It had been over a decade since Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons had left Bethlehem during a severe famine, but Naomi had not changed very much in that time. "The whole town was stirred" because Naomi had returned after this long absence and had a young woman with her. The women of Bethlehem, who had known her before she left, called her by name; "Do not call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty."

They soon heard the rest of her story and learned about Ruth’s loyalty and love that prompted her to leave her native land and go to Bethlehem with Naomi. That must have really started tongues wagging: "I’d like to have a daughter-in-law like that," one might have said. "How can she…