Narrative order · Ruth · Conquest and Judges

Ruth clings to Naomi and returns to Bethlehem

In the days of the judges, famine drove Elimelech's family from Bethlehem to Moab. After Naomi was widowed, Ruth pledged to remain with her and worship her God, and the two returned to Bethlehem at the barley harvest (Ruth 1:1-22).

narrative order · year not stated

Within the judges period per Ruth 1:1

📖 Ruth 1:1–3

1In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab. 2The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there. 3Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,

© 2026 Jeffrey A. Jameson, BibleTimescape (bibletimescape.com). Map geometry: Natural Earth, public domain. Place coordinates: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.Salt SeaMoabBethlehem
Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · Places: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Download map
SVG · LightSVG · Dark

Free to use and adapt with the credit included in the file (CC BY 4.0).

View on the timeline →