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6. Lest I mar. The eagerness of the nearer kinsman to purchase the land when the sole factor involved appeared to be profit, and his immediate loss of interest upon learning of the possibility of self-sacrifice and financial loss, seem to mark him as an avaricious man, like the rich fool of Luke 12:13-21. The nearer kinsman is not willing to marry Ruth. Evidently he had no children of his own to inherit his property. If he should marry Ruth, the first child he might have by her would be counted as the children of Ruth’s deceased husband. Then both the parcel of land that he might buy from Naomi, and also the kinsman’s own property, could pass to Ruth’s children. The fact that Ruth was a Moabittess seems not to have affected his decision.

On his part Boaz may have had two reasons for desiring to buy the parcel of land and to marry Ruth. He may have been a widower with one or more grown sons. It is also evident that Boaz sincerely respected and loved Ruth. He did not mind the fact that the child he might have by her would be counted the child of her deceased husband, and that the property that he purchased from Naomi would go to her children and not to the children he may have had by a previous wife. Furthermore, Boaz was obviously not affected by prejudice. His own mother may have been Rahab of Jericho (see on ch. 1:1).