The Right of Inheritance

In the book of Ruth there is an account where ownership of land is confirmed by the passing of a shoe. Boaz came to the city gate in Bethlehem to potentially redeem a field owned by Naomi. He not being the nearest kinsman offered his relative, a nearer kinsman, the first opportunity to redeem the field. The nearer kinsman declined preferring not to jeopardize his own inheritance by raising seed to the deceased relative. The nearer kinsman to show his intentions took his shoe from off his foot and passed it to Boaz. Ruth 4:7, 8 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. (Also see Deu. 25:5-10) Not knowing ancient customs I cannot be sure but my suspicion is that this ceremony relates to the statement made to Joshua that all places where his feet trod would be his. The passing of the shoe would in effect say the place where my foot had the right to tread is now passed to you, giving Boaz the legal right to place his feet upon the field as its owner. Josh 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
Another place where I believe we can see a similar thought is at the birth of Jacob and Esau. We’re told from the story that the older would serve the younger. At birth Jacob took hold of the heel of Esau. By doing this I believe we are seeing an indication that Jacob would supplant Esau, in other words Jacob was snatching Esau’s right to place his feet as an inheritor in the promised land.
Also of interest is Act 7:5 "And he gave him (Abraham) none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child."
In each of the preceding passages I believe there is a common theme which suggests the right of Abraham’s descendants to inherit the Promised Land. These verses might give more meaning to the passage in Genesis where the Lord tells Abraham to walk throughout the Promised Land. His feet making contact with the land that one day would be his. Gen 13:14-17 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.