What is the significance of returning to Na'ami's nation?
Vilna Gaon: They wanted to convert. Chazal said that we did not accept converts in the days of Shlomo, for they do not convert due to recognizing the Emes of Yisrael's Emunah, rather, due to Yisrael's success. We see that they will not accept us for this reason. However, if we will go after you 1 , perhaps they will accept us.
Malbim: They revealed that they are not merely going to accompany her until Eretz Yehudah, and then they will return to Mo'av. Rather, we will return and remain among your nation. They did not yet say lEi'lokecha, for they did not yet intend to convert, only to live amidst her nation.
The verse says "Itach Nashuv." What is the source that they will go after her? Perhaps we infer from "Itach", which implies that they are not on a par with her, as opposed to "Imach", which equates them. So the Vilna Gaon explained why Hashem was angry that Bil'am went "Im" Sarei Mo'av, after Hashem told him "Lech Itam" (Bamidbar 22:20-22). (PF)
