Ruth 4:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In addressing the question of why the seven brothers shared a single wife, the Sadducees cite Moses, although their narrative seems to be fabricated, in my view. The third brother would be reluctant to marry her since his two brothers had already passed away; had he chosen to take her as his spouse, it is unlikely that the fourth or fifth would have proceeded to do so. Similarly, if the initial ones had accepted the situation, the sixth and seventh would surely have refrained, fearing the same tragic outcome—such concerns were prevalent among the Jewish people. While some today may exhibit similar fears, the Jews of that time were even more cautious, often shunning such unions despite legal obligations. This explains why Ruth, a Moabitess, chose to marry a more distant relative when a closer kin was available, and why Tamar (Genesis 38:11) felt compelled to deceive her father-in-law to avoid remaining without offspring.

When Ruth and her mother-in-law arrived in the land of Israel, it was ordained through her prayers that she should wed a man from Abraham's lineage, whom she initially believed to be the closest relative. However, he declined the marriage proposal, and as a result, Ruth was united with Boaz in the presence of ten elders who bore witness to their union. Although Boaz had earlier asserted that he could not marry, he was now joined to Ruth and received blessings from the ten elders.

Boaz wed Ruth, recognizing her faith, with the intention of establishing a royal lineage from their righteous union. For Boaz, an older man, the marriage was not for personal fulfillment but for the glory of God; it was motivated not by physical desire but by a commitment to the principles of divine law, aiming to restore the heritage of a family member, prioritizing devotion over mere affection. Though advanced in age, he remained vibrant in his faith.