26 Song Of Songs

11 ECCLESIAS TES

12:4

99°

and the street doors are shut; when the sound of the mill is faint, when the voice of the bird is silenced, c and song notes are stilled, when to go uphill is an ordeal and a walk is somet hing to dread.

4

INTRODUCTION TO

Yet the almond tree is in flower, the grasshopper is heavy with food and the caper bush bears its fruit," Ps49:11

THE SONG OF SONGS

while man goes to his everlasting home. And the mou rners are already walking to and fro in the street before the silver cord has snap ped, or the golden lamp been broken, or the pitcher shattered at the spring, or the pulley cracke d at the well,

~;~~J:~t: or before the dust returns to the earth as it once came from it, and the breath to God who gave it.' 146:4 1:2

5:6 S I I :13

7

Vanity of vanities, Qohelet h says. All is vanityJ Epilogue" Besides being a sage, Qohelet h also taught his knowledge to the people, having weighed, studied and amended a great many proverbs. -Qo hclcth tried to write in an attractive style and to set down truth ful thoughts in a straightfo rward manner. The words of the sages are like goads, like pegs driven deep; a shepherd uses these for the good of his flocks." One last thing, my son, be warned tha t writing books involves endless hard work, and that much study wearies the body . To sum up the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments, since this is the whole duty of man.' -For God will call all hidden deeds, good or bad, to judge ment.

12 c . 'the vo ice of the bird is silenced (ceases) ' corr .

but also his greatness , by show ing that this worl d is not worthy of him. It incite s the reade r to disint erested relig ion and to that kind of prayer in wh ich a creature , very mom ent that nature rev ives with the spring, 'is aware of its not hingne ss, ado res the mystery of God. heavy with food ', ' bears its fr-uit ", corr. C r. Ps 39. e . T he ea rthly part of man return s to ea rth. But g. Commendatory epilo gue: eulogy o f Oohe leth , since no thi ng o n this earth can sa tisfy him. no t all o f vv , 9-11 . hardships of writ ing boo ks, v. 12. advice for him orte rna res from ea rth. and tha t which is of God . a Quiet mind. vv. 13- 14. returns to Go d. h. Mea ning dou btful . text ca rr. f. The book ends as it began but has covered much i. D efec tive phrase ; we insert 'd uty' . gro und in between . It has taught man his wretched ness d. He re aga in,

cr.

1:4f . indifferent nature fo rms the

backclo th for human death, T he old m an dies at the

9 10

II

12

13

14

The Song of So ngs, that is to say 'the greatest of a ll songs', is a series of love poems in wh ich lover a nd loved are now united , now divided, now scught , now fo und. The lover is called 'k ing', 1:4 and 12, and 'Solomon' , 3:7 and 9; his beloved is ca lled 'the Sh ula rnmite ', 7: 1, which title, it is thought, is related to the 'Shunamrnitc' of David 's time and Solomon's, I K 1:3; 2:21-22. That Solomon was a writer of so ngs Hebrew trad ition was aware, 1 K 5: 12; for this reason 'the greatest of all songs' was attributed to him (hence the title, I: I); in the same way as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Wisdom were credited to Solomon in his capacity of sage. This titu lar attrib ution ca used t he Song to be placed among the Wisdom Books, a fter Ecclesiastes in the Greek Bible, between Eccles iastes and Wisdom (two 'Solomonic' books) in the Vu lgate. In the Hebrew Bible it is the first of the five megilloth, or 'rolls', which were recited a t the great feasts ; the Song was read at Passover. People have found it surprising that a book that makes no mention of God an d whose vocabulary is so pass iona te shou ld figure in the sacred canon. The doubts in Jewish circles of the 1st century A.D. were , however, settled by an a ppeal to tradition. On these same gro unds the Christian Church has always accepted the Song as part of holy scripture. Of all the O ld Testa ment boo ks this has been most va riously interpreted. Only two of these interpretations a re accepta ble. T he Je wish rabbi s unders tood it all egorically ; the rela tio nship of lover a nd beloved is th at bet ween God a nd Israel, th e traditional p rophetic marriage metaph or dat ing fro m Hosea. T he write rs of the early Church , with th e exceptio n of T heo do re of Mo ps uestia, adopted the sa me explanation , though with them th e a llego ry bec ome s one of Christ and his C hur ch. T his allegorical int erpretation is accep ted, under var iou s form s, by the majority of Ca tholic commentat or s to day. So me a re co nte nt with the gene ral theme, the ela boratio n bein g p urely literary, of God the br ide groom of Isr ael. O thers see in the seq uence of th e So ng the story o f Israel's changing sea sons of co nversion, hope, d isillusion me nt. Th is las t interp reta tion is fully exp la ined in the footnotes given here. Other scho la rs prefer t he more obv io us meaning. For them the Son g is a coll ecti on of hymns to true Jov e sanct ified by union. And since God has given his blessing to ma rriage, the theme is of t he religious a nd not merely of the phys ical orde r. O ther book s of th e O ld Testament touch upo n this same subject of human love, Pro ver bs an d Ecclesia sticus fo r exa mple ; the a pproach is th e same as that of the So ng a nd , a t time s, the very phrases. It is a nobl e theme and th e prophets rig htly saw in it an apt image of God's love for Isr ael. The topic is not unworthy of a book that was to be received into the sacred canon and rec ognised as inspired.

(/)

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II)

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IN T ROD U C T IO N TO T H E SON G 0 F SON G S

992

If we accept the a llego rical inte rpretation, it is permis sible to look for a planned arrangement in the Song mat ch ing the develo pment of God's re lations with Israe l, a nd to establish the d a te of the book by its his torical allusions. This method points to the second half of the 5th century B.C ., not earlier. If however the book is a co llect ion of songs, possibly of varying pe riods, th e historical argument is inapplicable ; nevertheless, the vocabulary a nd style themselves ind icate a post-exilic origin . Whatever theory of interpretation we adopt we a re justified in applying th e Song to the mutual love of Christ and his Ch urch or to the union of the individ ual soul with God. Mystics like St J oh n of th e Cross were wise to use the Song as they did .

