A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old
and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David
Brown  at sacred-texts.com rut 1:1ELIMELECH, DRIVEN BY FAMINE
INTO MOAB, DIES THERE. (Rut 1:1-5) in the days when the judges
ruled--The beautiful and interesting story which this book
relates belongs to the early times of the judges. The precise
date cannot be ascertained. rut 1:2Elimelech--signifies "My God
is king." Naomi--"fair or pleasant"; and their two sons, Mahlon
and Chilion, are supposed to be the same as Joash and Saraph
(Ch1 4:22). Ephrathites--The ancient name of Beth-lehem was
Ephrath (Gen 35:19; Gen 48:7), which was continued after the
occupation of the land by the Hebrews, even down to the time of
the prophet Micah (Mic 5:2). Beth-lehem-judah--so called to
distinguish it from a town of the same name in Zebulun. The
family, compelled to emigrate to Moab through pressure of a
famine, settled for several years in that country. After the
death of their father, the two sons ma