Matthew Poole and continuators on Ruth 1:2

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the name of his two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah e: and they came into the countrey of Moab, and continued there .

So called, because this Bethlehem is otherwise called Ephrath or Ephratha, Gen. 35. 19. Mich. 5. 2. either from Caleb's Wife of that name, 1 Chron. 2. 19. and 4. 4. or from the fertility of the Soyl about it; which title may therefore be used here, to shew the greatness of the Famine, which affected even fertile parts.

To wit, during the Famine.

Marginal references: Heb. were. Numb. 9. 21.