A LONG time ago we read of something most interesting about Bethlehem.
In the time of the Judges of Israel, before Saul or David had been made
kings, there was a man living at Bethlehem whose name was Elimelech. He
had a wife called Naomi, and two sons called Mahlon and Chilion.
But there came a famine in Bethlehem, and Elimelech and his wife and
two sons went out of Canaan and journeyed into the land of Moab.
Here the family of Elimelech settled down for ten years.
But Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. These sons
married wives in Moab, but both of them died, and Naomi was then left a
desolate widow.
By and by she heard that the famine was over in the land of Canaan, and
she started with her two daughters-in-law to return to Bethlehem.
But after they had set out on their journey, Naomi advised Orpah and
Ruth to go back to their mothers, and prayed that, as they had been so
loving and kind to her sons who had died, God would take care of them,
and bless them in Moab.
Then she kissed them, and they all wept together. And they said,
"Surely we will go back with thee to thy people!"
But Naomi did everything she could think of to dissuade them, and at
last, with many tears, Orpah wished her good-bye; but Ruth clung to her.
Then Naomi used another argument: "Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone
back to her people and to her gods—return thou after her."
But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave thee or to return from
following after thee, for whither thou goest I will go; thy people
shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God!"
So Ruth chose the God of Israel to be her God. And that God Whom she
had chosen, watched over her all her life long, and gave her great
happiness and honour, as I shall tell you by and by.
When Naomi found that Ruth was determined that "naught but death"
should part them she left off persuading her, and they two journeyed on
till they came to Bethlehem.
[Illustration: So Boaz spoke kindly to Ruth.]
The arrival of strangers at a little town in those days was a great
event, and all the people flocked out of their houses to see who it
could be.