⁵ “In Bethlehem^(A) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁴² Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants^(A) and from Bethlehem,^(B) the town where David lived?”

Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons

1 In the days when the judges ruled,^[a](A) there was a famine in the land.^(B) So a man from Bethlehem in Judah,^(C) together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while^(D) in the country of Moab.^(E)

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(A) for Saul, since I have rejected^(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(E) one of his sons to be king.”

⁴ Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!^(A)”

“The Lord bless you!^(B)” they answered.

¹¹ Then the elders and all the people at the gate^(A) said, “We are witnesses.^(B) May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah,^(C) who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah^(D) and be famous in Bethlehem.^(E)

¹⁹ So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.^(A) When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred^(B) because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath^(A) (that is, Bethlehem^(B)).