naomi was forced to return home because her husband and sons were dead. she then told ruth and orpah to return home to their families and find new husbands. orpah returned home but ruth promised she would follow naomi wherever she went. ruth's pledge to naomi is found in chapter 1 verses 16 and 17. " but ruth said, "do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! where you go, i will go; where you lodge, i will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your god my god. where you die, i will die— there will i be buried. may the lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"" although originally made by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law, a form of this pledge is sometimes included in wedding services.