The Message of Shavuos Continues
Why Was Boaz Superior to All His Brothers?
Boaz, Ploni Almoni, Tov, and Elimelech, were all were children of Nachshon ben Aminadav. It appears that they all had weaknesses. Ploni Almoni would not do Yibbum, since the child would not be his (פֶּן אַּשְ חִית אֶּת נַּחֲל תִי). Elimelech left Eretz Yisroel, not wanting to do for others. Elimelech means אֵ לַּ י מֶּ לֶּ ך "I'm the king" since he came from Shevet Yehuda. “Wanting” to be king isn't enough. (Of course we don't really understand the true greatness of these people).
What is it in Boaz that makes him so superior? The name Boaz means בוֹ עַּ ז “in him is strength”. הֱוֵי עַּז כַּנ מֵר Be bold as a leopard 'העֹז לְעַּמוֹ יִתֵן תהלים כט יא Hashem gives strength to His nation. And the only title he is given is: אִיש גִבוֹר חַּיִל רות ב א. “Ish” is already a Lashon of strength and Chashivus, and surely “Gibbor Chayil”. Now this Gibbor Chayil cannot mean in physical wars, since there were no battles going on in Sefer Rus. It can only mean: אֵיזֶּהוּ גִבוֹר, הַּכוֹבֵש אֶּת יִצְרוֹ One who is truly strong; i.e., he who overcomes his natural desires. The same with “Eishes Chayil”, since: אֵין דַּרְ כ ה שֶּל אִש ה לַּעֲשוֹת מִלְח מ ה קידושין ב ב a woman does not fight in battle. And we left Mitzrayim: חֲמֻשִ ים armed, and being called: צִבְאוֹת ה' the “army” of Hashem, although there was no war.
When you see weaknesses in the whole family, and Boaz is just the opposite, he must have needed extra Zechusim to go against his surroundings. His very name “Boaz” (strength) means that being strong wasn't just a nice side Midda of his. This is the entire essence of this person: בוֹ עַּ ז "in him is strength ", and the only praise the Passuk has about him is Gibbor Chayil.
