The answer is: 10

Ruth 4:2

In Ruth 4:2, we find Boaz gathering ten elders from the city, a notable detail that reflects the customs and practices of ancient Israel. Acts like these were crucial for legal transactions and bringing witnesses into the fold creates a sense of authority and legitimacy to agreements. Fun fact: the number ten is significant in Jewish tradition—it represents large group formations, specifically when needed for communal prayers. This aligns with the notion that elders, holding positions of wisdom and experience, were recognized as leaders who guide their communities in both smart decisions and lawful proceedings.

Not only does this scene showcase a transaction between Boaz and the kinsman, but it also serves as an embodiment of loyalty and covenant-keeping. Here stands Boaz, ready to claim Ruth as his wife and address the responsibilities to care for Naomi, revealing the theme of kinsmanship—fitting beautifully within the larger narrative of redemption. Interestingly, just as Ruth clings to Naomi, suggesting commitment straddling familial ties, God's faithful redemption can be interpreted as extending long-term ties of relationship beyond whether we belong by blood or adoption.

Moreover, this gathering resonates with another well-known scriptural witness—a covenant witnessed not in grain fields but a mountaintop, when the people stood to hear promises made before God. Thus, both moments teach the rich values of community, loyalty, and divine providence. So, it’s not only about the witness, but the profound tapestry of relationships that God tends with each of us!