Ruthu na EstaRuth and Esther — Sehemu ya 4Unit 4

Tafadhali fungua kwa neno la maombi.Please open with a word of prayer.

Wiki ya 4 Sura ya 4Week 4 Chapter 4

Mambo TunayoyaonaObservations

1. Lango kuu la mji wa Bethlehemu. Mahali ambapo shughuli zote za biashara zilifanyika. Soko na mahakama.1. Main gate to the city of Bethlehem. Where all business was conducted. Bazaar and courthouse.

2. Jina la mkombozi wa jamaa aliye wa karibu zaidi halikuandikwa. Boazi anamwita “rafiki yangu.” Katika Kiebrania cha asili neno hilo linaweza kumaanisha rafiki, lakini pia linaweza kumaanisha tu, mtu fulani. Kwa kweli neno hilo likawa msemo wa kawaida katika maandishi ya Kirabi wenye maana ya “bwana fulani,” yaani mtu yeyote asiyetajwa jina.2. The nearer kinsman redeemer’s name is not recorded. Boaz addresses him as “my friend.” In original Hebrew it can mean friend, but it can also mean simply, a certain someone. In fact the term became a catch phrase in Rabbinic writings to mean a John Doe.

3. Huenda mwandishi hakuandika jina lake kama aina ya hukumu juu yake, wakati jina la Boazi linakuwa la maana kubwa kweli kweli.3. It is probable that the writer didn’t record his name as a type of judgment on him while Boaz’s name becomes significant indeed.

4. Mashahidi walichaguliwa ili jambo hilo liwe na nguvu ya kisheria. Haikuwa lazima wawe kumi, lakini Boazi alitaka kuhakikisha kwamba makubaliano haya yana nguvu ya kisheria katika hali hii.4. Witnesses were chosen for a legal binding. It wasn’t necessary that it be 10 but Boaz wanted to be certain of a legal binding in this situation.

5. Kwa kuwa yeye ndiye aliyekuwa jamaa wa karibu zaidi, alikuwa na wajibu wa kimaadili wa kununua mali hiyo na kumwoa Ruthu. Kwa mujibu wa desturi, kukataa kufanya hivyo kungemletea aibu, na huenda ndiyo sababu mwandishi hakuandika jina la mtu huyo. Ruthu na mambo yake yalikuwa yamefungamana kisheria na shamba la Elimeleki, kwa hiyo kama mtu angelikomboa shamba, ilimpasa pia amkomboe Ruthu ili kuendeleza ukoo wake. Ingawa, cha kuvutia ni kwamba ukombozi wa mali (Mambo ya Walawi 25:25-28) na sheria ya ndoa ya shemeji, yaani kumwoa mjane wa ndugu (Kumbukumbu la Torati 25:5-10), yalikuwa taratibu mbili tofauti, Boazi alikusudia kushughulikia mambo yote mawili kwa wakati mmoja, na tutaona ni kwa nini.5. Since he was the nearest kinsman he had a moral obligation to buy the property and to marry Ruth. According to custom, refusal to do so would have brought disgrace upon himself, hence probably why the author didn’t record the man’s name. Ruth and her affairs were legally bound up in the field of Elimelech, so if one redeemed the land they also had to redeem Ruth to perpetuate her line. Though interestingly, the redemption of property (Lev. 25: 25-28) and the levirate law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) were separate procedures, Boaz was intent to handle both matters at the same time and we will see why.

