Elimelech

Elimelech is the husband of Naomi and comes from Bethlehem. During a time of famine, he takes his family away to live temporarily in the land of Moab. While they are there, Elimelech and both his sons die.

The name Elimelech means “my God is king”. Elimelech belongs to the tribe of Judah.
He is a descendant of Ephrath, the founder of Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 4:3-4).

After the death of Elimelech, his widow Naomi returns home and sells their field to Boaz, a blood relative of her late husband. She did this to ensure that the ownership of Elimelech’s land would remain in the family, in accordance with the instructions of Moses for the people of Israel (Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7).