Ruth: A Torah of Kindness/Learn the Sources

In the days when the chieftains ruled, there was a famine in the land; and a man of Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the country of Moab.

The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. They came to the country of Moab and remained there.

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

They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth, and they lived there about ten years.

Then those two—Mahlon and Chilion—also died; so the woman was left without her two sons and without her husband.

She started out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab; for in the country of Moab she had heard that the LORD had taken note of His people and given them food.

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living; and they set out on the road back to the land of Judah.

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Turn back, each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me!

May the LORD grant that each of you find security in the house of a husband!” And she kissed them farewell. They broke into weeping

and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

So, Elimelekh was one of the prominent residents of the province, and one of the leaders of the generation. When the years of famine arrived, he said: ‘Now, all Israel will come around to my door, this one with his basket and that one with his basket.’ He arose and fled from them; that is what is written: “A man of Bethlehem of Judah went.”

It is taught in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua: More than the owner does for the poor person, the poor person does for the owner...

(26) Her mouth is full of wisdom, Her tongue with kindly teaching.