6. Boazi ana busara ya ujanja; anamtolea kwanza shamba, na yule mtu asiyetajwa jina yuko tayari kulinunua. Kisha Boazi anaweka sharti kwamba lazima pia amwoe Ruthu. Inaonekana kwamba Elimeleki alipokufa mali yake ilipita kwa Maloni. Kisha Maloni akafa, naye akaachwa bila mrithi. Kunaweza kuwa na sababu nyingi kwa nini Naomi alikuwa na mali hii lakini bado alikuwa maskini kabisa. Huenda shamba hilo lilikuwa limewekwa rehani ili kugharimia safari yao. Huenda shamba hilo lilikuwa limekaliwa na watu wasio na haki wakati wao walipokuwa Moabu. Kwa kweli hatujui sababu, isipokuwa kwamba umaskini wake ulimlazimu kuliuza kwa mtu wa kabila lake.6. Boaz is shrewd, he offers him the land first and the unnamed man is willing to buy it. Then Boaz makes the stipulation that he must also marry Ruth. Apparently when Elimelech died his property passed to Mahlon. Then Mahlon died and so he was left without an heir. There could be many reasons why Naomi had this property and yet was still destitute. The land could have been mortgaged to pay for their way. The land could have had squatters on it from their time in Moab. We really don’t know why except that her poverty required that she sell it to someone in her tribe.

7. Mtu huyo anaposikia kwamba lazima pia amwoe Ruthu, si Naomi ambaye amepita umri wa kuzaa, anakataa kwa sababu jambo hilo lingehatarisha urithi wake mwenyewe na wa wazao wake, kwa kuwa sehemu ya urithi wake ingeenda kwa mrithi wa Ruthu, na ingempasa kutumia fedha zake mwenyewe kuwatunza Ruthu na Naomi. Hakuwa tayari kufanya hivyo. Boazi, yule mtu mwenye heshima, alikuwa tayari.7. When the man hears he must also marry Ruth, not Naomi who is past childbearing age, he refused on the grounds that it would jeopardize his inheritance to himself and his descendants because a portion of his inheritance would go to Ruth’s heir and he would have to spend his own money to provide for Ruth and Naomi. He was unwilling to do this. Boaz, the honorable one, was willing.

8. Kwa kumweleza kwanza mtu huyo wajibu wa kununua mali hiyo, naye akakubali kuinunua, kisha kana kwamba ni jambo la ziada akamwambia pia lazima amwoe Ruthu, naye akakataa, hakuna shaka kwamba mtu huyu anakwepa wajibu wake kwa mujibu wa sheria ya Musa. Yuko tayari kubeba aibu ya kutotii kwa ajili ya fedha. Lakini ni kwa werevu ulioje Boazi anavyolishughulikia jambo hili. Anaanza kwa kumjulisha mtu huyo habari ya kununua shamba kutoka kwa Naomi, mjane mzee aliyepita umri wa kuzaa. Mwanzoni mtu huyo anakubali. Ni wazi kwamba anafikiri atalipata shamba Naomi atakapokufa. Huenda Naomi hataishi muda mrefu, na haitagharimu sana kumlisha vya kutosha. Hizo zote ni nafasi nzuri kabisa za kuongeza kipato chake. Kisha Boazi analipua jambo la kushtua: siku utakayonunua shamba, itakupasa pia kumchukua Ruthu na kumwinulia mtoto kwa jina la marehemu mumewe. Ni wazi kwamba Boazi alikuwa amefanya uchunguzi wake kuhusu jamaa huyu wa karibu zaidi na alishuku kwamba hili lingekuwa tatizo kwake. Hatujui ni kwa nini. Huenda hakuwa tajiri vya kutosha kubeba mzigo mkubwa zaidi wa kifedha, au aliogopa kumwoa Mmoabu au kupatwa na hatima ile ile iliyompata Maloni, au huenda fedha zilikuwa na maana zaidi kwake kuliko kuitii sheria, na ninashuku kwamba kwa namna fulani Boazi alilijua hili. Labda tabia na sifa ya mtu huyo zilijulikana kama vile sifa za Boazi na Ruthu zilivyojulikana. Ilionekana kwamba katika mji huu mdogo kila mtu alijua kila kitu kuhusu kila mtu.8. In first presenting the man with the obligation to purchase the property and the man’s willingness to buy it, then as an afterthought also saying he must marry Ruth and he refusing, there is no doubt this man is shirking his responsibility according to Mosaic law. He is willing to bear the shame of disobedience for money. Cunning, though, how Boaz handles this. He starts with informing the man of purchasing the land from Naomi, an old widow beyond child-bearing age. The man at first agrees. Clearly he is thinking he will get the land when Naomi dies. Naomi probably won’t live long and shouldn’t cost much to keep her adequately fed. Those are all pretty good odds for increasing his income. Then Boaz drops the bombshell, on the day you buy the field you will also have to take on Ruth and raise up a child in her late husband’s name. Clearly Boaz had done his research regarding this nearer kinsman and suspected this would be a problem for him. We don’t know why. It could be that he was not wealthy enough to take on the bigger financial burden, or that he feared marrying a Moabite or suffering the same fate as Mahlon had, or it could be that money meant more to him than obedience to the law and I suspect somehow Boaz knew this. Perhaps the man’s character and reputation were as well known as Boaz’ and Ruth’s were. It seemed everyone knew everything about everyone in this small town.