THE SONG OF SONGS TITLE AND PROLOGUE

1

T hc Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. THE

BR I DE

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth . Yo ur love is mo re delightfu l than wine; delicate is thc fragrance of yo ur perfume," your name is an oil pour ed out, and that is why the maid ens" love you. Draw me in your footsteps, let us run, The King " has brought me into his rooms;" you will be our joy and our gladness." We shall praise your love a bove wine; how right it is to love you .

4:10 1: 12

b: ~ +

;: ow

I am black! but lovely, da ughters of Jerusaleru,« like the tents of Keda r, like the pav ilions of Salmah.« Ta ke no noti ce of my swa rthiness, it is the sun that has burnt me. My moth er's sons turn ed their anger on me.' they made me look after the vineyard s'! H ad I on ly looked after my own!"

Is 5: 1---1G n 37; 16

Tel/ me then, you whom my heart loves: Where will yo u lead yo ur f lock to graze, where will you rest it at noon'?'

Ps 23: 1·3

Ez k 34: I

In

1 a. T h roughout the Song t h is image is symbolic of (h e charms tha i ent ra nce and intoxica te the hea r t. represen t the na tion s. b . Th e m ai dens may cf. Is 23: 12 : 37; 22 ; 47:1 : Jr 14: 17, CIC. A lt ho ugh Isr ael is th e priv ile ged bri de. th is does not excl ude o t her nat io ns fro m fall ing u nder t he spell of the Bridegroom. cr. 1,45:14 + , c. Y ah weh is k in g of Isr ae l, I S 12: 12 ; Is 6:1,5: Jr 23:2: Ez k 34:11- 16 . H e is freq uen tly given th is ti t le in pos t-exilic literat ure, cf. D t 33:5; Is 24: 23 ; 33:2 2 ; 4 1:2 1: 43 :15 : 44 :6 : Jr 5 1:57: O b 21: Zc 14:9 : MI 1: 14. as also in the esc ha to lo gical co ntexts in Ps 24:7; 47:8; 4X:2 ; 6X:24 , etc . The So ng may be in th e same traditio n . d. Poss ib ly. and in 3:4 : 8:2. t he Temp le in Je ru salem . fo cu s o f Isr aeli te d evot io n in post -e xilic ti mes . Ezk 43: r-v rcr, \". 1'\): 1540:3 .9.10: 52:8 .1 2 : Zc 1:1 6- 17 : 2:1O-IJ : j{:J: 1's U 1 e . Abounding ioy cha rac teri ses a ll th e prop hectes o f sa lvat io n . e.g . Is 9:2 ; 66:10 : J I 2;2 1.2 3 ; z» 10:i; Ps 14:7; 16:9 ; 2 1:1.

~

III

4:10

F I R ST POEM T H E BR IDE

III

f . Sy m b o lic of a se r io us ordea l,

cr. v.

6 ; Jb 30:30;

1.01 4:8. g. T he 'd augh ters o f Jeru sale m ' . dt sttnauishcd fr om

Z io n by a litera ry fic tio n. d . 3: I I : Ito 2:4 : 9: 13. corres pond to the cho rus in Greek rruecd v. ap pea led to by the spea ke r to ex pr ess his t houx h ts for him . h . 'Sulmah ' co r r.: ' Sol om o n ' Hcbr. i. The Cha tducans destroyed Jerusale m . T hey were ' b ro t hers ' o f Is ra el , cr. ( 'In I I :21'1 ,3 1: 15:7 : 22:20-23. Sec a lso [) ( 26:5 . j . T he fo rced lab o ur of th e exile . k . T h e vi ney ard of th e Bride is Pa les tine. cf. Is 5: 1 . ; J r 12: 10f: Ps SO. lost to he r Ior a whi le. Ho 2:5. 14, 17. I. Y ahweh . s he pherd o f hi!t peop le. El k 34: I -r· . will lead th em ho me In uu ex ttc. cr. E/.\.\ H : I J ~1 5 . N oo n s ym b ot lscs t he hci uht of h a pp in e ss ...:f. Is 5~ : 10: Ps n: t> ; Jb 11:1 7. h ere cs . . h a h lh lt::i ... ·:ll ha ppiness. d . S~ ~ :17 : I s 5:30: X:20 1): I : A IIl 5: I ~,: O . 4

1O:1~21

"l I

I

T H E

1:8

SONG

OF SONG S

994

995

T hat 1 may no more wander like a vagabond m beside t he flocks" of you r compan ions.

T HE BR IIJEGROO M

DI A LOG U E OF 1:3

j

T HE B RID E AN D B RIDEGR OOM

3:9

I

R:5

~ 3:5 : ~ 5 :R : ~ R:4.5

11

13

12

-How bea ut iful you are, my love, how bea ut iful you are ! Yo ur eyes ar e doves.

15

- How beau tiful you are , my Beloved, and how delight ful ! All green is our bed. r

16

- T he bea ms of our hou se are of ceda r, the pa nelling of cyp ress, s

17

SECOND POEM TH E BRID E

10

II

- 1 charge you , da ughte rs of Je rusa lem, by the gazelles, by the hind s of the field, e not to stir my love, nor rouse it, until it please to awa ke'!

5:

2-5 :

10

12

His left ar m is und er my head, his right embrace s me.

~ R: 3

I hea r my Beloved. See how he comes

2'. 17

See where he stands beh ind our wall. He looks in at the window, he peers th rough the lattice.

- While the King rest s in his own room my na rd yields its perfume. My Beloved is a sachet of myr rh lying between my breasts. My Beloved is a clu ster of henn a flowers amo ng th e vines of Engedi .

- I am the rose of Sharon , the lily of the valleys. a - As a lily amo ng th e thistles, so is my love among t he maidens. b - As a n appl e tree among th e trees of the o rcha rd, so is my Beloved amo ng the yo ung men. In his lo nged-for shade 1 am seated a nd his frui t is sweet to my tas te. He has tak en me to his banquet hall, C a nd th e banner he raises over me" is love. Feed me with rais in ca kes, restore me with a pples, for I am sick with love.

