When telling a story, you can often tell what is important to the writer based on the amount of time that is given to a particular aspect of the story. This is true in Ruth; the first five verses of the book explain a vast amount of time (over ten years) in very few words. There is no dialogue, no explanation, no details about Mahlon and Chilion's wedding. However, we come to a brief moment in history, a conversation that is minutes long, yet it has 17 verses compared to the first five. Interestingly, this passage has no men in it but is about three women. We will be looking at the three women and what happens somewhere along to way between the fields of Moab and the land of Judah.

I. Setting the Scene (6-7)

The first two verses (Ruth 1:6-7) give us some information about the placement of the conversation between these three women. The text begins with the statement, "then she arose," the narrative particularly focuses on Naomi, and maybe the book would be better titled Naomi. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law seek to return to Judah, from the fields of Moab. The text explains why she sets out to return to Judah because she heard in a field that "the Lord had visited his people and given them food." The famine, which was the cause of the Elimelech Family leaving Bethlehem, was over. However, if you remember the period this book is written, during Judges, and is a dark time for the people of Israel, one where they turn away from serving the one true living God and turn to serve other false gods. However, even in the midst of this time of unfaithfulness, the Lord still calls them HIS people. This is the glorious truth of 2 Timothy 2:13, "if we are faithless, He remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself." God promised that He would be their God, and they would be his people (Gen 17:8, Jer 32:38). The Lord visited his people, as he did with Sarah (Gen 21:1). He provided Sarah with a son and the people of Bethlehem with bread. The Hebrew actually reads that he provided them with bread bread. Not only did God visit them and give them a portion of bread but ample amounts of bread. This makes me believe this would be in one of the fourth cycles in the book of Judges, that God had raised up a judge to rule and deliver them from their enemies. Most likely set towards the end of the book of Judges, around Samson.

Naomi had heard that no longer Judah was in famine, but now they have an abundance of food. They all seek to return to Judah. The word return is a keyword in this passage that appears 12 times in these 17 verses. As they set out from the fields of Moab to the land of Judah, they stop and have a conversation. This is where the majority of this text is set, on the side of a road between Moab and Judah, with three widows.

II. Naomi's Return, Part I (8-9)

Often the Bible does not give us all the details that we want to know. We would like to know if Naomi had tried to speak to Elimelech about moving to Moab, if she was waiting for the moment to be able to say, "I told you so." Or was she pro-move. However, on the road to Judah, she turns to her daughters in law and tells them to return back to Moab. She also explains that the Lord (Yahweh), the covenant God of Israel, would deal kindly with you. The word Naomi uses is 'hesed' which speaks of the Lord's covenant faithfulness with his people. This word is used in Psalm 136, 26 times, and is translated, "His steadfast love." This promise comes from Genesis 12:3, when God speaks to Abram and says, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The Lord will bless Orpah and Ruth because they have blessed one of His people, Naomi. She then explains that the Lord would grant these two gentiles, Moabite women, rest in their husband's household. The word for rest is the same word that is translated as still waters in Psalm 23:2, "He leads me by still waters."

Naomi then turns to Orpah and Ruth and kisses them. Their response is lifting up their voices and weeping. Naomi lives up to her name of lovely or pleasant. Both Orpah and Ruth are very fond of Naomi. At this moment, the two daughters-in-law are to make a choice, do they stay with Naomi, who cannot provide for them, or go back to their home country and find a husband. It would be very unlikely that they would find a husband in Judah because they are from Moab and widowed. However, if they return home, they would leave Naomi alone. They know what Naomi is asking them to do. However, they explain that they will return with her to her people. I often point out the importance of personal pronouns in the Bible. This text is a great example of this truth. Both Ruth and Orpah are willing to go to Judah, with Naomi to HER people. They do not see themselves as returning to our people, but Naomi's. This will be important as we move forward.

III. Orpah's Return (11-14)

However, Naomi is grateful for their loyalty to her. She does not want to drag them along on false pretenses. She does not want them to come because she has nothing she can provide for them. She asks a series of questions, encouraging them to turn back or return home (turn back is the same Hebrew word for return). She logically spells out her case, that she doesn't have any more sons. Even if she was to get married on that day and bear children, she might not be able to because of her age, they might not be sons, and even if that was the case would you wait around 20 years so that you could marry them? Are you going to wait and refrain from marrying? Naomi then explains that the Lord has dealt with her bitterly. Why should you have to suffer on my own calamities?\