In the last chapter, the other kinsman comes into the picture, whom Boaz had already mentioned to Ruth during their encounter on the threshing floor (3:12). Boaz seeks out this other kinsman, and a conversation about kinsmanship ensues.
Ruth 4
1 So Boaz went up to the gate and sat down. And behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken passed by. He said, “Turn aside and sit here, so-and-so.” So he turned aside and sat down.
2 Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here.” And they sat down.
3 Then he said to the kinsman, “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, is selling a piece of the field that belonged to our brother Elimelech.”
4 Then I said, I will reveal it to your ear, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not redeem it, tell me, and I will know; for there is none to redeem beside you, and I am after you. And he said, I, even I, will redeem.
5 And Boaz said, “On the day you acquire the field from Naomi’s hand, acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up a name for the dead on his inheritance.”
6 And the redeemer said, “I am not able to redeem, lest I destroy my inheritance. You redeem what I should redeem, for I am not able to redeem.”
ploni almoni
Boaz addresses the other redeemer as “ploni almoni,” rendered in the NBG translation as “you there” and in the Statenvertaling as “you, such a one.” This unknown person remains nameless: a kind of NN or Mr. X. It soon becomes clear that “ploni almoni” plays a dubious role. Initially, he seems willing to redeem, but it soon becomes clear that his motive is personal interest. However, as soon as it becomes clear that it not only brings him profit but also requires sacrifice, he renounces his claim.
Selfish
“Ploni almoni” was not concerned about the fate of Ruth and Naomi, but only focused on his own advantage. This redeemer remains nameless; he cannot have a name because he acted for his own gain. In a prophetic perspective, he is a type of the one who will present himself as the Messiah in the future, but in reality is a false messiah. He will present himself as the redeemer of Israel, but ultimately proves unable to fulfill his claim.
Ten men
Boaz takes ten men from the city elders to witness the meeting. We saw earlier that ten represents the words of God. The stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments (words) were written are often called the testimony (Ex. 30:6; 31:18). The law is a witness (Rom. 3:21) and provides for redemption, but cannot redeem. The ten men are witnesses to justice, but only Boaz can bring redemption.