1-2Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was famine in the land. So a man named Elimelech, who belonged to the clan of Ephrat and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah, went with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live for a while in the country of Moab. While they were living there, 3Elimelech died, and Naomi was left alone with her two sons, 4who married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. About ten years later 5Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left all alone, without husband or sons. RUTH 1:1-5
