MAHLON

(Mahʹlon) [sickly, invalid].

Son of Elimelech and Naomi. During a famine in the days of the Judges, he moved with his parents from Bethlehem in Judah to Moab. There Mahlon married the Moabitess Ruth, but died childless. (Ruth 1:1-5; 4:10) Ruth returned to Judah with her mother-in-law and, complying with the law of levirate marriage, married Boaz. (Ruth 4:9, 10; Deut. 25:5, 6) The resulting family line produced David and led to Jesus Christ.—Ruth 4:22; Matt. 1:5, 6, 16.