Judges 4
Ruth 4 is the final chapter of the Book of Ruth, and it unfolds around the process by which Boaz officially takes Ruth as his wife. This chapter contains the central themes of the customs of the kinsman-redeemer (goel) system and the restoration of family and community that follows. It also beautifully shows how the stories of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi finally bear fruit through God’s providence.
1verseThe children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, when Ehud was dead.
2verseThe LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
3verseThe children of Israel cried to the LORD, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years.
4verseNow Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time.
5verseShe lived under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6verseShe sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him, “Hasn’t the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and lead the way to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
7verseI will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.’”
8verseBarak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”
9verseShe said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10verseBarak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him.
11verseNow Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.
12verseThey told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.
13verseSisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, to the river Kishon.
14verseDeborah said to Barak, “Go; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Hasn’t the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15verseThe LORD confused Sisera, all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled away on his feet.
16verseBut Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth of the Gentiles; and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword. There was not a man left.
17verseHowever Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
18verseJael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; don’t be afraid.” He came in to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
19verseHe said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him.
20verseHe said to her, “Stand in the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’”
21verseThen Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground, for he was in a deep sleep; so he fainted and died.
22verseBehold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek.” He came to her; and behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent peg was in his temples.
23verseSo God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel on that day.
24verseThe hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
Flow and Structure by Scene
| Verses 1-8: | Boaz carries out the procedure at the city gate, before relatives who have the first right to redeem the property and before witnesses. Because the nearest relative feels burdened by the property and Ruth’s marriage, he transfers his right to Boaz. |
| Verses 9-12: | Boaz officially declares in the presence of all the witnesses that he will redeem Naomi’s property and take Ruth as his wife. The witnesses pray that God’s blessing will come upon this household. |
| Verses 13-17: | A son named Obed is born to Ruth and Boaz, and through this, Naomi’s family line and the property are restored. Neighboring women celebrate the blessing that the child has been given to Naomi. |
| Verses 18-22: | As the lineage from Obed’s genealogy onward to King David is mentioned, the story of Ruth is connected to Israel’s history. |
Overall Meaning
Ruth 4 shows how personal faithfulness and love lead to the salvation and restoration of the community. The devotion and sense of responsibility shown through Ruth and Boaz remind us that even in the midst of hardship, God’s careful guidance can bring blessing. Also, although the ending of Ruth is the story of an ordinary household, it reveals God’s great plan and love for all of Israel through the genealogy that leads to the ancestors of King David.
Points for Reflection
- Remember that God brings about great purposes and history through our small choices and faithfulness.
- Even in difficult circumstances, reflect on how when you practice love with a sense of responsibility, an unexpected path of blessing and restoration may open.
- Through Ruth 4, let’s think about the importance of love and community restoration that the meaning of “redeeming the property” (redemption) holds for us today.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Let’s check whether we have the responsibility to serve and love difficult neighbors around us or people who need commitment.
- Let’s act in faith, believing that our daily decisions and faithfulness can be included in God’s greater plan.
- Pray and put into practice what roles and responsibilities you should carry out within the community and family.
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