When they entered 4 Bethlehem, 5 the whole village was excited about their arrival. 6 The women of the village said, 7 “Can this be Naomi?” 8
4:1 Now Boaz went up 16 to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian 17 whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! 18 Boaz said, “Come 19 here and sit down, ‘John Doe’!” 20 So he came 21 and sat down.
1 tn Heb “and he took ten men from the elders of the town.”
2 tn The suffix “them” appears to be masculine, but it is probably an archaic dual form (E. F. Campbell, Ruth [AB], 65; F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 75-76).
3 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
4 tn The temporal indicator וַיְהִי (vayÿhi, “and it was”) here introduces a new scene.
5 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
6 tn Heb “because of them” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “excited to see them.”
7 tn Heb “they said,” but the verb form is third person feminine plural, indicating that the women of the village are the subject.
8 tn Heb “Is this Naomi?” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). The question here expresses surprise and delight because of the way Naomi reacts to it (F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther [WBC], 92).
9 tn Heb “do not fear” (so NASB); NRSV “do not be afraid.”
10 tn Heb “everything which you are saying I will do for you.” The Hebrew word order emphasizes Boaz’s intention to fulfill Ruth’s request. As in v. 5, the Hebrew imperfect is used (note “you are saying”), even though Ruth’s request appears to be concluded. According to GKC 316 §107.h, the imperfect can sometimes “express actions, etc., which although, strictly speaking, they are already finished, are regarded as still lasting on into the present time, or continuing to operate in it.” The imperfect אֶעֱשֶׂה (’e’eseh) could be translated “I will do” (so NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT), but since there are legal complications which must first be resolved, it is better to take the form as indicating Boaz’s desire or intention, if the legal matters can be worked out.
11 tn Heb “all the gate of the town,” which by metonymy could refer to everyone in town (NIV “All my fellow townsmen”; NLT “everyone in town”), or only to the leaders and prominent citizens of the community (Boaz’s peers) who transacted business and made legal decisions at the town gate (NRSV “all the assembly of my people”).
12 tn Or “woman of strong character” (cf. NIV “woman of noble character”). The same phrase is used in Prov 31:10 to describe the ideal wife. Prov 31 emphasizes the ideal wife’s industry, her devotion to her family, and her concern for others, characteristics which Ruth had demonstrated.
13 tn Or “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9. As the following context indicates, the child is referred to here.
14 tn The “guardian” is the subject of the verb, as the next verse makes clear.
15 tn Heb “may his name be called [i.e., “perpetuated”; see Gen 48:16] in Israel.”
16 tn The disjunctive clause structure (note the pattern vav [ו] + subject + verb) here signals the beginning of a new scene.
17 tn Sometimes translated “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9.
18 tn Heb “look, the guardian was passing by of whom Boaz had spoken.”
19 tn Heb “turn aside” (so KJV, NASB); NIV, TEV, NLT “Come over here.”
20 tn Heb “a certain one”; KJV, ASV “such a one.” The expression פְלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי (pÿloni ’almoni) is not the name of the nearest relative, but an idiom which literally means “such and such” or “a certain one” (BDB 811-12 s.v. פְלֹנִי), which is used when one wishes to be ambiguous (1 Sam 21:3; 2 Kgs 6:8). Certainly Boaz would have known his relative’s name, especially in such a small village, and would have uttered his actual name. However the narrator refuses to record his name in a form of poetic justice because he refused to preserve Mahlon’s “name” (lineage) by marrying his widow (see 4:5, 9-10). This close relative, who is a literary foil for Boaz, refuses to fulfill the role of family guardian. Because he does nothing memorable, he remains anonymous in a chapter otherwise filled with names. His anonymity contrasts sharply with Boaz’s prominence in the story and the fame he attains through the child born to Ruth. Because the actual name of this relative is not recorded, the translation of this expression is difficult since contemporary English style expects either a name or title. This is usually supplied in modern translations: “friend” (NASB, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NLT), “so-and-so” (JPS, NJPS). Perhaps “Mr. So-And-So!” or “Mr. No-Name!” makes the point. For discussion see Adele Berlin, Poetics and Interpretation of Biblical Narrative, 99-101; R. L. Hubbard, Jr., Ruth (NICOT), 233-35; F. W. Bush, Ruth, Esther (WBC), 196-97. In the present translation “John Doe” is used since it is a standard designation for someone who is a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown.
21 tn Heb “and he turned aside” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “And he went over.”
22 tn Heb “in order to raise up the name of the deceased over his inheritance” (NASB similar).
23 tn Heb “be cut off” (so NASB, NRSV); NAB “may not perish.”
24 tn Heb “and from the gate of his place” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “from the court of his birth place”; NIV “from the town records.”