Kinsmen Redeemer

So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!” Ruth 4:8-10

There are no men to carry on Elimelek’s family name. Naomi is not able to provide another son to fulfill the levirate marriage requirement to provide an heir to the family name through Ruth. A kinsman redeemer, a near relative, is able to step in an redeem the property, thus keeping the property in the family name. Boaz who is the son of Rahab who helped the spies in Jericho, is the second closest relative. The closest relative declines to redeem the property, so Boaz steps in, redeeming the property and taking Ruth as his wife to keep the property in the Mahlon’s family name. Boaz and Ruth have a baby, Obed, who later fathers Jesse, the father of David.