9. Kuvua kiatu ni ishara kwamba mtu huyo anampa mwenzake haki ya kutembea juu ya shamba, yaani kulimiliki. Kama mnakumbuka, jambo hili halitofautiani sana na Ruthu kufunua miguu ya Boazi ili kumwomba amchukue.9. Removing the sandal is symbolic that the person is giving the right to the other person to walk on the land, to possess it. If you will recall it is not unlike Ruth uncovering the feet of Boaz to ask him to take her in.

10. Tangazo la Boazi kwa wazee na watu waliokusanyika pale kama mashahidi, kwamba angenunua shamba lote na kumwoa Ruthu na kumwinulia mtoto kwa jina la Elimeleki, linashuhudia tabia yake na utii wake kwa Mungu. Ni jambo la heshima kubwa sana.10. Boaz’s declaration to the elders and people gathered there as witnesses that he would buy all the land and marry Ruth and raise up a child in Elimelech’s name attests to his character and his obedience to God. So honoring.

11. Ni wazi kwamba wote waliokusanyika pale walijua sifa ya Ruthu isiyo na doa na iliyo bora kabisa, pamoja na sifa ya Boazi, kwa maana wanawamwagia wote baraka nyingi sana.11. Clearly all those gathered there knew of Ruth’s impeccable and excellent reputation as well as Boaz’s reputation for they bestow on them all tremendous blessings.

12. Raheli na Lea walimzalia Yakobo wazao wengi. Kwa kweli wao ndio waliolea vichwa vya makabila 12 ya Israeli. Huenda Raheli ametajwa kwanza kwa sababu alikuwa tasa kwa miaka mingi wakati dada yake Lea alizaa watoto wengi kabla yake. Na ni wazi kwamba Ruthu alikuwa tasa wakati wa kukaa kwake Moabu. Pia huenda Raheli ametajwa kwanza kwa sababu kaburi lake lilikuwa karibu sana na Bethlehemu, mahali alipofariki akimzaa Benyamini. Pia huenda ametajwa kwanza kwa sababu Raheli ndiye ambaye Yakobo alimpenda zaidi. Kwa vyovyote vile, waliomba kwamba Ruthu azae sana pamoja na Boazi kama Raheli na Lea walivyozaa.12. Rachel and Leah brought Jacob many offspring. In fact they brought up the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. It could be that Rachel is named first because she was barren for many years while her sister Leah bore many offspring before her. And Ruth had obviously been barren during her time in Moab. It could also be that Rachel is named first because her grave was very near to Bethlehem where she died giving birth to Benjamin. It could also be that she is named first because it is Rachel whom Jacob loved most. At any rate they prayed that Ruth would be as fruitful with Boaz as Rachel and Leah were.

