Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ruth 4:2
And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
2. the elders ] possessed magisterial authority, and could be summoned to deal not only with criminal charges (Deu 19:12; Deu 21:2-4, 1Ki 21:8 ff.), but with cases affecting the rights of a family (Deu 25:7-9).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Every city was governed by elders (see Deu 19:12; Jdg 8:14). For the number ten, compare Exo 18:25. Probably the presence of, at least, ten elders was necessary to make a lawful public assembly, as among modern Jews ten (a minyon) are necessary to constitute a synagogue.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. He took ten men] Probably it required this number to constitute a court. How simple and how rational was this proceeding!
1. The man who had a suit went to the city gates.
2. Here he stopped till the person with whom he had the suit came to the gate on his way to his work.
3. He called him by name, and he stopped and sat down.
4. Then ten elders were called, and they came and sat down.
5. When all this was done, the appellant preferred his suit.
6. Then the appellee returned his answer.
7. When the elders heard the case, and the response of the appellee, they pronounced judgment, which judgment was always according to the custom of the place.
8. When this was done, the people who happened to be present witnessed the issue.
And thus the business was settled without lawyers or legal casuistry. A question of this kind, in one of our courts of justice, in these enlightened times, would require many days’ previous preparation of the attorney, and several hours’ arguing between counsellor Botherum and counsellor Borum, till even an enlightened and conscientious judge would find it extremely difficult to decide whether Naomi might sell her own land, and whether Boaz or Peloni might buy it! O, glorious uncertainty of modern law!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He took two men, to be umpires or witnesses between them; for though two or three witnesses were sufficient, yet in weightier matters they used more. And
ten was the usual number among the Jews, in causes of matrimony and divorce, and translation of inheritances; who were both judges of the causes, and witnesses of the fact. See 1Ki 21:8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. he took ten men of the elders ofthe cityas witnesses. In ordinary circumstances, two or threewere sufficient to attest a bargain; but in cases of importance, suchas matrimony, divorce, conveyancing of property, it was the Jewishpractice to have ten (1Ki 21:8).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he took ten men of the elders of the city,…. Who were such, not merely in age but in office, who were the heads of thousands, fifties, and tens; ten of whom were a quorum to do business in judiciary affairs, to determine such matters as Boaz had propose, as to whom the right of redemption of a brother and kinsman’s widow, and her estate, belonged, and who were the proper witnesses of the refusal of the one to do it, and of the other’s doing it and from hence the Jews e gather, that the blessing of the bride and bridegroom at their marriage is not to be done by less than ten persons:
and said, sit down here, and they sat down; and so made a full court.
e Misnah Megillah, c. 4. sect. 3. T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 7. 1. Midrash Ruth, fol. 35. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. Elders of the city Whose years and judgment gave weight to all their decisions. Why ten were called does not appear, but perhaps that was the number required to constitute a court.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, “You sit down here.” And they sat down.’
The mystery deepened when Boaz requested that ten city elders should also sit with them. They were there to act as witnesses to the transaction that was about to take place. It may, however, be that ‘ten’ indicates ‘a reasonable number’ (compare Jacob’s ‘he has changed my wages ten times’ – Gen 31:7).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rth 4:2. Ten men This number of witnesses, it seems, was necessary for the ratification of marriages, divorces, and the conveyance of right and property. See More Nevoch. pars 3: cap. 49: and Bertram de Rep. Jud. cap. 9: Boaz, in representing the distress to which Naomi, the sister of their brother, 1:e. their common relation, found herself reduced after her return from Moab, tells the kinsman, that, in order to supply her present necessities, she designed to sell the parcel of land which belonged to Elimelech; and that she had a right to do so, in such a state of necessity, is supposed by the best writers on this subject. See Selden de Success. in Bonis, cap. 15: p. 52.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Rth 4:2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
Ver. 2. And he said, Sit ye down here. ] Elders they were called for their gravity and authority. Ten, haply, to immind them of the Ten Commandments, the rule of their sovereignty. Sit they must, to teach them to be of a sedate and considerate spirit, in hearing and determining controversies.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the elders: Exo 18:21, Exo 18:22, Exo 21:8, Deu 29:10, Deu 31:28, 1Ki 21:8, Pro 31:23, Lam 5:14, Act 6:12
Reciprocal: Jos 20:4 – at the entering Job 29:7 – General Isa 8:2 – I took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rth 4:2. He took ten men To be witnesses; for though two or three witnesses were sufficient, yet in weightier matters they used more. And ten was the usual number among the Jews in causes of matrimony and divorce, and translation of inheritances; who were both judges of the causes and witnesses of the fact.