rsv Ruth:4:3-8 SEEK
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Then he said to the next of kin , "
Na '
omi ,
who has come back from the country of Moab ,
is selling the parcel of land which belonged to our kinsman Elim '
elech .
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So I thought I would tell you of it ,
and say ,
Buy it in the presence of those sitting here ,
and in the presence of the elders of my people .
If you will redeem it ,
redeem it ;
but if you will not ,
tell me ,
that I may know ,
for there is no one besides you to redeem it ,
and I come after you ."
And he said , "
I will redeem it ."
*
Then Bo '
az said , "
The day you buy the field from the hand of Na '
omi ,
you are also buying Ruth the Moabitess ,
the widow of the dead ,
in order to restore the name of the dead to his inheritance ."
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Then the next of kin said , "
I cannot redeem it for myself ,
lest I impair my own inheritance .
Take my right of redemption yourself ,
for I cannot redeem it ."
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Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging :
to confirm a transaction ,
the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other ,
and this was the manner of attesting in Israel .
*
So when the next of kin said to Bo '
az , "
Buy it for yourself ,"
he drew off his sandal .