For the Love of Boaz

The textbook I’m using for my class on the Bible refers more than once to “romance” and “falling in love” as elements of the Book of Ruth. This is a common interpretation from the standpoint of many modern cultures, but does it really have any basis in the text? It seems that it is perhaps easier to make a case for something like romantic love between Ruth and Naomi based on details in the story, than it is to make a case for Boaz having “fallen in love with” Ruth.

What do you think? Is there “romance” in this story, or do we only “find” it there if we read it into the text?

Readers are also invited to offer humorous captions for either of the two paintings below, which depict the meeting of Boaz and Ruth.