41 And Boaz hath gone up to the gate, and sitteth there, and lo, the redeemer is passing by of whom Boaz had spoken, and he saith, 'Turn aside, sit down here, such a one, such a one;' and he turneth aside and sitteth down. 2 And he taketh ten men of the elders of the city, and saith, 'Sit down here;' and they sit down. 3 And he saith to the redeemer, 'A portion of the field which 'is' to our brother, to Elimelech, hath Naomi sold, who hath come back from the fields of Moab; 4 and I said, I uncover thine ear, saying, Buy before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people; if thou dost redeem—redeem, and if none doth redeem—declare to me, and I know, for there is none save thee to redeem, and I after thee.' And he saith, I redeem 'it'.' 5 And Boaz saith, 'In the day of thy buying the field from the hand of Naomi, then from Ruth the Moabitess, wife of the dead, thou hast bought 'it', to raise up the name of the dead over his inheritance.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ruth 4:1-5
Commentary on Ruth 4:1-8
(Read Ruth 4:1-8)
This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willing to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all must make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites, without guile. Honesty will be found the best policy.