text says, “both Mahlon and Chilion also died”. Naomi had just lost her livelihood and her hope from a human standpoint. There was no social security system in those days. She was truly in dire straights now. Though there is the devastating pain of yet another loss—very likely due to the judgment of God because of covenant unfaithfulness—yet there was hope. “The woman was left a remnant out of her two children and her husband”. Though she no doubt felt like it, God had not abandoned her, but rather