Commentaire sur Ruth 1:12

For I am too old to have a husband. That I should marry him and bear sons, that you would marry them, for they would not be forbidden to you [to marry] and you would not be forbidden to them as far as [the prohibition against marrying] the wife of an older brother who died before he was born, for she [the widow] does require a levirate marriage because Machlon and Chilyon were not [halachically] married to them because they were gentiles and had not converted,¹⁵Had they converted before, their marriage would be binding and Rus would be prohibited from marrying Machlon’s yet unborn brother. The law of levirate marriage does not apply to a person born after his brother’s death. Marrying one’s brother’s wife constitutes incest when levirate marriage does not apply. However, since there was no binding marriage, Rus would be permitted to marry Machlon’s yet unborn brother. and now they were coming to convert as it is stated, “We will return with you to your people.”¹⁶Above, verse 10. From now on we will become one people.

Even if I could say, “I have yet hope.” For even if my heart told me that I have hope to marry again and to bear sons.

Even if I were to have a husband tonight. And more than this, even if I were to conceive male offspring tonight.

And even if I were to bear sons. Or even if I had already borne sons.