Orpah

1Long ago, judges ruled Israel. In those days the food ran out in the land. A man from Bethlehem, a town in Judah, went to live in Moab for a while. He took his wife and his two sons with him.

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.

NoteMoab was a country next to Israel. To get there you walked around the Dead Sea. The people of Moab spoke a bit like Israel but worshiped other gods. Judah was the part of Israel where Bethlehem was. When the rain did not come, no crops grew and people had no bread. That is why the family moved away. Judges were leaders who settled fights and led the people in war.

2The man was named Elimelech. His wife was named Naomi. His two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They belonged to the Ephrathite families of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to Moab and made their home there.

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.

NoteEphrathite was the name of a family group from around Bethlehem. It means this family had lived there a long time. Bethlehem was once called Ephrath.

3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died. Naomi was left with her two sons.

And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4The two sons married women from Moab. One was named Orpah. The other was named Ruth. The family lived in Moab about ten years.

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.

NoteIn those days people from Israel usually married someone from their own people. Marrying women from Moab was unusual. The two peoples prayed to different gods.

5Then Mahlon and Chilion died too. Naomi was left with no sons and no husband.

And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

NoteBack then a woman with no husband and no sons was in real trouble. There were no jobs for her and no money coming in. Her family kept her fed and safe, and now Naomi had no one.

6While she was in Moab, Naomi heard good news. The LORD had cared for his people and given them food again. So she got ready to leave Moab and go home. Her two sons' wives got ready to go with her.

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.

NoteWhen you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own special name. The people of Israel used that name for the God they worshiped.

7She left the place where she had been living. Her two sons' wives walked with her. They set out on the road back to Judah.

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.

8Then Naomi said to the two young women, "Go back. Each of you go to your mother's house. May the LORD be as kind to you as you were to me. You were kind to my sons too, before they died."

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.

NoteA young woman whose husband had died could go back to her mother's home. There her family would care for her. She might marry again later.

9"May the LORD give each of you a new husband and a settled home." Then she kissed them both. The two young women cried out loud.

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.

Note"Rest" here does not mean sleep. It means a safe home where you are cared for. Naomi is wishing them a husband and a home of their own.

10They said to her, "No. We will go with you to your people."

And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

11But Naomi said, "Go back home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? I have no more sons who could become your husbands."

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?

NoteThere was a custom then. If a man died, his brother married the widow. That way she was cared for and the family carried on. Naomi means she has no more sons to do that.

12"Go back home, my daughters. Go on. I am too old to have a husband. Suppose I still had hope. Suppose I married tonight and had sons."

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 you wait until those boys grew up? Would you stay without husbands that long? No, my daughters. I am very sad for your sake. The LORD's hand has turned against me."

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.

Note"The LORD's hand has turned against me" was a way of saying it. Naomi felt God had sent her all this sadness.

14They cried out loud again. Then Orpah kissed her husband's mother goodbye. But Ruth held on to her and would not let go.

And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

NoteA kiss was the ordinary way to say hello or goodbye. It was like a hug is for us.