Berean Study Bible Naomi Becomes a WidowRuth begins during a turbulent period when Israel repeatedly fell into disobedience, oppression, and deliverance. With no king and little national unity, moral disorder and instability were common. Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel;… there was a famine in the land. The famine brought hardship to Judah and forced families to seek food elsewhere. Its cause is not given, but famine in Israel often served as a reminder of the nation’s dependence on God. Gen 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down… And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” was a small town in the territory of Judah. Though it later became known as David’s hometown and the birthplace of Christ, it was then suffering want despite being part of Israel’s covenant land. Jdg 17:8 This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah… with his wife and two sons, The family’s departure sets in motion the losses, loyalties, and covenant responsibilities that shape the account. Exo 4:20 So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey… went to reside in the land of Moab. Moab lay east of the Dead Sea and had a troubled history with Israel. The move shows the severity of the famine and prepares for Ruth, a Moabite widow, to be brought into the family line of David. 1Sa 22:3-4 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, … The man’s name was Elimelech, Elimelech means “My God is King,” a fitting reminder of God’s rule during the disorder of the judges. 1Sa 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from… his wife’s name was Naomi, His wife’s name was Naomi, meaning “pleasant.” After her losses, she would call herself Mara, meaning “bitter.” 1Sa 25:3 His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail.… and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. Their names are associated with weakness and wasting: Mahlon possibly means “sickly,” and Chilion “wasting” or “pining,” anticipating the sorrow that would soon come upon the family. Exo 18:3-4 along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom… They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, They belonged to a respected Ephrathite family, a clan from Ephrathah, the ancient name for Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” in Judah, the town later known as David’s hometown. 1Sa 17:12 Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite… and they entered the land of Moab and settled there. Famine drove them beyond Judah into Moab, an often-hostile neighboring land, where Ruth’s place in God’s purposes would begin. 1Sa 22:3-4 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, … Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, Elimelech (“My God is King”)’s death left Naomi a widow in Moab, far from her home in Bethlehem. In that culture, the loss of a husband brought serious economic and social insecurity. His death began the series of losses that would eventually lead Naomi back to Judah, where God would provide for her through Ruth and Boaz. 1Co 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.… and she was left with her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion became Naomi’s remaining household and her only apparent support. Their presence offered some security, but their later deaths would leave Naomi bereaved and without the family protection she depended upon. 2Ki 4:1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out… who took Moabite women as their wives, Mahlon and Chilion married women of Moab while the family lived there during the famine. Though Moab had long been hostile toward Israel, these marriages became part of God’s providential preparation for Naomi’s return to Bethlehem and for Ruth’s place among God’s people. 1Ki 11:1-2 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women… one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. Orpah and Ruth entered Naomi’s family as Moabite daughters-in-law. Orpah’s name is believed to mean “back of the neck,” while Ruth’s means “friend” or “companion.” After the deaths of their husbands, their responses to Naomi’s return would reveal different paths: Orpah would remain in Moab, while Ruth would leave her homeland and commit herself to Naomi and to the God of Israel. Mat 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab,… And after they had lived in Moab about ten years, The family remained in Moab for many years, long enough for the sons to marry but without producing children. Their extended stay ended in sorrow with the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law as widows. Gen 16:3 So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years,… both Mahlon and Chilion also died, Both Mahlon (“sickness”) and Chilion (“wasting”) also died, leaving Naomi bereaved of her husband and sons and their widows without husbands or children. 1Sa 4:17 The messenger answered, “Israel has fled… and Naomi was left without her two sons Naomi now faced grief, poverty, and insecurity. Without sons to support her or continue the family line, she was especially vulnerable as a widow returning to Judah. Gen 42:36 Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons.… and without her husband. Elimelech’s earlier death had already removed Naomi’s protector and provider. The loss of her husband and sons prepares for the later role of Boaz, whose redemption preserves the family line and restores hope to Naomi. Rom 7:2-3 For instance, a married woman is bound by law…