13. Neno “utajiri” katika mstari wa 11 kwa mara nyingine ni neno la Kiebrania Chayil, ambalo lina maana zaidi ya faida ya mali. Ni nguvu, ushujaa, ubora, na uwezo, sifa zile zile ambazo tayari zimetolewa kwa Boazi na kwa Ruthu.13. Wealth in verse 11 again is the Hebrew word Chayil that is more than material gain. It is strength, valor, excellence, and power, the same descriptors already given for both Boaz and Ruth.

14. Nyumba ya Peresi, ambaye Tamari alimzalia Yuda. (Yuda, bila shaka, ni mmoja wa wana wa Yakobo.) Kuna mtu anayeweza kusimulia hadithi hiyo? Nyumba ya Peresi ni ya upande wa familia ya Boazi. Wazao wake. Mababu zake pia wameorodheshwa baadaye katika 1 Mambo ya Nyakati 2:9-15: Peresi akamzaa Hesroni. Hesroni akamzaa Ramu, na Ramu akamzaa Aminadabu, na Aminadabu akazaliwa Nashoni, na Nashoni akamzaa Salmoni, na Salmoni akazaliwa Boazi, na Boazi akamzaa Obedi, na kutoka kwa Obedi atatoka Yese, baba wa Mfalme Daudi. Na kwa kuwa tunaweza kufuatilia ukoo wa haki ya kifalme ya Kristo kwenye kiti cha enzi kupitia Yusufu, mume wa Mariamu, hadi kwa Mfalme Daudi (Mathayo 1:2-16), basi tunaona jinsi Mungu alivyozijibu kwa wingi baraka ambazo watu wa Bethlehemu walizitamka kwa ajili ya Ruthu na Boazi.14. The house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah. (Judah, of course is one of the sons of Jacob.) Anyone recount that story? The house of Perez is from Boaz’s side of the family. His descendants. His ancestors are also listed later in I Chronicles 2:9-15: Perez bore Hezron. Hezron bore Ram and Ram bore Amminadab, and to Amminadab was born Nashon and to Nashon, Salmon, and to Salmon was born Boaz and to Boaz, Obed, and from Obed will come Jesse the father of King David. And since we can trace the line of Christ’s royal right to the throne through Joseph, Mary’ husband, back to King David, (Matthew 1:2-16) then we see just how richly God answered the blessings of the people of Bethlehem made on behalf of Ruth and Boaz.

15. Wanawake wanambariki Boazi mbele ya Naomi ili awe maarufu, ili airejeshe nafsi yake, na amtunze katika uzee wake. Wanawake wanamkumbusha Naomi jinsi Mungu alivyombariki na kugeuza maombolezo yake kuwa furaha kwa sababu ya thamani ya Ruthu na kwa sababu ya baraka za Mungu katika kumpa mwana. Wanamwita mtoto Obedi, maana yake “mwabudu.”15. The women bless Boaz in front of Naomi that he become famous, that he restore her life, and sustain her old age. The women remind Naomi of how God blessed her and changed her mourning into gladness because of Ruth’s worth and because of God’s blessings in giving her a son. They name the boy Obed which means “worshiper.”

16. Mstari wa 17, bila shaka, unatufikisha kwenye kilele cha mwisho au kusudi la kitabu. Ninapenda jinsi mfafanuzi Hubbard anavyolieleza vizuri zaidi: “Mstari huu [mst. 17], bila shaka, ni kidokezo cha kusudi la kitabu: kuonyesha kwamba utawala wa Daudi haukutokana na16. Verse 17 of course brings us to the ultimate climax or purpose of the book. I like how the commentator Hubbard puts I best, “ This verse [v. 17] is, of course, a clue to the book's purpose: to show that the reign of David resulted from neither his

siasa zake za ujanja wala mbinu zake za werevu, bali ulitokana nashrewd politics nor his clever tactics but from the divine

uhifadhi wa Mungu wa ukoo wake wenye kustahili. Kwa hiyo, Israeli ilipaswapreservation of his worthy family line. Therefore, Israel was to

kuukubali ufalme wa Daudi kama zawadi ya uongozi wa Mungu."accept David's kingship as the gift of divine guidance."

