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1 Elimelech, Naomi and their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, move to Moab because of a famine. The sons marry the Moabites Orpah and Ruth; Elimelech and sons die. Naomi sets out back to Bethlehem, and tries to persuade Orpah and Ruth to return to their own people. Saying she is too old to bear sons for them to marry. Orpah returns, but Ruth eloquently insists that she wants to stay with her mother-in-law: ‘your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’ Naomi renames herself Mara, meaning ‘bitter’. They arrive at Bethlehem in the time of the barley harvest. 2 Ruth gleans barley in Bethlehem from Boaz’s field until end of harvest. Boaz is a relative of Elimelech. Hearing of her loyalty to Naomi, Boaz shows kindness to Ruth, insisting that she gleans from his field alone, and allowing her to glean from sheaves already gathered. Ruth shares the gleanings to Naomi. 3 Ruth visits Boaz during the night, and lies at Boaz’s feet until morning. Boaz accepts Ruth, impressed that she has not gone after young men,