Ruth’s Loyalty to NaomiNaomi, whose name means “pleasant,” had left Bethlehem during a famine and lived in Moab with her husband and sons. After the deaths of her husband and both sons, news reached her that conditions had improved in Judah. Moab lay east of the Dead Sea and was often hostile toward Israel, making her return especially significant. 2Ki 7:9 Finally, they said, “We are not doing what is right.… that the LORD had attended to His people God had turned His mercy toward the people of Judah, ending the hardship that had driven Naomi’s family from Bethlehem. His care for Israel showed that He had not abandoned His covenant people. Exo 4:31 And they believed. And when they heard that the LORD… by providing them with food, Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” once again had grain and provisions. The restored harvest gave Naomi reason to return to her homeland and to the place where her family had belonged. Psa 145:15-16 The eyes of all look to You, and You give them… she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab. Naomi set out for Judah with Orpah and Ruth, both widows from Moab. The journey began a turning point in Naomi’s grief and placed Ruth on the path that would lead to her marriage to Boaz and her place in the family line of David and Jesus. Gen 24:58-61 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”… Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth chose to remain with Naomi after the deaths of their husbands. Though they were Moabites and faced an uncertain future, their presence reveals deep loyalty to Naomi in a household marked by grief and loss. Gen 46:26-27 All those belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt… she left the place where she had been living Naomi had lived in Moab for about ten years after famine drove her family from Bethlehem. With her husband and both sons dead, Moab had become a place of sorrow rather than security. Gen 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar… and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah. Naomi returned to the land of her people and to Bethlehem, where she had heard that the Lord had provided food for His people. The journey begins the events that bring Ruth into Israel, lead her to Boaz, and establish the family line of David. Jer 50:4-5 “In those days and at that time, declares the LORD,”… Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Naomi and her daughters-in-law had been left widowed in Moab after the deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion. Though Naomi was returning to Bethlehem, she sought what was best for Orpah and Ruth rather than asking them to remain with her. Mic 7:6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises… “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. Naomi released them to return to their own families, where they could find protection and hope for remarriage. Their future in Moab appeared more secure than it would be in Judah with Naomi. Gen 24:28 The girl ran and told her mother’s household… May the LORD show you loving devotion, Naomi entrusted them to the covenant Lord, asking Him to repay their faithful kindness with His own care and provision. 2Sa 2:6 Now may the LORD show you loving devotion… as you have shown to your dead and to me. Orpah and Ruth had honored their husbands in life and had remained devoted to Naomi after their deaths. Naomi recognized their loyalty and desired that the Lord bless them for it. 2Sa 2:5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead… May the LORD enable each of you to find rest Naomi blesses Orpah and Ruth as she releases them to return to Moab. Though grieving her own losses, she entrusts their future to the LORD, the God of Israel. The rest she desires for them includes the security, provision, and settled life that marriage could provide for widows in their society. Rut 3:1 One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her,… in the home of your new husband.” Naomi recognizes that remarriage would offer each woman protection and stability within her own people. Her counsel is practical and loving, not a rejection of them. Ruth’s later marriage to Boaz will provide the rest Naomi desires and place Ruth within the family line of David. Gen 24:67 And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah… And she kissed them Naomi’s farewell shows genuine affection for both women. They had remained with her through bereavement and hardship, and their relationship had become stronger than the ordinary bond between a mother-in-law and her daughters-in-law. Gen 31:55 Early the next morning, Laban got up and kissed… as they wept aloud The women openly mourn the prospect of parting after sharing the loss of their husbands and the uncertainty of the future. Their tears reveal the depth of their attachment and prepare for the different choices Orpah and Ruth will soon make. Gen 27:38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing,… and said, Ruth and Orpah answered Naomi’s repeated urging that they remain in Moab. Their words express an immediate refusal to leave her alone in grief and uncertainty. Gen 24:58 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”… “Surely we will return Both daughters-in-law initially declared their determination to go back with Naomi. Though Orpah later chose to remain in Moab, Ruth’s commitment would prove enduring. Gen 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land… with you Their response showed affection for Naomi and a willingness to share her difficult return to Bethlehem after the loss of her husband and sons. Jos 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life.… to your people.” Going with Naomi meant leaving Moab and entering Israel, a land and people not their own. Ruth would ultimately embrace Naomi’s God and people, becoming part of the family line of David. Gen 24:4 but will go to my country and my kindred… But Naomi replied, Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” answered Ruth and Orpah from the grief and hardship that had marked her life in Moab. With her husband and sons dead, she saw no security or future to offer them. 1Sa 1:15-17 “No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman troubled… “Return home, my daughters. Though they were Moabites, Naomi spoke to them with the affection of a mother. She urged them to return to their own families, where they might find protection and the possibility of remarriage. Luk 8:39 Return home and describe how much God has done… Why would you go with me? Naomi believed that returning with her to Bethlehem would only bring them further uncertainty. As a poor widow, she could not provide for them or secure their future. 