The witnesses present at the transaction between Boaz and “ploni almoni” deliver a two-part testimony, which is highly prophetic. It foretells what would happen to the house of Ruth. In the previous blog post, we saw that the first part of the prophecy speaks of the first coming of Christ. The next verse speaks of His second coming.
Ruth 4
12 And your house will be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah from the offspring that the LORD will give you from this young woman.
The House of Perez
Ruth’s house would become like the house of Perez, who bore Tamar. This is a special story in this context, because the Levirate marriage also occurs in the history of Tamar. In Genesis 38, we read that Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah took a wife for his firstborn, Er, named Tamar. But Er did what was evil in God’s sight, and therefore He killed him.
The Levirate Marriage
Then the brother-in-law marriage takes effect, and Tamar is given to Onan. But Onan (like ploni almoni) had no intention of fathering offspring in his deceased brother’s name, and so he too is killed (v. 9-10). Then one son remains, Shelah, but he is too young to marry Tamar, and Judah requests that Tamar wait until he is of age. But Judah did not intend to give Shelah to Tamar, for he was afraid of losing this son as well (v. 11).
Tamar’s Cunning
When Shelah is old enough, Tamar sees that she is not being given to him as his wife and takes matters into her own hands. She disguises herself as a prostitute and sits by the roadside where Judah passes. They have sexual intercourse, without Judah knowing that she is his own daughter-in-law. Three months later, Tamar discovers she is pregnant with Judah’s child.
Perez and Zerah
Tamar is pregnant with twins, and during the birth, the first reaches out his hand but withdraws it. Then the other is born first, and she names him Perez, which means “break.” Zerah is then born, which means “rising light.”
An Interruption
Zerah’s birth is a depiction of the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 60:1), which would be interrupted. This situation comes about because of Judah’s transgression (Romans 11:11). The interruption is symbolized by the birth of Perez. What is noteworthy in this connection is that the entire chapter 38 is an interruption in the history of Joseph, who is also a foreshadowing of Christ.
Back to Ruth
The book of Ruth begins with a Jewish family leaving for Moab, where they experience great suffering. After a break of years abroad, they return to the land, poor and destitute, and meet their redeemer there, who gives them back their land and marries Ruth.
In Him is strength
Boaz is a representation of the resurrected Christ. In Him is strength, resurrection power. Ruth represents the Jewish people returning to the land after being scattered among the nations. After this interruption in dealings with Israel, God will establish a new (marriage) covenant with this people.
First coming
Ruth would become like Rachel and Leah, who both built the house of Israel. From the house of Israel would come the Messiah. We saw that this part of the prophecy speaks of the first coming of the Messiah.
Second coming
Ruth’s house would also become like the house of Perez. Perez is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:3). The book of Ruth describes how the “house of David” is established in Bethlehem (4:22) and, after a brief hiatus, Israel will meet and marry her Redeemer, the true Boaz (Isaiah 54:5). This is a foretelling of the new covenant that God will make with His people (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hosea 2:18) at the Second Coming.