11 Now it came about in the days when the judges [1]governed , that there was a famine in the land . And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab [2]with his wife and his two sons . 2 The name of the man was Elimelech , and the name of his wife , Naomi ; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion , Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah . Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ruth 1:1-2
Commentary on Ruth 1:1-5
(Read Ruth 1:1-5)
Elimelech's care to provide for his family, was not to be blamed; but his removal into the country of Moab could not be justified. And the removal ended in the wasting of his family. It is folly to think of escaping that cross, which, being laid in our way, we ought to take up. Changing our place seldom is mending it. Those who bring young people into bad acquaintance, and take them out of the way of public ordinances, thought they may think them well-principled, and armed against temptation, know not what will be the end. It does not appear that the women the sons of Elimelech married, were proselyted to the Jewish religion. Earthly trials or enjoyments are of short continuance. Death continually removes those of every age and situation, and mars all our outward comforts: we cannot too strongly prefer those advantages which shall last for ever.