I’ve often wondered why the men in Naomi’s family were physically weaker than the women.  All three of the men died before the women.  Why was this?  There was a famine in the land, so were they sacrificing their portions to their wives which led to their untimely deaths?  

Well according to ancient Rabbinic writings found in the Targum of Ruth the death of these men was actually a judgment from God.  Not only had they left God’s holy land before all options of survival were exhausted, but they had married outside of the covenant and specifically to Moabite women whom the Israelites were specifically forbidden to marry. (Deuteronomy 23:3) (Source)  (I want to emphasize that this information is based on writings outside the canonical record, but it’s still interesting to consider!)