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The Bible Says
Ruth 1:1-5 Meaning

The setting for the book of Ruth takes place during the time when the judges governed. That means the events in Ruth occurred during the book of Judges (approximately 1000 years before Christ's incarnation), prior to Israel having kings. The passage notes that there was a famine in the land. This will be an important backdrop for the ensuing story. The famine is named as the cause for a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah deciding to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.

Bethlehem is located in Israel west of the Dead Sea near Jerusalem. Moab was located to the east of the Dead Sea, roughly 60 miles from Bethlehem. Today, it is a part of modern Jordan. The Moabites were the descendants of the incestuous affair of Lot (see Genesis 19). Moses delivered Deuteronomy to Israel while on the Plains of Moab about 400 years prior to the time of the Judges.

In ancient times, and even today, famines cause people to migrate. The famine was so severe that they remained there in Moab for ten years. While in Moab, things did not go well for Naomi. While away from her homeland, her husband Elimelech and two sons die. Naomi is left with only two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Mahlon and Chilion had taken for themselves Moabite women as wives.

The name Naomi means "pleasant."

Judges 5:28-31 Meaning ← Prior Section
Ruth 1:6-14 Meaning Next Section →
Judges 1:1-7 Meaning ← Prior Book
1 Samuel 2:1-10 Meaning Next Book →
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Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

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Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.