Lay It on Me

W HEN THE U NEXPECTED H APPENS / 15

descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters. In fact, the Moabites were placed under a curse by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 23:2-4). So for Elimelech and his family to leave Bethlehem and go to Moab was regression, not progression. But when people are hungry, they will look for bread in unusual places. U NEXPECTED T RAGEDY While in Moab, Naomi's two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. We are uncertain what happened, but both sons died in Moab. Elimelech, Naomi's husband, also passed away. In ancient times there were no government social programs or financial assistance for widows. A woman losing her husband lost more than a companion; she also lost her financial security. At this point, Naomi's future was in jeopardy. Normally, when a man passed away, his oldest son would inherit the property and the land. When Naomi's husband died, the inheritance left in Bethlehem was in danger of being claimed by other family members because her sons had also died. Unless something happened, she would lose it all. If she remained in a foreign land, she would have to relinquish all rights to her husband's land. To have any chance at all of getting her property back, she would have to return to Bethlehem. Even then, she would not be able to retain the property for herself. One of her husband's kinsman would have to step forward and redeem it for her. Naomi was practically destitute.