내가 이 문제를 여기 앉은 사람들 앞에서 그리고 내 백성의 장로들 앞에서 자네가 그것을 사도록 말하고 권해야겠다는 생각이 들었네. 자네가 그것을 사 주겠다면 그렇게 하도록 하게. 자네가 원하지 않는다면 내게 말해 주게. 내가 알아서 하겠네. 자네 말고는 그것을 사 줄 사람이 없고 자네 다음엔 나일세.” 그러자 그 사람이 말했습니다. “내가 사 주겠네.”
이 구절의 의미
In this verse, Boaz speaks to a relative about the land that belongs to Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law. Boaz is asking if the relative will buy and redeem the land, or if he won't, to clearly say so. The relative agrees to redeem it.
어린이를 위한 설명
Imagine you and your friend both own parts of a big cookie. Your friend wants to give their part to you but needs to check with another friend first. They ask, 'Do you want my part of the cookie?' and the friend says, 'Yes, I'll take it.' It's like that, but with land instead of a cookie.
역사적 배경
The book of Ruth was likely written by Samuel or someone close to his time, around the 10th century BCE. The story is set in the time of the judges and reflects the cultural practices of land inheritance and redemption within Israelite society.
오늘의 적용
In a modern scenario, imagine you are an employee who discovers that a colleague has a chance to take over a project they are passionate about but is hesitant. You approach another colleague to see if they are interested in taking over the project, but they decline, allowing the first colleague to step in and fulfill their passion.
'Redeem it' refers to the legal process where a family member or close relative can buy back property that was sold by another family member to pay debts or other obligations.
Why did Boaz need to ask the relative?
According to ancient Israelite law, a closer relative had the first right to redeem the property. Boaz needed to ask to ensure the relative was aware of the opportunity and to fulfill legal requirements.
What would have happened if the relative refused?
If the relative refused, Boaz would have been next in line to redeem the land, as he was a close relative and had expressed an interest in taking care of Naomi and Ruth.
How does this relate to Christian themes?
This verse highlights themes of redemption and family obligations, which are central to Christian teachings. It demonstrates the importance of caring for family and fulfilling one's responsibilities.