The answer is: Famine in his home town

Ruth 1:1 - The name "Elimelech" literally means "My God [is] King".

Elimelech's decision to move to Moab due to famine is steeped in context and intrigue. Imagine living in a time when crops could fail, livelihoods could vanish, and survival meant making tough calls. Elimelech’s name, meaning “My God is King,” carries a profound irony here. Such a powerful name reflects his faith, yet he chooses to seek refuge in a foreign land — a place considered historically hostile to Israel.

Moab, the land he turned to, was home to the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and had its own contentious history with Israel. The shift to Moab serves as an entry into both vulnerability and community. It underscores the parsing of faith and practicality. It highlights the compelling theme in Bible narratives — uncertainty about one's situation often leads to seeking refuge elsewhere.

Interestingly, many aspects of Ruth's later story highlight this theme of resilience despite adversity. It's also notable how Elimelech's choice catalyzed events that would lead to significant blessings, both through Ruth's undying loyalty and the eventual lineage she produced leading to King David. This intersection of hardship and hope reminds us that times of famine can sow the seeds of unexpected blessings, redemption, and connection. In trying times, who would have thought a Moabitess would be celebrated and ultimately find her name echoed in the genealogy of greatness? Silently through Elimelech's choice, an unfolding saga of faithfulness streams forth.