2

I

'I

To my ma re ha rnessed to Pharaoh's chari ot I co mpa re you, my love." Yo ur cheeks show fa ir bet ween the ir pendants a nd you r neck within its necklaces. We shall make you golden earri ngs a nd beads of silver.

OF S O N GS

lea ping o n the moun tain s, bounding over the hills. g My Beloved is like a gazelle, like a young stag.

If you do no t kno w this, 0 loveliest of women , follow the tracks of th e flock, a nd take yo ur kids to gra ze close by the shepherds ' tents . a

T HE C H ORUS Jr 3 1:2 1

THE S O N G

14 13

14

My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me, 'Come then, my love, my lovely one, come . For see, winter is past, h t he ra ins are over and go ne. The flo wers ap pear on the earth. The season of glad so ngs has come , the coo ing of the tur tledove is hear d in our land. The fig tree is fo rmin g its first figs an d the blosso ming vines give o ut their fragrance: Co me then, my love, my lovely one, come. My dove , hiding in th e clefts of th e rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hea r your voice; for yo u r voice is sweet and you r face is bea utiful.'

15

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that ma ke havoc of the vineyards, for o ur vineya rds are in flower. i

16

My Beloved is mine a nd I am his'! H e pastures his flock amon g the lilies.

17

Before the da wn-wind rises, befo re the shadows flee, k m. 'a va ga bo nd ' Syr.: Yu lg , 'a wom a n veiled ' Hebr. n. T he for e ign na t io ns. J r 6:3. who se king s a rc 'compan io ns' of Ya hwe h. Ps 45:7 . S t ray ing Is rael seeks her Hrtd egroo m , Jr 31:22 . c. M e Zi o n. ro ya l res idence o f Isr ael. u . Ex ile in Babylo n is tr adi tlonal lv co mpa red wh it s lavery in Egyp t, Is 11: 11.1 6 ; 43: 16f ; 48 :2 1; 5 1:9- 10; 52:4 ; Jr 23:7-8. Q. P oss ibly referr in g to t he joyfu l re turn fro m ex ile . r . T he m irac u lo us fer tili ty o f P a lestine a fter t he re stor at io n o f t he ex iles . cf'. H o 2:23f ; 14:6f ; Is 29: 17 : 30 :23f : Jr 3 1: 12. 14 ; Ezk 34:26f : 36:29f: 47:1- 12. s . Ced a r and c yp ress fro m Le bano n . p recio us materia ls o f the Tem p le a nd the pa la ce of So lo m o n . 2 a . T he ' ro se' (act ually t he crocus) a nd ' lily' (the red P a les tin ia n a nemo ne. cf. M t 6:2 8) a re s ymbo lic of sp r ing, a nd of the esc hat o log ical age . cf. Is 35: 1: Ho 14:6. b. Israe l ha s the u niqu e d istinc tio n o f being G od's chos e n na t io n . D t 7:6+. c. O nc e bro ugh t back to Pa lest ine . the b a nq uet h all (lit. ' ho use of wine ') of God . cf. Is 62 :8 ; Jr 31:12. Isr ael wil l be int oxicated wit h th e wi ne of d ivine love . Cr. 1:2.4. 14. d . T he ra lly ing signa l fo r t he ca p tives . d . Is 11: 12; 49:22 : 62 : 10.

c . A pl ay 0 11 wo rds (avya to t h, gaze lles; sebaoth, h ind s) evo ki ng t he name o f th e Lo rd o f ho sts (E lo hei Sebao t h).

f. S leep sy m bo lises the o rdea l o f ex ile. cf. Is 5 1:17. 2 1-22 : 52 : 1-2 : res to ra tio n depe nds on t he willi ng co nvers io n of th e Brid e. d . Ho 2: IN; J r 3 1: 19. 1:. T he mo u n ta ins o f J uda h . Cf. Is 40: 3-5.9- 11; 52;7 ; 62: 10- 12. h . Sp ri ng is a sy m bo l of sa lva t io n. H o 14 :6-8. cf. 2:5. 14. a nd t his des cri pt io n p re ludes t he inv itation to

re tur n. i , C r yp t ic verse . to be under stoo d in th e Hutu of Ho 2: 14 .20 and Jr 12 :7f. T he litt le foxe s arc mal evo lent neig h bo ur s. Samar itan s. A m mo n ites . A r a b s. Philis tines , hos tile to the restor at ion o f J udah . d . EZf 4:2 : 9: 2 ; 10: 181'; N e 2: 19 ; 3:34f; 4 :1. et c . : Ps 60:8-9. C r. Is 27:2-4 ; Ps 80:6 .12- 13. J. Ada p ta tio n o f th e p ro p hetic fo r m u la ' Israel is th e nati o n o f Y a hweh and Ya h we h is t he G o d o f Israe l' . exprcss ln a the fina l res tora tio n of the co ve na nt a fter a tr ue c ha nge of heart. C r. H o 2:25 : Jr 3 1:33 : Ez k 36:28. k. T h is image. like t he ' m o rn ing' an d 'awa ken ing' o f P s 17: 15 + . s ta nd s fo r the esc ha to lo gica l ho ur o f deliveran ce : the verse is re la ted to 1:7 : 2:7 : 3:5: 8:4 .

6:1 I :7: 13-14

III

;: ow

= 6:3 ; 7: 13 2:1 +

THE S O N G OF SONGS

3: 1 8: 14

5:6 In 20:13

5:7

T he watchmen ' ca me u po n me on t he ir ro u nds in the City: 'Have you see n him whom my heart loves?' Sca rce ly had I pa ssed them tha n I fo und hi m whom my hea rt loves. I he ld him fast, nor would I let him go till I had brought him into my mot her's ho u se," into the room of her who conceived me .

In 20: 17

R:2 ,5

- 8:4

I

On my bed, at night, " I sought hi m whom my heart lo ves. I sought but did not find him. " So I will rise and go through the Ci ty ;« in th e streets a nd t he squares I will seek him whom my hea rt loves. . . . I sought but did not find h im ."

3

THE BRIDEGROOM

I charge you, da ug hters o f Jerusalem, by the gaze lles, by the hinds of th e field, not to stir my lov e, nor rouse it, until it please to awake.