17. BWANA akamjalia kuchukua mimba. Kama vile maongozi ya Mungu yanavyong'aa katika matukio yote ya hadithi hii, yanang'aa hapa pia.17. The Lord enabled her to conceive. Just as God’s providence shines throughout the events of the story, it shines here.

Tafsiri za Sura ya 4Interpretations of Chapter 4

1. Boazi anatokea kuwa langoni wakati yule jamaa wa karibu zaidi anapopita. Mimi ningeyaita hayo maongozi ya Mungu.1. Boaz happens to be at the gate when the closer relative comes by. I’d call that God’s providence.

2. Boazi pia anakusanya mashahidi. Tufanye kazi yetu ya maandalizi. Usidhani tu kwamba huna nafasi yoyote katika mpango wa Mungu. Tutajuaje kwamba hii ni tafsiri sahihi? Hebu tuchunguze hadithi nyingine katika Maandiko. Mungu alitaka kumshirikisha Ibrahimu katika maamuzi yake kuhusu Sodoma na Gomora. Kristo aliwachagua wanafunzi 12 wamfuate, wajitwike msalaba wao na kufanya wanafunzi zaidi. Sisi tuna nafasi za kutimiza kadiri Mungu anavyotuongoza.2. Boaz also gathers witnesses. Do our homework. Don’t just assume you have no role to play in God’s plan. How to know this is a right interpretation? Let’s examine other stories in Scripture. God sought to include Abraham in His decisions concerning Sodom/Gom. Christ chose 12 disciples to follow Him, take up their cross and make more disciples. We have roles to play as God leads us.

3. Iweni na busara kama nyoka, na wapole kama hua. Boazi ana busara kubwa katika jinsi anavyomshughulikia yule jamaa. Alijua kwamba kumchukua Ruthu kungekuwa kikwazo kwa mtu huyo, ama kwa sababu ya hali yake ya kifedha, au chuki yake dhidi ya Wamoabu, au tabia yake ya ubinafsi. Alijua jinsi jambo hili lingekwenda, na alikuwa amejiandaa na mashahidi.3. Be wise as serpents yet gentle as doves. Boaz is quite shrewd in how he handles the relative. He knew that taking Ruth would be a sticking point for the man, either because of the man’s financial status, or his prejudice against Moabites, or his selfish character. He knew how this would go down and was prepared with witnesses.

4. Sifa njema, maisha ya unyoofu, kuiishi imani yetu kwa upendo, ukarimu, uaminifu, na kujitoa sadaka – watu wataliona hilo, wataliheshimu, na huenda wakavutwa kwa Mungu kwa njia hiyo.4. Good standing, upright living, living out our faith with love, generosity, honesty, and self sacrifice – people will see that, respect it, and possibly be drawn to God by that.

5. Mungu atawapa thawabu walio waaminifu kwake.5. God will reward His faithful.

6. Mungu atatimiza mipango yake. Tunaweza kuchagua kuwa sehemu yake au kuachilia haki zetu.6. God will work out His plans. We can choose to be a part of them or relinquish our rights.

7. Jua kwamba katika kuchagua kuwa sehemu ya mipango hiyo kutakuja kujitoa sadaka. Boazi alilipa gharama kubwa lakini alimheshimu Mungu wake kwa kumwinulia Maloni mwana kwa jina lake. Ilimgharimu kifedha pia. Lakini nathubutu kusema kwamba Boazi aliona thawabu kuu ya Mungu kwa kufanya hivyo. Babu wa babu yake Mfalme Daudi. Na Ruthu alijitoa kila kitu ili kumfuata Mungu mmoja wa kweli. Aliacha nchi yake, watu wake, miungu yao, nyumba yake, nafasi ya kuolewa tena, na ya kupata watoto, yote ili kumfuata Naomi na kumtunza mama mkwe wake. Mungu aliliheshimu hilo. Akamfanya kuwa bibi wa babu yake Mfalme Daudi.7. Know that in choosing to be a part of those plans will come sacrifice. Boaz paid dearly but honored his God in raising up a son in Mahlon’s name. It cost him financially too. But I daresay Boaz felt God’s great reward in doing so. Great grandfather to King David. And Ruth sacrificed everything to follow the one true God. She gave up her country, her people, their gods, her home, the chance to marry again, to have children all to follow Naomi and care for her mother in law. God honored that. And made her great grandmother to King David.

