So Naomi returned.
Naomi means “pleasant,” but hardships and disappointments had made her bitter. She was probably hard to get along with after her husband and two sons died. She even complains against the Lord. But she comes back home to her own people. Something about her had spoken to her daughter-in-law’s heart, and Ruth wants to be a companion to Naomi in spite of her bitterness. Naomi tries to persuade Ruth to stay in her own land, but Ruth insists on going to Bethlehem. There the Lord heals Naomi’s broken heart, and, after Ruth’s marriage to rich Boaz, Naomi becomes the great-grandmother of King David. The Lord can bring blessing out of trial.