## It happened ##

"It was" or "This is what happened." This is a common way of beginning a historical story.

## in the days when the judges ruled ##

"during the time when judges led and governed Israel"

## in the land ##

"in the land of Israel". (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

## a certain man ##

"a man." This is a common way of introducing a character into a story.

## Ephrathites of Bethlehem of Judea ##

They were from the tribe of Ephraim who settled at Bethlehem in the region of Judea.