R2-17: The True Biblical Meaning Of The Kinsman Redeemer-Part Three

We’re continuing on with our discussion today of the Kinsman Redeemer.

First, an important reminder folks.

Although the word GO-EL is usually translated as “Kinsman Redeemer”, that’s not really what the word means.

This word instead means a person who is a “near relative”…

The “Kinsman Redeemer” was just ONE out of many roles that this GO-EL or near relative was required to fulfill.

Now in Hebrew society, the nearest relative after the parents was the first brother…

Then it was the uncle on the father’s side…

After that, it was the uncle on the mother’s side…

And then from that point onwards it could be grandparents and then 1st and 2nd cousins and so on and so forth.

The important thing to keep in mind here is that the father’s side carried more weight than the mother’s side…

And if there was intermarriage, of course it was only the Hebrew side that mattered.

This is one of the main reasons why the Hebrews shunned intermarriage…

Because the death of the Hebrew male family leader could result in tribal lands being lost to gentiles.

That would’ve been a nightmare.

But here’s the thing.

The same fear arose even within the nation of Israel when a Hebrew from one clan married a Hebrew from another clan…

Or if a member of a clan married outside of their tribe.

From a Torah perspective, both of these situation caused problems concerning land inheritance.

Because the Torah clearly states that the land assigned to the Israelite clans and tribes should remain in their possession forever.

So here again is where the GO-EL played a key role in making sure the land from one tribe wouldn’t be lost to another due to intermarriage between different clan or tribal members.

Or in the case of the worst nightmare of all: Hebrew land being lost to a gentile.

Therefore, one of the most common duties of a GO-EL was to buy land from a kinsman who was about to lose it in order to keep the land in the family.

And when I say “family” here, I don’t mean the family unit as we modern folks understand it.

I’m talking about the whole clan or tribe.

It’s true that the land more often than not was kept within the immediate family’s possession…

But the real goal was to keep that land within the clan or tribe (what we would call the “extended family”).

Now there’s an interesting word that was used to describe the act of a nearby relative stepping in to purchase land on behalf of one of his kinsmen.

That words is “redeem”.

That’s right.

The GO-EL or “near relative” REDEEMED the land on behalf of the clan or tribe.

This was a HUGE financial sacrifice for the GO-EL to pay.

In fact, in some cases, the amount of money needed to keep the land within the clan or tribe was so big that the nearest relative would outright refuse to pay the price.

The sacrifice was too big and could put him in a dangerous situation financially.

Understand that the GO-EL’s obligation to step in and redeem the land was NOT a legal obligation.

It wasn’t like he’d be thrown in jail or something if he didn’t do it.

It was considered a moral or spiritual obligation driven more by conscience than anything.

But sometimes there were huge financial advantages for the next of kin to buy the property.

Because once he bought it, technically it was his…

And then he could use that newly acquired real estate to make money by farming the land or even renting it out.

Having said that, for a near relative to step in and buy land to keep it within the family was recognized as a huge sacrifice and an act that brought much respect from others.

Now you may be wondering what in the heck does all this have to do with the story of Ruth?

Relax and be patient my friend.

Because you’re going to see it has everything to do with Ruth’s story…

And you’re going to be able to see and understand things your average Bible teacher or preacher will never grasp…

Unless he had someone to carefully explain it to him…

Which is what I’m doing now.

So see ya all next time when we discuss yet another key role of the “Kinsman Redeemer”, that of the blood avenger.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Messiah redeemed us
from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written:
‘Cursed is everyone who
is hung on a pole.'”
-Galatians 3:13