Although Boaz desires to marry Ruth, the law of kinsman redemption seems to prevent such a union. Ruth must first seek her dead husband’s nearest next of kin to satisfy the law (AMBROSE). The marriage of Ruth and Boaz has a profound symbolic meaning; it prefigures salvation of all peoples in Christ and his church (ISIDORE OF SEVILLE, CHRYSOSTOM). The elders’ blessing of Ruth’s marriage is prophetic as it looks toward the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (THEODORET).