The answer is: Didn't want to spoil inheritance

Ruth 4:5-6

In the book of Ruth, the delicate matter of estates and inheritance shows just how intertwined social customs, land ownership, and family duty were in ancient Israel. The kinsman-redeemer's hesitation to marry Ruth was not merely a personal repulsion or fear of commitment—it was rooted in practicalities of lineage and property. In those days, marrying a widow meant the potential for diluting one's inheritance with more heirs and the need to pass down stakes to a family he may not have deemed his own.

Interestingly, this little legal and relational entanglement adds depth to Ruth's story—ushering our heroine from sorrow to hope—in what could be considered an early commentary on love arranged by divine providence rather than mere legality. While the unnamed redeemer saw their union through the narrow lens of property and legacy, Ruth carved out her place in history, not as simply a Moabitess but as a vital part of the ancestral line to King David, and imbued with deeper significance, as part of the lineage referenced in the genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 1:5).

Ruth's loyalty and commitment—elements that shine through her decision to follow Naomi to a new land—transcend mere inheritance problems to teach us about belonging and community across boundaries. What emerges in this narrative is a beautifully woven tapestry of identity, tradition, and the quiet but powerful rebellion against stringent cultural norms by a remarkable woman. All this raises a significant reflection: What truly matters in the bonds we create, and how do we evaluate the relationships in our lives beyond tradition?