Why is Obed called Naomi's son, and what
did Boaz mean by this statement? “Moreover
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). He
was actually stating here that part of his intention for marrying Ruth is to
restore the family lineage of Mahlon who was the deceased son of Naomi. Thus, when the child is born the people and
elders of the city remember that they had made themselves witnesses to the
intention of Boaz (Ruth 4:11). Acting as witnesses, the women neighbors name
the child Obed, which means “a servant, to thee, to nourish, and comfort, and
assist thee; which duty children owe to their progenitors.”[1]
These
same neighborly women also state, “There
is a son born to Naomi” (Ruth 4:17). By this we deduce that these women
knew of Naomi’s loss. She had lost two
sons and a husband and had nobody who would take their place as caretaker for
her in her old age, continue her husband’s name, or receive her son’s
inheritance. Obed served in all three
capacities and became a great joy to Naomi and one who would carry on the
family name. Thus, he became her son
(grandson) by restoring Naomi’s family and their part in the lineage of King
David and the Messiah.
According
to the opinion of Mary Sisseck, “Naomi has now been given a child (a child is
born) a grandchild from one of her dead sons! The law determined that Obed was
Naomi's child! Genealogy under law determined that Obed was also her
grandchild!”[2] The
question then serves to teach us that Boaz, acting as the kinsman-redeemer,
provided a miracle for Naomi, which is comparable to the miracle of salvation
that Jesus Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer, has given to us. Through Jesus Christ we have been given a new
life through the miracle of restoration and He, like Obed was to Naomi, has
become our nourishment, comfort, and assistance.
[1] Wesley, John. "Commentary on Ruth 4".
"John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible".
.
1754.
NOTE: I wrote this as part of a homework assignment on September 23, 2004, for a Women of the Bible class taught at Parkersburg Bible College by Sis. Nelson.