Daughters of Zion, come and see Ki ng So lomon, wearing th e diadem with whic h h is mother crowned him on his wedding day, v o n the day of his heart's joy.

BRID EG ROml

How beau tiful yo u a re, my love, how bea ut iful yo u a re! Yo u r eyes, beh ind yo ur vc il,« a rc doves: yo ur hai r is like a flock o f goa ts frisking " dow n th e slo pes o f G ilea d. Your tee th a rc like a flock of sho rn ewes as they co me up fr om the washing . Each onc ha s its tw in, not o nc unp a ired with a no ther, Yo ur lips ar c a sca rle t th read a nd yo ur wo rds enc ha nting. Yo ur cheek s, be hind yo ur veil, are hal ves of pomegra nat e . Yo ur neck is the tow er o f Dav id b uilt a s a fortre ss, hung rou nd with a tho usa nd bu cklers , an d eac h th e shield o f a her o. Y o ur two breasts a re tw o fawn s, tw ins of a ga ze lle, that feed a mo ng the lilies.

4 :3 ; 6:7

~

I. T he br id e ha d th ou gh t her beloved was co m i ng

10

II

10 he r. Y\,. 8· 16. bu t he is no lon ger t he re , cr. 3: 1. lsrnc l as ks Ya hwe h to re tur n 10 her. m . Li t. ' t he m o un ta ins of t he vic ti ms c u t in half ' . l'h e ex p ress io n a llu des 10 Gn 15: I0 a nd re ca lls th e scene whe n Ya hwe h gave Ab ra ha m his p rom ise tha i t he ca ru ives wou ld retu rn . G n 15: 16 . J a . N ig h t sy mbolises long a nd pain ful wa iting 10: 1'. 15 5:30 : 8:22 ;9: 1;2 1: 11; 26:9 : 59 :9; Ps 130 :6. crc., b. T o 'seck ' o r ' find ' or ' n o t fin d ' Ya hw eh arc exn rcs s fons occ urri ng o ften in th e p ro p het s , d . Am 5:4 -1- . ltcfo re le tt ing h imsel f be fou nd , Ya hwe h insis ts o n a H u e c ha nge of heart . H o 3:5 : 5:6 , 15 ; J r 29: 13, e. J e rusal e m . Cf. t he a ll usio ns to th e T em ple, 1:4 , 17 : 3:4; 5: 10- 16, a nd t he referen ces to th e 'da uu htcrs of Je r usale m ' . d . Exp ress ing th e di scou ra ge m ent of th o se ba c k fr o m ex ile, d . Is 59:9- 11; 6 3: 15- 64 : II . e. Possibly th e fo rei gn powe r in co nt ro l o f the ca pita l. f. T he Temple bu ilt by t he fo rm er Israe l, m o the r o f the p rese nt Is rae l. T he ' roo m' is t he Ho ly o f H o lies . a. S ign , cr. Ex 13:22 + . of th e p rese nce of Yah weh who leads the exiles home in a second Exo d us , d . Is 40:) -l-, h. ' So lo mo n ' (w hose nam e a nd h ist or y a re evoca tive o f peac e ) is her e t he mess ia nic ki ng who br ings t he esc ha to lo gica l peace so lu ng des ired by t he exiles , cr. Is 11:6+ , a ho pe associa te d w it h th e co mi ng of t he Messia h , d . Is 9:5-6 : Ez k 34:23-25: Zc 9:9-10 ; Ps 72:7-8 . i. T he He br. word, no t used e lsewhe re in th e Bib le, see ms to suggest t he thro ne ro om of So lo mo n, I K 7:7, cf. 1O:l g-20: or (by emendat ion) th e a ud ien ce c ha m be r

6: 10 Ps 122:7 Ez k 27: 10· 11

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7:4

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cw

of th e Per si an ki ngs . in wh ic h case ' So lo mo n ' \...o uld be assoc ia ted with the Grea r Ki ng . [, 'e bo n y' corr . : ' love' Hcbr. . whic h ad ds ' fro m t he da ugh ters o f J e r usal em ' . k , En thro ne me n t wi th me ssia nic ove rtones . T he ki na's mo t her is the nat io n. whosc ac cla ma tio n is th e necessa r y p re lude to his assu mpt ion o f powe r , cr. 1 S 11: 15 : I C h 11: 10 : 29:22, etc . T he co m ing o f th e mess ia nic usc is also t he day o r th e m yst ical m a rr iage betwe e n Ki ng Ya hwe h a nd h is people .

4 a. T he b ri de wa s veiled whe n p resen ted to her hu sband . c f. Gn 24:65 ; 29 :23·25. h. T he Heb r. ver b s ugxests vio lent m o vem ent : th e co m pa r iso n evokes t he b lack wavi ng hai r of t he bride . c . vv, 6 an d 7 sho u ld pro bab ly be in te rch anged . T he mountuiu of m yrrh a nd hi ll o f fran kin ce nse re p re se n t t he s tte o f th e Te m p le , ' M yrr h' ( Heb r. m ar) is 2 C h 3: I : a p pa ren tly in te nd ed to suxgcst M oriah . ince nse was used o n ly in sac rifice. d . Isr ael has been p u ri fied by ex ile . cf'. Is 40 :2. The C a tho lic li turgy a p p lies th is ve rse to th e Im m ac u la te Conce pt io n. c . 'Co me ' ve rsio ns ; 'Wit h m e' Hebr . In con trast to 2: 8(, it is no w t he b ri de gro om who is in Jerusal em (v . 6) ca lling to th e brid e. I. T he ' p ro m ised bride', o r 'bet ro thed '. not ye t tak e n to wife . is in reali ty wife a lready: Israe l the un faithfu ! a nd re jec ted wife. Ho 2:4; Jr 3: 1,8 : Is 54: I, 6-7 ; b u t whe n Yahwe h takes he r back s he becomes (he ' be tro thed ' o nc e m or e, Ho2:21-22 ; Is49:18 ; 61 : 10;

cr.

62:5.

