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Elimelech is a biblical figure mentioned in theBook of Ruth.
According to theThe Jewish Encyclopedia, Elimelech is a descendant of theTribe of Judah, and was the husband ofNaomi and the father ofMachalon and Chilyon.[1] The family lived inBethlehem inJudea. Due to famine, Elimelech and his family left the Land of Israel and settled inMoab, where he died.
His children, Machalon and Chilyon, married two Moabite women,Ruth andArpah. When Elimelech's two sons later died, Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem. Ruth later marriedBoaz, a relative of Elimelech.[2]
According to the Talmud, Elimelch was the son ofNachshon Ben Aminadav, the Nasi of the Tribe of Judah.[3]
Regarding him and why he left the Land of Israel,Chazal said:
"Elimelech was a great man and leader of his generation. When the years of hunger came he said: Now all the Jews will wander from door to door collecting and they'll come to my door. What did he do? He escaped".[4]
When the Book of Ruth recalls his death it states: "Elimelech the husband of Na'ami died". From this Chazal derived that the main consequence of a man's death is to his wife.
From the story of Elimelech, Chazal derived the severity of emigrating from Eretz Yisrael. As they say: Why were Elimelch Machalon and Chilyon punished? For they exited the Land of Israel and entered the Diaspora... for even merit from his ancestry does not stand for individuals who leave Eretz Yisrael".[3]