the woman shall go to him before the elder men of Israel, and she shall take his shoe off from his foot, and she shall spit into his face, and she shall say to them, Thus it shall be done to the man, that buildeth not his brother’s house;
Forsooth this was the custom by eld [or old] time in Israel among kinsmen, that if a man gave his right to another man, that the granting were steadfast, the man should unlace his shoe, and give it to his kinsman; this thing was witnessing of a gift in Israel.
And Boaz said to the greater men in birth, and to all the people, Ye be witnesses today, that I have taken in possession all things that were of Elimelech, and of Chilion, and of Mahlon, by the gift of Naomi;