6:5-7

4:1

Come ' fro m Leba no n, my prom ised bride. " co me fro m Lebano n, com e on yo ur way. Lowe r yo ur gaz e, fro m the height s of Amana, from the cres ts o f Se nir a nd Hermo n,

See, it is the litt er of Solo mon ." Aro und it are sixty cha m pio ns, the flower of the warri o rs o f Israel; all o f the m ski lled swordsmen, vetera ns o f ba ttl e. Each ma n has his sword at his side, against alarms by night.

1: 17

TilE

4:8

You a re who lly beau tiful , my love, a nd witho ut a blem ish.'

Wh at is this comi ng up from the de sert like a co lumn of smoke," breat hing of myrrh and frank incense a nd eve ry pe rfume the me rc han t knows?

Ki ng So lomon has made h imse lf a throne of wood from Leba no n. The posts he ha s mad e of silve r, t he canopy of go ld , the seat of purple ; the back is inl a id with ebony .'

4

OF SONGS

Befo re the dawn -win d rises , before the shadows flee, I w ill go to the mo un tai n of myrrh, to the hill of fra nk ince nse. '

TH IRD POE M 6:10: 8:5

T H E SO NG

1)1)7

ret u r n !' Be, my Be loved, like a ga zelle, a yo u ng stag, o n the mou ntains of the cov ena nt .»

Pr 7: 15

~ 2: 7 : = 5 : 8 ;

996

II

THE SONG OF SONGS

4:9

998

THE SONG

999

1:2,4

Pr 5 : .~

110 14;7

6:2

She is a garden enc losed; ' my siste r, my promised bride:

10

II

I opened to my Belo ved, but he ha d turncd his back a nd go ne ! M y so u l fa iled at his flight. « I sought hi m but [ d id no t find h im," I call ed to him but he d id not an swer. T he w atchmen ca mc up on m e a s they made the ir rounds in th e C ity. T he y bea t me , they wounded me, th ey to o k away my c lo ak, t hey w ho g ua rd t he ra m pa rts.

12

a garden t: enc losed , Pr 5:10

a sca led fountain. You r s hoots fo rm an orc hard of pomegranat e trees, t he ra rest esse nces arc yours:' na rd an d sa ffr on , ca lamu s a nd ci n namon , wit h all th c incen se- bearing t rees : m yr rh a nd aloes. wit h th c subtlest odours. Fo u nta in t hat makes t hc gardens fertil e, we ll o f living water, strea ms flo win g d o wn fr om Le ba non.

Pr 5: IS-1()

1'111' BRIDE

5

Awa ke, nort h w ind , co me, w ind of th e so u t h ! Brea t he ove r my ga rden, to sp read its sw eet s mell a ro u nd. Le t m y Beloved come in to hi s ga rde n, let h im taste its ra res t fru its.

Is 55: 1,2

I co me into my ga rde n, my sister, m y pr omi sed bride, I ga ther my myrr h a nd balsam, 1 eat my ho ney and my honeyco m b, I drink m y w ine and my m ilk. Ea t, fr iends, and drink, d rin k d ee p, my dearest friends. a

I c ha rge you , daug hters of Je ru sa lem, if yo u s ho u ld lind my Belo ved, w hat mu st yo u tcll h im .. . '? T hat I am sick w it h lo ve.

14

TH E C IIO RU S

2:7 I : 8:5

I~ I

THE BRID E"

I slee p, but my heart is a wak e . r 1 hea r my Be lo ved kn ock ing. 'O pen to m e, my siste r, m y lo ve, m y dove, my perfec t one, fo r my head is covered wit h de w," my lock s w ith th e drops o f n igh t. '

W hat mak es yo u r Hclovcd better th an o t her lo ve rs, lo veli est of women') W hat ma kes you r Belove d better th a n ot her lo vers, to give us a c ha rge like thi s?

o

15

16

10

My Belo ved is fr esh and rudd y, t o be kn own a m o ng tc n th o usan d. ' His hea d is go lde n, purest gold ," hi s lock s a rc palm fro nd s" and bl ack as t he ra ve n. H is eyes a re d o ves at a po ol of water, '

THE B R IDE

11

/.t. F rom the :--J .

ca rne Israe l's t rudiuona l en em ies

('lion s' an d ' Jco na r d s') and co n q ue r o rs. Jr -\.;7 ; 5:h : 50:17; 5 1:3X: Na 2: 12- 1..1-: lla b I :X. Th e b r ide is un~ cJ to ma ke her way t hrough the Pass o f Hu ruat h in th e Le banon. th c reuu lar ro u te fo r in vaders whose arr ounn cc is o f t en symbo l isc d by {he ced ars (I f 1.C!l;\IH IIi . Is I(U 3- .' 4 : E/.k. J I: u .r-z: Ps 2lJ:5 . Froml hi s same m ount ai n road t hc rc tu ru inu exiles gal!.~ dow n on t hc land of thei r ancestors . h . E xpr ession borrowed from Egypt ian love poct rv. i . Tvnifvinu the Pro mised Land , Ex 3:.':. et c . i. T rad it ional m e tap h or for the ne w Israel, n o 14:6· 7 : EJ.!i. .'b:35 : Is 51:3 : 6 1: 11. k . ' garden' ancient versions : "s p r-i ng" ( '!) Hebr. I. H eb r. adds ' with cy p ress a nd na rd ' . a , The Israelit es. invi ted to enjoy t he ha ppi ness of 5 the new er a . b. Th e fo llow ing passage bal an ces 3: 1-4 . c. A mo ng the returned exiles only the best are spirituall y alert ; see. for e xa mp le , Is 56· 59; 63·66 .

zc

F O U RT H POEM

3:1 ;

3:3

~

<J)

13

12

1'111' B RIIJ EGIWO M

s: 12

- ' 1 ha ve ta ken off my tu nic, am I to put it o n ag a in? I ha ve washed my feet, am I to d irty them ag a in?' : M y Belo ved t h rust h is ha n d through the ho le in the do or ;! I trembled to t he co re of my bein g. T hc n I ro se to open to my Belo ved, myrrh ran 011' m y ha nd s, pu re myr rh 011' my finge rs, o n to t he hand le of th c bolt.

th e ha u n t of lion s, t he m ou n ta ins o f leopa rd s. g You rav ish my heart, my sister," my p ro m ised bride, you ravi sh my heart wit h a single onc of your g lances, w ith on e sing le pearl of your necklace. What spells lie in your love, my sister , m y promised b ride! How delicious is your lov e, more deli c iou s th an w inc ! How fragrant yo ur perfu mes , more fragra nt t ha n a ll o th er spic es! VO"I" lips, my prom ise d o ne, distil wild honey, H on ey a nd m ilk ' a rc u nder yo u r to ng ue; a nd th c sce nt of yo ur garmen ts is likc th e sce n t o f Lebanon .

