SUMMARY
NaomiThe mother-in-law of Ruth. More leaves Bethlehem with her husband and sons, who all die in Moab.
ANALYSIS
The book ironically begins with famine in Bethlehem, which means “house of food.” In the Bible, famine often leads to immigration, to leaving home. We know Bethlehem is also called “the city of DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. More” (LukeThe "beloved physician" and companion of Paul. More 2:4), so leaving is a problem, especially going to Moab. As the Book of RuthThe great-grandmother of David. More begins, it seems like the guy will be the hero. Elimelech means “God is king.” Then Elimelech dies, as do his sons, Mahlon and Chilion. But their names mean “consumption” and “disease,” so their death is not unexpected. Naomi is left alone with her two Moabite daughters-in-law. This hardly qualifies as a legal family unit then or now.
(See painting by JacobThe son of Isaac and Rebekah, renamed Israel, became the father of the twelve tribal families. More Steinhardt – http://sacredartmeditations.com/stories/detail/10)
