Ruth 1:1-5

International Children’s Bible

The Story of a Girl from Moab

1 ^1-2 Long ago the judges^[a] ruled Israel. During their rule, there was a time in the land when there was not enough food to eat. A man named Elimelech left Bethlehem in Judah and moved to the country of Moab. He took his wife and his two sons with him. His wife was named Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Kilion. These people were from the Ephrathah district around Bethlehem in Judah. The family traveled to Moab and lived there.

³ Later, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died. So only Naomi and her two sons were left. ⁴ These sons married women from Moab. The name of one wife was Orpah. The name of the other wife was Ruth. Naomi and her sons lived in Moab about ten years. ⁵ Then Mahlon and Kilion also died. So Naomi was left alone without her husband or her two sons.