OF SONGS

d. De w is svm bo fic of d ivine blessings. Ps l.B :3. especialh' t hose of the csch.uo touicu l a ge , tin 14:0. c . Emru v ex cu ses wll kh th c ardour of t he br id e will re fut e . f. l .u . 'th e hole ' int o which a l ar ue wooden kev w as ins erted from I he lllll side ro slide bac k. the bo ll. e, 'h is fli ght ' l.'\I IT , h. The nronhcu c Ior mu!a . J: I ..' . here used in asso ciatio n with an other u-auhionul fo r mul a expressing the wit lHlraw al of Ya hweh fro m unfa ithful Israel . c f'. Is 50 :2: 6 5: 12: 66:4 : Jr 7:27 : Pr I :2X. I. Th e unu sto ns are to th e de sc rip tion of the Te mple u f Solomon in I K 6-7. d. 2 e n 3 . [, Pure uold overlaid the pane lling of the Ho ly of Ho nes. 1 K 6:20-21; 2 e h 3:8 . k . T he d ccoru tt on menti oned in I K 6:1 8.29 .32.35 . I. In 2 S 22: 16 the expression ('sp ri ngs of wa ter ') means ' the sea bed' : here it refers to the 'bronze Sea' ,

I K 7:23-26: 2 C h 4:2-5.

2:7 : 3:5

~

o

w

.....,...

11

5:13

SONG OF SONGS

bat hed in milk , a t rest on a poo l. '" His cheeks" a re beds of spices. ban ks sweetly scented . H is lips ar e lilies, d ist illing pure myr rh. H is hands a re gold en , rou nded, set with je wels of Ta rshish. H is belly a block of ivory covere d wit h sa pph ires. H is legs a re alabaster col umns set in sock ets of pure go ld. H is ap peara nce is that of Leba no n, unr ivalled as the ceda rs. 0 H is co nve rsa tio n is sweetness itself, he is a ltog ether lovabl e. Such is my Beloved, such is my friend , o daughters o f Jerusalem.

P s 133:2

6

TH E

THE CHORUS

W here did your Beloved go,

o loveliest of wo men?

fOO l

1 000

II

~ 7.: 1 6

T HE BRID E

14 12 1/

,1

7

THE C HORUS

4: 1

Pr 4:3

Pr 3 1:28 3:6 Rv 12: 1

2: 11 +

7: 13- 14

Ret urn, return, 0 maid of Shulam ," retu rn, ret urn , t hat we may gaze o n yo u! I,

How beaut iful a re yo ur feet in their sa nda ls, prince's da ught er! T he cu rve of your th ighs is like th e curve of a neck lace, wo rk of a master han d. Yo ur nave l" is a bow l well ro unded with no lack o f wine, yo ur belly a hea p of whea t sur ro unded with lilies. Yo u r two breasts a re two fa wns, tw ins o f a gazelle.' You r neck is a n ivo ry tower. You r eyes, the poo ls o f Hes hbon , by the ga te o f Bat h-ra bbirn. Yo u r nose, t he To wer o f Le ba non ,! sent inel faci ng Da mas cus. Yo ur head is held high like Ca rmel, a nd its pla its a re as da rk as purp le ; a kin g is held ca pt ive in yo ur tresses." H ow beautiful yo u a re, ho w char ming, my love, my del ight !" In sta tu re like the pal m tree, i

I /7

6 5

m . He b r. o bscur e . A n o ther refer e nce to t he 'b ro nze

Sea' ? 6

5

n . Low er part o f th e cheeks whe re (h e be a rd gro ws, hen ce the followi ng co m pa r iso n . C f. I K 6:29. n . Ced a r wo od was liber all y used in the co ns tr ueu o n o f t he T em p le. cr . I K 6:9. erc. : ' t he w hole of it

wa s o f ced a r' . 1 K 6: IH. a . T he ga rd en is Pal estin e. here id ent if ied ' v u h th e Bride. 4:12 . b. Rcpc t tuo n o f 2: 16 with an in version in t he first li nc 10 em p has ise th at th e br ld es re tu rn to Yah weh is 6

w hole hear ted .

T here a re sixty q ueens a nd eighty co ncubines ' (a nd countless maidens) . But my d ove is uniqu e, mine, uniq ue an d perfect. She is the darling of her mother, t he favo u rite of the o ne who bore her . T he ma ide ns saw her , and proclaim ed her blessed , q uee ns a nd concub ines sang her praises: ' W ho is this a rising like th e da wn ,

4: 12 i-

o

F I FT H P O E M

~ 4 : 1 -3

4:4

THE BRIDEGROOM W hy do yo u gaze o n the ma id o f Shulam dancin g as tho ugh between two ro ws o f danc ers?"

16

My Beloved went d own to his ga rden," to the bed s of sp ices, to pa st u re his flock in the ga rde ns a nd ga ther lilies. I a m my Beloved's , a nd my Beloved is min e. He past ures his flock a mo ng th e lilies. "

THE BRIDEGROOM Yo u are bea ut iful as T irza h, my love, fair as Jeru salem.' T u rn yo ur eyes a way, for they hold me ca ptive." Yo u r hai r is like a flock o f goats friski ng down the slopes of Gilead . Yo ur teeth a re like a flock of shee p as they co me up from the was hing. Eac h o ne ha s its twin , not one unpaired with a nother. Your cheeks, beh ind your veil, a re hal ves o f pomegranate.

