Naomi’s Daughters-in-law

Naomi’s Daughters-in-Law

Q: What two women married Naomi and Elimelech’s sons?

• a. Mary and Elizabeth
• b. Ruth and Deborah
• c. Ruth and Orpah

Elimelech died not long after he moved his family to Moab. His wife, Naomi, and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, were left on their own in a foreign land. The sons both married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Sometime after that, both sons died.

When a woman was widowed in Old Testament times, her husband’s closest relative would take care of the woman, or her husband’s brother would marry the woman. But Elimelech and both of his sons were dead. Naomi didn’t know if any of her relatives were still alive in her hometown, Bethlehem.

Naomi decided it was time to return to Bethlehem. She had heard things had gotten better there, and she didn’t have a reason to stay in Moab alone.

Naomi told Ruth and Orpah to return to their families so they might have a chance to marry again. Orpah went home, but Ruth decided to stay with Naomi. This meant leaving her own land, Moab, and going to Bethlehem with Naomi. This was unusual because Ruth was a Gentile (a person who isn’t a Jew), and the Moabites weren’t welcome in Israel. Ruth didn’t share a common faith or background with Naomi either. But they were both alone, and Ruth told Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

Ruth chose to go with Naomi and to worship God rather than the idols she’d grown up worshiping. Because of this, although she was a Gentile, she played an important part in Jewish history.

For You

God didn’t let Ruth’s background keep him from using her. God can use you no matter what kind of family you are from or whatever circumstances you may face. He looks at your heart, not your background or family history.

Answer: c

The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth.   Ruth 1:4

(The Whole Story: Ruth 1)