When God brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt He had wanted them to be an example nation to all the other nations. He had given them commandments that, had they obeyed, would have resulted in blessings of all kinds. If they obeyed His laws God would see that they were set up high over all the other nations. The nation of Israel would be blessed in the city and in the country. Their children would be blessed, and the ground would be fruitful, as would be the herds and flocks. As a result, there would be plenty to eat, and drink. Israel's enemies would be defeated and flee before Israel. But Israel had no clear leader, and every man did what was right in his own sight. Many forgot about the true God and began worshipping idols. They failed to keep God's laws and fell under a curse, instead of a blessing. Then Israel would cry out to God, and God would raise up a judge to deliver them out of the hand of their enemies.

During the time of the judges a man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi lived in Bethlehem with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. We don't know the exact time, but it was obvious that Israel had once more strayed from God, for there was a famine in the land. Elimelech and his wife and their two sons moved to the land of Moab. The Moabites were descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot, and in their land the fields were still green, and there was plenty of food.

There Elimelech died and Naomi was left with only her two sons. Mahlon and Chilion married girls from Moab. The girls names were Orpah and Ruth. But Naomi's sons, Mahlon and Chilion died leaving Orpah and Ruth without husbands to provide for them. With the death Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi found herself without a husband or sons to take care of her.

When Naomi heard that God was once again blessing Bethlehem, and there was food enough for everyone, she told Orpah and Ruth that she was going to return to her old hometown. Naomi suggested that her daughters-in-law return to their old homes too where they could find new husbands and start new lives for themselves.

Naomi had developed a close relationship with her sons' wives. They didn't want to be parted from her. "No!" they cried, "We want to go with you to Bethlehem and live with your people."

But Naomi told them, "It is better you return to your own people. For I have no more sons for you to marry. In your own land, you can find new husbands to love and provide for you."

The three women cried, for they were very sad. They loved each other very much and didn't want to be separated.

Orpah took Naomi's advice and chose leave her mother-in-law to return to her homeland and live with her own people. She kissed Naomi good-bye, and went back to her childhood home. Ruth was sorry to see Orpah go, but refused to leave Naomi.

"Your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods," Naomi told Ruth. "You should do the same."

"Don't make me leave you," Ruth pleaded. "I want to go wherever you go. Live wherever you live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. I want to die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord punish me if I let anything but death come between us."

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to stay with her, she said no more on the matter.