2Sa 15:19-21 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite,… Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? Naomi referred to the expectation that a deceased man’s widow could be cared for through marriage to a close male relative in the family. Since she had no remaining sons and no prospect of bearing more, she saw no human reason for Ruth and Orpah to remain with her. Deu 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies… Return home, my daughters. Naomi urges Orpah and Ruth to return to their families in Moab, where they could find protection and the possibility of remarriage. Though they are Moabites and joined to her through marriage, she speaks to them with the affection of a mother. Gen 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar,… Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Naomi sees no practical means of securing their future. Her age makes remarriage and childbearing unlikely, and she believes she has nothing left to offer them. Gen 18:11-12 And Abraham and Sarah were already old… Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, Naomi presses the impossibility of the situation. Even if she married at once and later bore sons, Orpah and Ruth could not be expected to wait for them to grow into husbands. Her words reveal her grief and emptiness as she sends them away. Deu 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies… would you wait for them to grow up? Naomi asks whether Orpah and Ruth could reasonably wait for hypothetical sons to be born and reach adulthood. Under the custom of levirate marriage, a deceased man’s brother could marry his widow to preserve the family line. Naomi has no remaining sons, and she knows she is beyond the ordinary hope of bearing more. Gen 38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar,… Would you refrain from having husbands? Waiting for future sons would require Orpah and Ruth to remain unmarried for many years. Marriage offered women protection, provision, and the prospect of children, so Naomi urges them to return to Moab, where they could rebuild their lives among their own people. 1Co 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.… No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, Naomi recognizes that their losses are real, yet she bears the weight of losing her husband, both sons, and the future she expected for her family. Her grief has left her feeling deeply afflicted, though she still seeks what is best for her daughters-in-law. Job 7:11 Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;… because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” Naomi understands her suffering as having come under God’s sovereign hand. She does not deny the Lord’s rule over her circumstances, even while she cannot yet see how He will use her loss, Ruth’s loyalty, and their return to Bethlehem for restoration. Psa 39:10 Remove Your scourge from me; I am perishing… Again they wept aloud, Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth shared the grief of loss and the pain of an approaching separation. As widows, Orpah and Ruth faced an uncertain future, and Naomi’s return to Judah meant leaving behind the family they had known. Gen 45:2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians… and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, Orpah’s farewell showed genuine affection for Naomi. Her decision to return to Moab was understandable, since it offered the familiarity of her homeland, relatives, and former way of life. 1Ki 19:20 So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said… but Ruth clung to her. Ruth refused to leave Naomi, choosing instead to remain with her despite the hardships ahead. Her steadfast loyalty marked the beginning of her departure from Moab and her identification with Naomi’s people and God. Gen 34:3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob.… “Look,” said Naomi, Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” urges Ruth to recognize the choice before her. Bereaved of her husband and sons, she sees no clear future for her daughters-in-law in Judah and seeks their welfare. Gen 13:14 After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram,… “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; Orpah has returned to Moab, her family, and the worship of Moab’s false gods. Her departure highlights the separation between Moab’s idolatry and Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord. Jos 24:2-3 And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD… follow her back home.” Naomi advises Ruth to seek the security of her homeland and family. Yet Ruth will remain with Naomi, leave Moab behind, and commit herself to Naomi’s people and God. Luk 15:18-20 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him,… But Ruth replied: Ruth answered Naomi with a decision that would reshape both their lives. Though she was a Moabite widow, she chose to remain with Naomi rather than return to her own family and homeland. Gen 24:58 They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”… “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. Naomi had urged Ruth to return to Moab, where she might rebuild her life. Ruth refused to abandon her mother-in-law in her grief and uncertainty. 2Ki 2:2 “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”… For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; Ruth committed herself to share Naomi’s journey, home, and future. Her words show a settled resolve to leave Moab and face the hardships of life in Judah alongside Naomi. 2Sa 15:21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives… your people will be my people, Ruth accepted identification with Israel rather than with her former nation. She was not merely accompanying Naomi for a time but joining herself to Naomi’s family and people. Rom 9:25-26 I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people… and your God will be my God. Ruth confessed faith in the God of Israel and turned from the gods of Moab. Her commitment placed her within the covenant people and prepared the way for her place in the family line of David and ultimately of Christ. Exo 6:7 I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God.… Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Ruth accepts a permanent future with Naomi in Judah, leaving Moab behind without reservation. Burial among Naomi’s people shows that she now identifies her life, death, and hope with Naomi’s family and homeland. 2Sa 15:21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives… May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, By calling on the LORD, Ruth places herself under the God of Israel and makes her promise before Him. She invokes divine judgment upon herself if she proves unfaithful. 