3. The third requirement of the kinsmen-redeemer is that he must be willing to redeem. This is exactly what happened in the story of Boaz and Ruth. Boaz was a near kinsmen of Ruth’s deceased husband, and he was both able and willing to redeem, but there was a near kinsmen who was a nearer kinsmen than Boaz. Nearer in the sense of being closer on the family tree, therefore giving him the right of kinsmen redeemer over Boaz. The problem was that the nearer kinsmen was already married and realized the potential problems of such a transaction. He was not willing to pay the redemption price, allowing Boaz the next in line to execute the kinsmen right.

Ruth identifies Boaz as a near of kin of Naomi and gleans wheat in his field in the hope that she will find grace in his eyes (Ruth 2:1-2). Boaz uses his position to ensure the protection of Ruth (Ruth 2:8-18).

As the barley harvest was ending and the threshing was to begin Ruth goes to lay at the feet of her benefactor Boaz. By asking him to place his skirt over her she is asking him to perform the duties of the kinsmen redeemer (goël). After one closer in kin steps aside he marries Ruth and redeems the land for Naomi.

REFERENCES:

Ann Spangler. Women of the Bible – 52 stories for prayer and reflection. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan, 1999

John Darby’s synopsis.

John Wesley’s explanatory notes.