Questions From Readers

Why did the man called "So-and-so" say it would ruin his own inheritance if he  married Ruth? (Ruth 4:1, 6) 

If So-and-so o r someone else married Ruth and she gave birth to a son, that son would inherit Elimelech's land. How would this "ruin" So-and-so's inheritance"?  The Bible does not say, but there are some possible ways.

. First, the money he spent would seem to be a waste, for Elimelech's land ultimately would not be his. It would go to Ruth's son

. Second, he would have the responsibility to feed and care for both Naomi and Ruth.

. Third, if Ruth bore other children by So-and-so, they would share in the inheritance with any children he had.

. Fourth, if So-and-so did not have other children of his own, a son Ruth bore would have rights to Elimelech's and So-and-so's land. He would thus lose his inheritance to help Naomi.  He preferred to allow the next repurchaser in line, Boaz, to take on that responsibility.  Boaz did so because he wanted "to restore the name of of the dead man to his inheritance." - RUTH 4:10.

So-and-so was apparently more interested in maintaining his own  name and inheritance. Selfishness dominated his thinking. But rather than preserve his name, So-and-so's name  became lost to history. He also missed out on the special privilege that Boaz received, to be listed in the line of descent leading to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  What a sad result for So-and-so because he selfishly avoided the opportunity to help someone in need! - MATTHEW 1:5; LUKE 3:23, 32. 

Next time: Use Creation to Teach Your Children About Jehovah

From the jw.org publications