1Sa 20:13 But if my father intends to bring evil on you,… if anything but death separates you and me.” Ruth binds herself to Naomi through every hardship for the rest of their lives. Her steadfast loyalty becomes part of God’s providence in preserving Naomi’s family and bringing Ruth into the line of David and the Messiah. Sng 8:6-7 Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm.… When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, Ruth’s resolve to leave Moab and accompany Naomi to Bethlehem displayed extraordinary loyalty. Though a Moabite widow, she chose Naomi’s people and God over the security of her homeland. Her decision would place her within God’s unfolding plan for Israel and the line of David. 2Ki 2:2 “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.”… she stopped trying to persuade her. Naomi recognized that Ruth’s commitment was settled. Having no sons to provide Ruth with marriage or protection, Naomi had urged her to remain in Moab, where family connections might offer greater security and a chance to rebuild her life. Ruth’s choice to go with Naomi would lead her to Bethlehem, where God would provide for both women. Act 21:14 When he would not be dissuaded, we quieted down…
The Return to BethlehemTheir journey from Moab to Bethlehem covered difficult terrain and brought them back to Judah, the land of God’s covenant people. Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” would later become the home of David and the birthplace of Christ. Ruth’s faithful decision to leave Moab and remain with Naomi showed her full commitment to Naomi’s God and people. Luk 2:4-6 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea… When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, Naomi’s return drew immediate attention in the small community. She had left years earlier with a husband and two sons but returned widowed, grieving, and accompanied by a Moabite daughter-in-law. Her changed circumstances were evident to those who remembered her. Mat 21:10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred… and the women of the town exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” The women recognized Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” but were shocked by the sorrow and loss that had marked her life. Her return began in bitterness, yet God was already working through Ruth to provide for Naomi and preserve a family line that would shape Israel’s future. Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar,… “Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. Returning to Bethlehem after years in Moab, Naomi felt that her name, meaning “pleasant” or “delightful,” no longer described her life. The deaths of her husband and both sons had left her grieving and destitute. Gen 17:15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife,… “Call me Mara, She chose the name Mara, meaning “bitter,” to express the sorrow that marked her return. Her words reveal the depth of her loss rather than a rejection of God. Exo 15:23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water… because the Almighty Naomi recognized God as sovereign over the events that had brought her from Bethlehem to Moab and back again. Though she did not understand His purpose, she regarded her suffering as having occurred under His authority. Gen 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared… has dealt quite bitterly with me. Her lament reflects the anguish of a woman who had lost her family and security. Yet Naomi remained among God’s people and would soon witness His provision through Ruth and Boaz. Lam 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me… I went away full, Naomi had left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons during the famine, carrying the security and hope of her family. Deu 8:10 When you eat and are satisfied, bless the LORD your God… but the LORD has brought me back empty. She returned as a widow whose sons had died in Moab. Though Ruth remained beside her, Naomi felt stripped of family, provision, and future. Lam 1:13 He sent fire from on high, and it overpowered my bones.… Why call me Naomi? Her name, Naomi, meaning “pleasant” or “delightful,” no longer seemed fitting in light of her grief and bitterness. Suffering had altered how she understood her life and identity. Isa 62:4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land… After all, the LORD has testified against me, Naomi saw God’s hand in her losses and believed He had brought judgment against her. Psa 50:7 Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel,… and the Almighty has afflicted me.” She acknowledged God’s sovereign power even while lamenting her pain. Her return to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest begins the movement from loss toward God’s provision. Job 6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;… So Naomi returned from the land of Moab After years marked by famine, widowhood, and loss, Naomi left Moab and returned to Judah. Her return brought her back to the people, land, and worship of Israel. Rut 4:3 And he said to the kinsman-redeemer, “Naomi,… with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. Ruth remained with Naomi despite the cost of leaving her own family and country. Her Moabite background underscores the unusual nature of her place among Israel, yet her faithful commitment to Naomi and to Israel’s God would become central to the family’s restoration. Rut 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go… And they arrived in Bethlehem Bethlehem, meaning “house of bread,” was Naomi’s hometown, where her family had once owned land and where relatives remained. Their arrival placed them within the community that would witness Naomi’s changed circumstances and become the setting for Ruth’s future marriage. 1Sa 16:4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem.… at the beginning of the barley harvest. The barley harvest began in early spring, following the season when food had been scarce. Their arrival provided Ruth an opportunity to gather grain and marked the beginning of God’s provision for both women. 2Sa 21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites,… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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