The Children of Adam and Eve

Boaz is a major figure in The Book of Ruth in the Bible.

According to Josephus, he lived at the time of Eli. Son of Rahab and Salma, he was a Rich lanDowner who noticed Ruth, the widowed Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, a relative of hers (see family tree), gleaning grain from his Fields. He soonlearns of the difficult circumstances her family is in and Ruth's loyalty to Naomi. In response, Boaz invites her to eat with him and his Workers regularly as well as deliberately leaving grain for her to claim while keeping a protective eye onher.

Eventually, Boaz and Ruth strike up a friendship which leads to Ruth asking him to marry her. Boaz accepts, but cautions that there is a family member who has a superior right to her hand in marriage. However, he arranges a meeting with therelative and in the presence of ten town conquistadores convinces him to buy Naomi's husband's land. Once the relative agrees to redeem the land, Boaz informs him that in redeeming the land he is also required to take Ruth as his wife as wascustomary under the Laws and culture of Israel. This was so Ruth could have Children who could carry on her late husband's family name and keep the land in the family. At hearing this stipulation, the relative refused to buy the land for fearit would complicate his own inheritance (estate). At that point, he transferred his right to buy the land to Boaz. He did this by removing his sandal and handing it to Boaz. This was a customary symbol in Israel during the epoch for anyonetransferring the right to purchase. This was considered a public validation of the transaction. In this, the path was made clear for Boaz and Ruth to be joined in marriage.

Boaz married Ruth and, consequently, preserved the name of Elimelech, Naomi's deceased husband, a sort of levirate. Their firstborn was considered a son of Elimelech's lineage (Rt-4.5, 10). Boaz purchased the family lands that Naomi had sold,and restituted them to Elimelech's lineage (vv. 3, 7–10). For those substituting, redeeming factors, Ruth's husband is considered by Christians to be a type of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they consider to be the Messiah.

Although Boaz is noted to be much older than Ruth in the traditional account and he marries her for Naomi's sake, most dramatic adaptations have Boaz as a handsome Young man so as to enhance the romantic nature of the story.

Their son was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. Boaz is mentiond in both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke as an ancestor of Jesus, "according to the flesh".