SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:20
Y dijo Noemí a su nuera: Sea él bendito del SEÑOR, que aun no ha dejado su misericordia ni para con los vivos ni para con los muertos. Y le tornó a decir Noemí: Nuestro pariente es aquel varón, y de nuestros redentores es.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ruth 2:20
Verse 20. To the living and to the dead.] Naomi and Ruth were the living; and they were also the representatives of Elimelech and Mahlon, who were dead. Naomi was of the family; and Ruth, though not of the family, was a representative of one of its deceased branches, being the widow of Mahlon. One of our next kinsmen.] wnylagm miggoaleynu, of our redeemers, one who has the right to redeem the forfeited inheritance of the family. The word lag goel signifies a near kinsman-one who by the Mosaic law had a right to redeem an inheritance, and also was permitted to vindicate or revenge the death of his relation by killing the slayer, if he found him out of the cities of refuge.
In order to prevent families from running to decay, if a brother died childless, the next unmarried brother took his widow; and the children from that marriage were reputed the children of the deceased brother. The office of the next akin was threefold: 1. It belonged to him to buy back the forfeited inheritance, or the liberty of him who had been obliged to sell himself for a servant. 2. It was his right to avenge the blood of any of the family who had been killed, by killing the murderer. 3. It belonged to him to take the widow of a deceased brother or relative, if he died childless. If the nearest akin in any case refused, he was treated with indignity, lost his right to the inheritance, and the next akin to him might come forward and take the widow, &c., as in the case of Boaz. See chap. iv. 4-10.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, blessed be he of the Lord , etc.] Or the Lord bless him with all kind of blessings, temporal and spiritual; and as he has blessed him already, may he be blessed more and more: who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead ; he had been kind to Elimelech and to his sons, who were now dead, and he continued his kindness to the reliefs of them, Naomi and Ruth, who were living, and was kind to them for the sake of the dead; and showing kindness to them expressed his respect to the memory of the dead: and Naomi said unto her ; continued her speech to her, and added to what she had said: the man is near of kin to us ; a near relation of ours, meaning by her husband’s side: yea, one of our next kinsmen ; the nearest we have, there was but one nearer than he: the word for kinsman here is “Goel”, a redeemer; for to such who were in the degree of kindred as Boaz was, and he that was nearer still than he to them, belonged the right of redemption, and therefore were called by the name of “Goel”, a redeemer, as Ben Melech observes; they had a right to avenge the blood of the slain, to redeem their houses and possessions, if sold or mortgaged, and their persons by marrying them, and raising up seed to a deceased brother, or kinsman.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-23 - It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her ow industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, a Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hat home, or tempt them to tell a lie; but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they have done otherwise. It is a good question for us to ask ourselves ever night, Where have I gleaned to-day? What improvement have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn to a good account When the Lord deals bountifully with us, let us not be found in an other field, nor seeking for happiness and satisfaction in the creature. We lose Divine favours, if we slight them. Ruth dutifull observed her mother's directions. And when the harvest was ended, sh kept her aged mother company at home. Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land; her vanity ended in disgrace, Ge 34. Ruth kep at home, and helped to maintain her mother, and went out on no othe errand than to get provision for her; her humility and industry ende in preferment __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ותאמר 559 נעמי 5281 לכלתה 3618 ברוך 1288 הוא 1931 ליהוה 3068 אשׁר 834 לא 3808 עזב 5800 חסדו 2617 את 854 החיים 2416 ואת 854 המתים 4191 ותאמר 559 לה נעמי 5281 קרוב 7138 לנו האישׁ 376 מגאלנו 1350 הוא׃ 1931
