Q. Since it says Boaz was a family member of Ruth’s husband, would he have attended their wedding? I thought in Jewish culture the weddings were huge things, would they have met previous to when the Bible story started?
If Mahlon had married Ruth in Bethlehem, I think Boaz would most likely have been present, as a close relative of his mother. But Mahlon met and married Ruth in Moab, and I don’t think that extended family members would have traveled there for the wedding. However, I am not an expert in the ancient culture, and if others know more I hope they will comment.
Author: Christopher R Smith
The Rev. Dr. Christopher R. Smith is an an ordained minister, a writer, and a biblical scholar. He was active in parish and student ministry for twenty-five years. He was a consulting editor to the International Bible Society (now Biblica) for The Books of the Bible, an edition of the New International Version (NIV) that presents the biblical books according to their natural literary outlines, without chapters and verses. His Understanding the Books of the Bible study guide series is keyed to this format. He was also a consultant to Tyndale House for the Immerse Bible, an edition of the New Living Translation (NLT) that similarly presents the Scriptures in their natural literary forms, without chapters and verses or section headings.
He has a B.A. from Harvard in English and American Literature and Language, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Gordon-Conwell, and a Ph.D. in the History of Christian Life and Thought, with a minor concentration in Bible, from Boston College, in the joint program with Andover Newton Theological School.
View all posts by Christopher R Smith
Good Question 