Naomi Loses Husband and Sons
1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
Famines in the Bible can refer to anything from an enemy laying siege on a city thus cutting off access to water and vegetation, to God preventing rainfall as a form of judgment (see Leviticus 26). This famine (one of 13 famines mentioned in the Bible) is a natural-occurring famine as it allows this man’s family to leave Israel. Some believe the famine was the result of Israel’s lack of obedience to God. The text does not elaborate as to why the famine occurred, but does state that this series of events occurred during the time of the Judges, which were exemplified by the last words of the book of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25, see also Judges 17:6)
2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
The head of the household was Elimelech which means “my God is King.” The name Naomi can be translated to “pleasant, lovely, or delightful.” Their children, however, were named with rather unpleasant names: Mahlon meaning “weak” or “sickly” and Chilion meaning “failing,” “puny,” or “to perish.”
Ephrath (or Ephrathah) was an earlier name for this Bethlehem and is often joined together since there were several cities named “Bethlehem.” The history of the word Ephrath is unknown, some believe it is associated with an aristocrat or related to being from the tribe of Ephraim, although unlikely as it was the location where Rachel was buried after dying giving birth to Benjamin (see Genesis 35:16-21, see also Judges 12:5; 1 Samuel 1:1).
3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, dies, no further information is given. Then the two sons each married Moabite women, which was prohibited by God’s law (see Deuteronomy 7:2-3; 23:3). Since the Moabite language is somewhat a mystery, the meanings of their names are largely unknown, many believe that the name Orpah means “fawn” or perhaps “stiff-necked,” and Ruth is believed to mean “friendship,” “beauty,” or perhaps “desirable.” The married couples lived in Moab for approximately ten years.
5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Then after ten years both Mahlon and Chilion die, again without any explanation. It is interesting to note that the Talmud regard the deaths of Elimelech and his two son’s as punishment for leaving Israel.[1] However, this is not stated nor implied in the text.
Ruth Refuses to Leave Naomi
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.
Hearing that God had once again returned to bless the Israelites by bringing them food, referring to the end of the famine in Israel, Naomi no longer had a reason to stay in Moab, so she decided to return to Israel.
7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
Naomi possibly remembering how difficult it was to settle in a strange land, recognizes that she should release her daughters-in-law from any further obligation, so that they can remain in Moab. So she announces this to them with a blessing and prays that each will have a prosperous life. The term “rest” refers to having true security and blessings from God. She then kisses them as they “lifted up their voices,” crying loudly.
10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?
Neither one wanted to leave Naomi, expressing a desire to go with her to Bethlehem. But Naomi emphatically asks why? Because even though God’s law has provisions for the death of a husband it would not be practical to wait. The regulation, known as the law of “Levirate Marriage” (Deuteronomy 25:5-10, see commentary for Ruth 3:8-9 below), first involves the husband’s brother, but since the brother is dead too, the remaining option is the next son born. Naomi doesn’t want them to commit to an uncertain future.
12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
Naomi tells them to turn back, that she is too old to remarry and have children, she cannot provide any more husbands, so why go with her? She further explains that even if she gave birth to a son right now, it would still be many years before the son could marry. Each of them had lost a husband, however, Naomi believes that she is responsible for their grief and also believes the hand of God is punishing her, that they would have better lives by leaving her now.
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
The two daughters-in-law both mourn over the idea of leaving Naomi, but Orpah does see the logic and agrees to remain in Moab. Ruth, on the other hand, refuses to leave Naomi.
15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Ruth was raised in Moab, an idol worshiping Gentile country. By going with Naomi she would be abandoning both her religion (Moabites primary deity was Chemosh, see Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7, 33; 2 Kings 23:13; Jeremiah 48:1-47) and culture, as she would be viewed as being a pagan in Judah. Ruth explains that she wanted to do this not because she was married to Naomi’s son, but to be with her mother-in-law. Ruth’s response to Naomi clearly demonstrates her love and faithfulness to her. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi and asks her to stop talking about leaving.
In these verses Ruth is not just stating that her friendship and love for Naomi is more important than what her life in Moab may have had to offer, the fact that she references the LORD (whenever the word “Lord” is in all capital letters in English Bibles, it represents the tetragrammaton referring to the name of the God of Israel, namely YHWH) indicates that she most likely already rejected the gods of Moab and had a relationship with the True God or at least knew about Him.
Moab to Bethlehem
19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”
Details of the journey back to Israel is not provided, but the warm reception given to them when they arrive is. Naomi, perhaps happy to be back, makes it known that her time away from Israel has been less than pleasant. With Naomi being greeted and welcomed back, gives evidence that those that remained had survived the famine.
20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Naomi makes it known that her given name, which means “pleasant,” would be an improper way to describe her current mood, so she asks to be called “Mara,” meaning “bitter” (see Exodus 15:22-27). She states that when she left Judah she was ‘full’ and now she is returning ‘empty’. She again notes that God has testified against her bringing calamity to her life. They arrive in Bethlehem at beginning of the barley harvest which is typically in the Hebrew month of Nisan (March-April).
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[1] Neusner, J. (2011). The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary (Vol. 15, p. 270). Hendrickson Publishers.