Hint of change (1:6). Through these initial verses of the story, the introduction has set the stage by showing that all possible lines of hesed in the ancient world available to Naomi have been effectively severed. But verse 6 gives a hint that this may change if empty Naomi returns to the newly filled land of promise, since Yahweh has come to the aid of his people, providing food for them. Verse 6 is antithetically parallel to verse 1, providing a chiastic contrast in content:37 A “there was a famine” B “went to . . . Moab” B' “return . . . from there [lit., Moab]” A' “the LORD . . .
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