8. Kwa mara nyingine Maandiko yanamtaja Tamari, naye ni sehemu ya ukoo wa Daudi, kama vile Rahabu alivyo. Wanawake wa Kiyahudi wanamsifu Ruthu Mmoabu kwa kuwa bora kuliko wana saba. Mungu atamtumia yeyote atakayemchagua. Mungu amekuwa na mpango daima kwa wanawake kuwa sehemu muhimu na ya lazima katika mipango yake, kama vile ambavyo amekuwa na mipango daima kwa Mataifa kujumuishwa pia. Hata hivyo, Ibrahimu wakati mmoja alikuwa mtu wa Mataifa. Hatuwezi kumweka Mungu ndani ya sanduku. Hatuwezi kutarajia atende jinsi tunavyotaka atende au afanye maamuzi jinsi tunavyofikiri anapaswa kufanya. Sasa tunaona kwa kioo kwa jinsi ya fumbo. Lakini Yeye anaona kikamilifu. Kama Bwana Beaver anavyosema katika kitabu The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Simba, Mchawi na Kabati): "Salama?" alisema Bwana Beaver. "Nani amesema chochote kuhusu salama? Bila shaka yeye (yaani Mungu) si salama. Lakini ni mwema. Yeye ni Mfalme, nakwambia."8. Once again scripture mentions Tamar and she is a part of David’s lineage, just as Rahab is. The Jewish women praise the Moabitess Ruth for being better than seven sons. God will use whom he chooses to. God has always had a plan for women to be a significant and crucial part in His plans, just as he has always had plans for the Gentiles to be included as well. After all, Abraham was once a Gentile. We can’t put God in a box. We can’t expect Him to behave the way we want Him to or make decisions the way we think He should. We see in a mirror dimly. But He sees fully. As Mr Beaver says in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he (meaning God) isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

Matumizi:Applications:

1. Je, ninataka kuwa sehemu ya mipango ya Mungu? Ni lini nimeiachilia haki hiyo?1. Do I want to be a part of God’s plans? When have I relinquished that right?

2. Je, nimejiandaa kwa kazi ambazo Mungu ananipa, kuanzia kufundisha darasa hili hadi kushiriki upendo wa Mungu kwa wakati unaofaa?2. Am I prepared for the tasks God has for me from teaching this class, to sharing God’s love at the right moment?

3. Je, ninadumu katika maombi, nikitafuta mapenzi yake daima badala ya mapenzi yangu mwenyewe?3. Am I in prayer constantly seeking His will instead of my own.

4. Je, maisha yangu ya kila siku yanaakisi upendo thabiti wa Mungu? Je, watu wanaweza kumwona Kristo ndani yangu?4. Does my daily life reflect the loyal love of God. Can people see the Christ in me?

5. Je, ninamwamini Mungu kuhusu wakati wake? Je, ninaamini kwamba thawabu zake zitakuwa kuu kuliko mateso yoyote ninayovumilia sasa?5. Do I trust God with His timing? Do I trust that His rewards will be greater than any present suffering I endure?

6. Je, nimejiandaa kubeba majukumu ambayo Mungu ameyaweka mbele yangu bila kujali gharama?6. Am I prepared to assume the responsibilities God has placed before me regardless of the cost?