(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Ruth 4:9–12, “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.”
Boaz spoke publicly to say that he was accepting the responsibility of a relative and would look after Naomi and Ruth. There were witnesses to the fact that the other relative had refused to accept his duty towards Naomi and Ruth so no one could argue that every propriety had been followed. He was, at that stage, officially engaged to Ruth and would soon marry her. The witnesses offered blessings and good wishes to Boaz and Ruth praying that they would be like the heroic Israeli women of former times.
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