"Because with you we will return to your people" — meaning, they will not separate from her people, who are Israel, and therefore they will return with her even though she has no sons. It seems that they converted when Mahlon and Chilion married them, which is why we do not find that Ruth needed to convert when Boaz married her. For this reason, they were also returning with her. This is why they said, "Because with you we will return to your people." However, Naomi wanted to test if they had converted out of love for God or if they had converted due to their desire for her sons.

"For I am too old to have a husband" — meaning, therefore, it is not appropriate for you to wait for me to have sons for you to marry.

"For I said I have hope, etc." — meaning that even if I say I have hope of having sons in my womb, and not only that, but also that I was with a man last night and conceived, and not only that, but also that I gave birth to sons last night, is it appropriate for you to wait until they grow up? Would you remain bound all this time?

"And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law" — meaning to part from her, thus showing that she had not converted except due to her desire for Naomi's son. But Ruth clung to her despite this because she chose the religion of Israel and did not want to abandon her faith. Therefore, she said, "Where you go, I will go; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."

"Return with your sister-in-law to her people and her gods" — this is a sign that she had already separated from her god before this.

"When you die, I will die, and there I will be buried" — meaning, her intention was that even after Naomi's death, she would not return to her people and her gods.

"And she saw that she was determined to go with her, etc." From this we learn that after one has been informed of the obligations and stringencies of the Torah regarding a convert, and despite this, they still wish to proceed, it is appropriate to refrain from dissuading them further.

"Call me Mara, for the Almighty has made my life very bitter. The pleasantness of bitterness is the reversal of bitterness, just as sweetness transforms, for pleasantness can be said about sweetness, as it is stated (Proverbs 9:17): 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'"

"And the Lord answered me." This means that He testified against me regarding my sins because of the great punishment that befell me.