7=8

I we nt down to the nu t orc ha rd to see wha t was spro ut ing in the va lley, to see if th e vines wer e buddin g a nd th e pom egr an at e t rees in flower. Befo re I kn ew . . . my desire had hur led me on the cha riots of my peopl e, as th eir princeJ

/(J

W hich way di d your Beloved turn so t hat we ca n hel p yo u to loo k for him? 4 : 12-16

OF SO N GS

fa ir as the moo n, resp lend ent as the sun , te rr ible as an a rmy wit h ba nners?'

13

IS

TH E S ON G

9 8

10 9

c . Th e text adds ' te r r ib le as ar m ies' , T ir zah Cs he is plea sin g.' or 'f a vo u re d ' ) was th e first ca pita l o f th e No rt he r n Ki ngd om : the seco nd ca pita l, Sam a ria , is de liberu relv sup p ressed . B ~' n am in g: t he N. and S . ca p ita ls the a u t hor hin ts t h at t he b rid e is t he person ifica t ion o f th e new..' ' G rea ter ls rae t-c-a t rad it io na l asp irati on , Jr 3: 18 -1- . d . Lit , ' the}' ta ke me by s to rm". c. W ives o f full stat us a nd co nc u b ine s laves as in So lo m on 's hare m . Here th e wo me n represent the oasau na tion s : Sg 1:3 + , associ a tes t he m with Israe l. uni qu el y chosen by G od, Dt 7:6 + .

r. T his difficul t verse see ms to m ea n th at by a sp o nt a neo us impu lse Ya hweh pla ces hi mse lf a t the head

o f h is peo ple . 7 a. ' ma id o f S hu la m ' t.e.. 's he who has peace ': in the new So lo mon. 3:7 r- , s he has fo un d o r reco vered her pea ce , h, T he wo re ' retu r n' re pea ted fo u r times evo kes t hc re tu r n fr u m exile , cr. 1:7- 11: 2:7, 13: 3:6 : 4 :8 : 8;5 , In H o a nd J r it is th e k ey word of t he n r o p hct ic them e o f th e re tu rn : t he exiles will ' re tu r n' ho me , J r 3: 12 : 12:15. e tc .. cr. Is 35: 10 ; 49 :5-6 : 5 1: 11: b ut their hea rt s m us t ' retu rn ' to God , 110 3:5: 5: 15: J r 3: 14, etc . T he p la y o n t hese two se nses i n Jr ,q : I H (d. 15:19) is tr adi t io na l. c, Li t. ' as a dance o f tw o ca m ns". O bsc ure . Th e fo llo win g dcscrtuuon of th c Brid e b ala nces th at o f the Bridcgr u oru in 5: 10- 16, t hou gh her e t here a re refer ences to cert a in geogra p hica l feat u res o f Pale st ine . d . Jerusale m . in t he ce nt re of t hc n :lIi ~)J1 S , Elk 5:5 , cr. 3S: 12 : it is e nc irc led by valleys . c , Eba l a nd G er tz tm , '{win ' m o u n ta ins . I. Po ssib ly G reat Herm on . ov e rloo k in g: D a mascus. 1:. Vei led re feren ce to t he k ing o f Tv re . a lly o f Dav id a nti So lo O\o n , 2 S 5: 11; 1 K 5: 15f :9: IOf : 10:1 1f. h . Li t. ' d a ug h ter o f deli ah ts". Svr . a nd Aq uila: ' in de light s' lI e b r. i. T a m a r, 'pa lm t ree' , is t he nam e or se ver a l wo me n in t he Bible . G n 38:6: 2 S 13: I : 14 :27.

~4:5

'"~ ow

THE

T9

SONG

OF

SONGS

/ 002

its fru it-cl ust ers yo ur b rea st s. 'I w ill climb th e palm tr ee ,' I resolved, ' 1 will seiz e its cluste rs of da tes ." Ma y yo u r b reasts be clus ters o f grapes, yo u r breath sweet-scen ted as appl es, you r speak ing. superla t ive w ine. Till'. IlR[[H 7: I .;

Gn 3: 1{1 2: Itl - I ·l

2. 11 ,

~:

11

I.

16 ; "?I l

8

Ah , w hy a rc yo u not my brother, n ursed at my mother's breast'« Then if I met yo u o ut o f doo rs, I cou ld k iss yo u w ithou t peop le thi n ki ng ill o f me ." I s ho u ld lead yo u , I s ho u ld take yo u inro m y mo the r' s house ," and yo u wo u ld teac h me !" I s ho u ld give yo u s p iced wi ne to d rink, juice o f m y po megranates .

JA

- ~: 6

.:2 :7; - J::i : ~ : :;

Wine flo wing' st ra ight to m y Beloved, as it r uns on t he lips o f t ho se who s leep." I am m y Bclovcds, and h is desire is [o r me .' Com e, my Beloved , let us go to the fields.> We w ill s pen d the nigh t in the villages, a Ill! in the mo rn ing we wit l gn to t he viney a rds." We will sec if t he vines a re bu dd ing, if the ir blo ssom s a re o pen ing, i f the pom egra nate trees are in lluw cr. T he n I s ha ll give yo u t he gif t o f my love . : Th e mandrakes y ie ld t he ir Ira grancc, » th e rare st frui ts a re a t o u r doo rs ; the new as we ll as t he o ld, '/ I have st o red them for yo u , my Belo ved .

Hi s left a rm is u nde r m y head a nd h is right emb rac es me. Tut

R R [DHOJ(()()\1

I c ha rge yo u, dau gh te rs 0 1' Je rus a lem, no t to st ir my lo ve , nor ro use it, unt il it plea se to awa ke .

C ON C L U S I O N .~ :-J ,6

2:7; .~: \:~: .:2 :

Dt (1:6 .,1\

11: IH Pr 3: .~

Jr

.~ I:.~ J

DI

4 · ~.,I

Is 43:2

Tu s

CIIO RUS

Who is th is com in g u p fro m the desert lean ing o n he r Be love d '?"

