In all probability he knows about the field of Elimelek.19 So, if he quietly ignores his voluntary family responsibility (to redeem the field and marry Ruth, the only eligible widow of marriageable age), then he can negate the possibility of raising up an heir to the property of the deceased (see the discussion of the levirate in the Introduction to Ruth, pp. 498–503). Since there is no descendant of Elimelek, the field will, at a certain point, merge into his possession. Whatever the price paid for the redemption will be offset by the annual crop yields. There will also be some possible costs
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