RUTH AND NAOMI.
:
Old Testament Stories
Naomi was the wife of a Jew named Elimelech, who left his own city of
Bethlehem to go into the land of Moab, because there was a famine in
Canaan. Some time afterwards he died, leaving Naomi a widow with two
sons, all dwellers in a strange land. Her sons married two young women
belonging to Moab, whose names were Orpah and Ruth. After living there
about ten years Naomi's sons died also, leaving Orpah and Ruth widows,
a
ong with their widowed mother-in-law. Then Naomi determined to
return to her own land. Orpah and Ruth accompanied Naomi some distance
on her journey; then she bade them to leave her, telling each to go
back to her mother's house in Moab, while she would pursue her way
alone to the land of Judah. They were unwilling to do so, saying they
would go with her to her land and people; but she urged them to
depart, assuring them that they would gain nothing by leaving their
own country to accompany her, and that they had better return to their
own homes. Then the story informs us--you will find it in the Bible,
in the Book of Ruth--that Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and departed;
but Ruth clave unto her, saying, "Whither thou goest, I will go; and
where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God; 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."
So Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law, and journeyed with her
until they reached Canaan. Then they both dwelt in the city of
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, where we shall meet with them again.