A widow in a strange land

Ruth 1:3-5, “3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.” Upon Elimelech’s death, the boys were probably of an age they could support the family as was the custom. After Elimelech’s death, at some point, the boys took wives of the Moabite people and remained in Moab another 10 years until they both died. The Moabite women were Orpah and Ruth. Now, Naomi’s livelihood was gone. She had no means of support and she chose to return to Bethlehem to her own people for survival. Remember she was in a foreign land that was essentially an enemy of Israel. Naomi was thinking of safety and survival.