QUESTION: In Matt. 22:2424Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. (Matthew 22:24) Moses said if a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. In Matt. 1:55And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Matthew 1:5) it says that Boaz begat Obed of Ruth. Boaz said he was taking Ruth to be his wife to raise up the name of the dead, Mahlon, upon his inheritance (Ruth 4:1010Moreover 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. (Ruth 4:10)). It seems Mahlon's name was lost and the name of Boaz is the only one remembered.
ANSWER: Boaz purchased all that his kinsman had sold, and took Ruth, and she became his wife. He fulfilled the intent of the Scriptures by raising up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
QUESTION: It is said of the Lord: "In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation?”
As Obed was born to Naomi, so was Jesus born to the remnant in Judah. Shepherds abiding in the field at night were the first to hear the joyful news. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Thus the son of Boaz and Ruth is accounted as the son of Naomi: that is, Judah's child and son. Although a son, yet he bore the relationship of redeemer to Naomi. Did not the women say, "He shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age"? As each year rolls by, this has been fulfilled a thousand times.
W. Bothwell