רות, פרק ד׳, פסוק ב׳

To resolve the redemption of Elimelech's family land and the marriage to Ruth, Boaz initiates a public and official legal proceeding at the city gate. Although he served as the head of the high court and possessed the full authority to act independently, he deliberately chose to involve other public leaders to ensure a transparent and unbiased process. He gathered ten elders to serve as judges [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Since Boaz himself was a potential candidate to redeem the land, he avoided issuing a ruling on his own. By conducting the matter before the city's sages, he prevented any suspicion of a conflict of interest, ensuring his actions were completely beyond reproach in the eyes of God and the people [אשכול הכופר].

Furthermore, Boaz chose this specific moment to present the newly established law permitting marriage to a Moabite woman. Because the right of redemption still belonged to a closer relative at this stage, Boaz had no personal stake in the matter. Presenting the law now guaranteed that his legal decision would be received with complete objectivity [מלבי״ם].

Commentators offer two primary explanations for why exactly ten men were selected. One approach suggests that Boaz was preparing a proper quorum in advance, ensuring they would be ready to recite the necessary wedding blessings that would soon follow [מלבי״ם, תורה תמימה]. Another perspective argues that the gathering was meant to widely publicize the new legal precedent, which clarified that the biblical ban on intermarriage applied only to Moabite men, not Moabite women. Establishing such a groundbreaking ruling required the presence of ten wise elders to provide their agreement and grant it full public authority [תורה תמימה].

The immediate availability of these elders at the bustling city gate was not a coincidence. This busy area housed local taverns, and the court maintained a regular practice of appointing elders to sit there permanently to oversee public morality and modesty. Consequently, Boaz was able to find them on the spot [תורה תמימה].

When the men gathered, they remained standing until Boaz explicitly instructed them to sit. Their wait highlights a fundamental rule of proper etiquette: an individual should not sit until given permission by someone of greater stature. Even though these men were respected elders and scholars, they were subordinate to Boaz, who served as the chief judge and leader of the high court, and therefore they respectfully awaited his direction [תורה תמימה].