INTRODUCTION: The story of Ruth shows us God’s grace even in the time of the judges when every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This chapter sets the scene for the glorious blessings God will bestow on Naomi and Ruth. A simple outline of the book would be as follows: Chapter 1 – Ruth Remaining; Chapter 2 – Ruth Reaping; Chapter 3 – Ruth Resting; Chapter 4 – Ruth Rewarded.

1. TRAGEDY IN MOAB (Ruth 1:1-5 [1] Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. [2] And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. [3] And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. [4] And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. [5] And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
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1. The Time (Ruth 1:1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
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1. When the judges ruled
1. The Book of Judges ends on a negative note with every man doing that which is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
   See All...). The last few chapters in the book add to the somber mood of defeat and decline.
2. But with the book of Ruth, God shows that He is still working to bring about His will. Even in the darkness of the time and the tragedies in the life of Naomi, God prepares the Messianic line for the birth of David.
2. During a time of famine
1. In the Bible, famines test men.
2. They most often fail the test.
3. Even Abraham went down to Egypt in the time of famine and lied to Pharaoh (Genesis 12:10-13 [10] And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. [11] And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: [12] Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. [13] Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
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4. Interesting Point:  Bethlehem means house of bread . However, during the time of the judges, it became a place of famine.
2. The Move (Ruth 1:1-2 [1] Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. [2] And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
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1. From Bethlehem to Moab (Ruth 1:1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
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1. The city of Bethlehem-judah plays an important part during the time of the judges.
1. It was the home of Ibzan, one of the judges (Judges 12:8And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
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2. It was the original home of the Levite who eventually became priest of the false cult of Dan (Judges 17:7-9 [7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. [8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. [9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
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3. It was the home of the concubine who was abused, killed, cut into pieces, and sent to the tribes of Israel (Judges 19:1-2 [1] And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. [2] And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
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2. Now, it is the home of Elimelech and Naomi and will become the birthplace of David.
2. Elimelech, his wife and two sons (Ruth 1:1-2 [1] Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. [2] And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
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3. They continue in Moab (Ruth 1:2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
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3. The Tragedy (Ruth 1:3-5 [3] And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. [4] And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. [5] And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
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1. Naomi’s husband dies (Ruth 1:3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
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2. Her sons marry Moabite women (Ruth 1:4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
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1. Note
1. The Israelites were not to marry the people of the land (Exodus 34:11-16 [11] Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. [12] Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: [13] But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: [14] For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: [15] Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; [16] And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 7:1-4 [1] When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; [2] And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. [4] For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
   See All...) – although the Moabites are not mentioned in these passages.
2. The Moabites were not received into the congregation of Israel for ten generations (Deuteronomy 23:3-4 [3] An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: [4] Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
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1. Because they would not allow Israel to pass through the land
2. Because they hired Balaam to curse Israel
2. Orpah and Ruth
3. They continue about ten years.
3. Her sons both die (Ruth 1:5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
   See All...).
2. NAOMI RETURNS TO JUDAH (Ruth 1:6-7 [6] Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. [7] Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
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1. She Determines to Leave Moab (Ruth 1:6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
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1. She hears that the famine is over.
2. Her daughters-in-law arise to go with her.
2. They Travel on the Way to Judah (Ruth 1:7Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
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3. NAOMI SENDS HER DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW HOME (Ruth 1:8-13 [8] And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. [9] The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. [10] And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. [11] And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? [12] Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; [13] Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
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1. She Gives Them Leave to Return Home (Ruth 1:8-10 [8] And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. [9] The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. [10] And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
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1. She tells them to go to their mother’s house (Ruth 1:8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
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2. She blesses them for their kindness (Ruth 1:8And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
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3. She desires that they might find husbands – notice the word rest  (Ruth 1:9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
   See All...; Ruth 3:1Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
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4. She kisses them and they weep (Ruth 1:9The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
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5. They both claim allegiance to her (Ruth 1:10And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
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2. She Argues for Their Departure (Ruth 1:11-13 [11] And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? [12] Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; [13] Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
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1. She has no sons for them to marry (Ruth 1:11And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
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2. She is too old to have a husband (Ruth 1:12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
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3. Any sons would take too long to grow up (Ruth 1:13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
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4. The hand of the Lord is against her (Ruth 1:13Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
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4. RUTH REFUSES TO LEAVE NAOMI (Ruth 1:14-18 [14] And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. [15] And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. [16] And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: [17] Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. [18] When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
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1. They Weep Again (Ruth 1:14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
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1. Orpah leaves.
2. Ruth cleaves.
2. Naomi Encourages Ruth to Leave Also (Ruth 1:15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
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3. Ruth Declares Her Faithfulness to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17 [16] And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: [17] Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
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1. To go where she goes (Ruth 1:16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
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2. To lodge where she lodges (Ruth 1:16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
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3. To make her people her own (Ruth 1:16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
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4. To trust in her God (Ruth 1:16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
   See All...); it seems that Ruth has more faith in Naomi’s God than Naomi has (see Ezekiel 3:4-6 [4] And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. [5] For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; [6] Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
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5. To die where she dies (Ruth 1:17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
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4. Naomi Accepts the Presence of Ruth (Ruth 1:18When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
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5. NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN TO BETHLEHEM (Ruth 1:19-22 [19] So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? [20] And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? [22] So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
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1. They Arrive in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
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1. The city is moved.
2. The people hardly believe it is Naomi.
2. Naomi Expresses her Grief (Ruth 1:20-21 [20] And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
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1. She wants to be called Mara [bitter – see Exodus 15:23And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
   See All...] (Ruth 1:20And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
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1. She is no longer Naomi [pleasant].
2. God has dealt bitterly with her.
2. She testifies of her sorrow (Ruth 1:21I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
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1. She left full and returns empty.
2. God Himself has testified against her.
3. They Settle in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
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1. Naomi and Ruth come from Moab.
2. The time is the beginning of barley harvest. NOTE: This gives hope.  Naomi has suffered much and feels that the Lord Himself has turned against her. But the time of harvest is coming. Naomi will reap in joy.

CONCLUSION: When all goes wrong and we think God has turned against us, we are wrong. He may be just setting things up for a great time of blessing.