that if he buys the land, he must also inherit the former landowner’s widow, Naomi, and her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth. Boaz, the next eligible kinsman-redeemer, then purchases the land and also acquires Ruth for marriage. Boaz declares this redemption in the midst of 10 witnesses so that there is no question regarding the integrity of his actions. The genealogy in 4:17–22 may actually be the main reason why the book of Ruth was written. It shows that Ruth and Boaz had a son, Obed, whose son was