John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"And I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it." — Ruth 4:4 (ASV)
And I thought to advertise you
To give him notice of it; or "I said" F7 ; he said in his heart and mind, purposing to do it; or he said it to Ruth, promising her that he would do it:
saying, buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my
people ;
or before those that sat there, even the elders, as witnesses of the purchase:
if you will redeem it, redeem it :
for it was redeemable by a near kinsman according to the law, even when said to another, in (Leviticus 25:25) ,
but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know ;
what to do in this affair, whether to redeem it or not:
for there is none to redeem it besides you, and I am after you ;
he was the first, and Boaz was the next near kinsman, to whom the right of redemption belonged:
and he said, I will redeem it :
he chose to make the purchase, he liked the land, which he probably full well knew, and it might lie near his own, and make a good addition to it; and as the widow was determined, and under a necessity to sell, he might expect to have it at a cheap rate; all which might induce him at once to agree to be the purchaser.