T ur

R R [ [)EG RO()~1

I awake ned yo u unde r the ap ple tree ," th er e w here yo u r mot her co nce ived yo u, t he re w he re she w ho gave b irth to yo u co nce ived yo u. " Se t me like a sea l on yo u r heart , like a seal " o n yo u r a rm . Fo r love is stro ng a s Death , jea lo usy ' relent less a s S heo l. T he na sh of it is a flash o f fire, a Ila me of Ya hw e h himse lf. Lo ve no Ilood ca n q ue nc h, no torren ts dro w n.

/00 3 9

T H E

S O N G

OF

SON GS

8:14

APPENDICES

s

Aphorism of a sa ge Were a ma n t o offe r a ll t he wealt h o f h is h ou se to b uy love , co ntempt is a ll he wo u ld purchase.

[0 'I

Two epigrams" [ [

ill

"

/I

II

t:

Our s iste r is litt le: her br ea sts are not yet for me d .' W ha t sha ll we do fo r our " s iste r o n the day s he is spoke n fo r'?'" ·1 1' she is a ra m pa rt . o n t he c rest we will bui ld a ba tt leme nt of s ilver; if she is a d o o r, we w ill board her u p - wit h p lan ks of ced ar. - I a m a wa ll, a nd m y breasts represen t its towe rs . And u nd e r h is eyes 10 I ha ve fo un d t ru e pea ce. Solo mo n " had a vi neya rd at Baa l- hamo n. " He e nt rus ted it to ove rseers,v II a nd each o ne was to pa y hi m t he va lue of its p ro d uce, a th o usa nd s he ke ls of s ilve r.• But I lo o k after m y ow n vine yard myself." Yo u, So lomo n, ' m a y h a ve 12 yo u r tho usa nd shekels, a nd th o se who oversee its pr o d uce' their two h u ndred .

14

ts 13

Final additions You" w ho dwe ll in t he gard en s, m y co mpa n io ns" liste n fo r your vo ice; de ign t o let me hea r it. Has te a wa y, m y Belo ved . Be like a ga zell e, a yo u ng stag, o n th e sp icy m ountains."

14

2:17

II>

§:

ow

I,~, Na mely . th e ' Ht u u c ' o f Ezk 1 6 : 3 A 4 ~ 4 5 . designu tin u the Indi acnou s p eo ples o f Ca n aa n , with who m th c Isruclitc s in te r m ar r ied after t he COIl LllH: St. T hi s k . Po ssib lr th e slee ping Sh u tarn mucss, cf'. 2:7 : ca rl}' bl em is h was th e cause 0 1" s ubseq uent unf a ith3:5: H:4,5. I. In G n 3: 16 th e woma n' s vear nin g is conrrns tcd fuln ess. h . T IH: sea l, auc sunu th e wis hes o f its o wn er , h ere ' ...-i th th e ma n's aut h ori t y ; he r e t he m ystic br-ide o f sYllIh lllises t ile wish es o f Ya hweh , i.c . th c Law . Y ahwe h meet s with lo ve in st ea d . I. Ya h we h is a 'Ieal u us' (; 0..1, E.'. : 34 : 14 : DI 4:24 . e tc . Ill , lu vl t uu on (0 en j o y t he spr i n g t i me , as i n 2: 10 f ; I. Sbco l. N h 1 6 : .H ~ , is a pers onitl ca uo n here an d bu t i l is t he br ide who s pe a ks IHH v. m o re or less cquiv alc tu to Dea th . cr. PI' 27:10 : 30;16. n . 'N ig ht ' , ' mo rn ing' , o rd ea l Io tlowc d by t he esc har olouica l D a wn . Sec 1:7: 2; 17: 3: 1: 5: 2. k . Bitt er cri uc tsm . based o n t rud ir io naltv theo cra tic u . Con sumnun io n of t he ne w a nd co nclu sive co venr tncinl cs. of the wo rldl y wisdom of a Je wis h ru ler . n a n t between Y a h we h ami Is ra e l. n. T he man d ra ke was rhouuh t to s tim u late sexual p robabl y Jo hn I Ivrcanus ( 1 .~ 5 ~ 105) . I. Jer usa le m, weak a nd pocu-l y fo rt ified . des ire a nd to promo te fert ility . cf . G n 30 : 14-16 . Ill . AskeJ in m a r ria ge , The gi r l's b n u hc rs are the q . The fruit s nld and new , l,v 26 :10, e vo k e. cf. 110 2: 17- IX: J r 2:2 : Is 54 ;6· X. till.' t ime of ru-imi tf vc Sad d u cees T h e}' nlu u sto u t a nd ":lls t ly defe nce s. v. 9 . fide lity in th e dese r t an d th at of re ne wed fidel ity in t he But th e ncrs onul ed Cu v n ro ud l v an swers tha t s he has 110 need of t hes e : nod is he r nro tcc tor. w ha t s hou ld fu tu re . 8 a. Ya hwe h, th e b r-idea roorn o f th e S hulu mmin-ss is s he Icar" n . Lit. ' se t u p aga ins t her ' co rr. : ' e nclo se her ' lI eb r. s tifl in acccssib tc ; s he p ra ys hi m t u co rne as a "b ro t her ". u . The SOIOllH lIl not o f mct un h or h u t o f hi st or y . as Imm anu el , · (J o J -,,"'iIIH IS' . Is 7: 14 : X:H. n. Lit. ' the n onul o us o ne' , veil ed al lu sio n 10 b. Th e aut hor has Pr 7: 13 in min d . bUI more Pal es tinc. cr. I K 4:20 , spc citica tlv t he class ic forruulu ' W h en: is yo ur G od;" . (I. 0 1lh:ials rc snon sib !c for co flcc tiuu t he trib ute JI 2: 17: Mi 7: 10: Ps 4 2:3, 10 : 7 l);l) ~ 1 0: 115:2 . a nd tu xes . d . 1 K 4 ; 7~ 10 : 5: 7~S , Co To t he Te m p le, 3:4 j- , wh en; th e messianic K in a. 1', I I is un de r my ow n care . wh ho ut as sis tu ncc From desce nde d from Dav id , will ha ve h is thro ne . Is II : Ill: a nyo ne e lse. M i 4:H: Z l.: 6:9 -15 : 9:Y-10: Ps 2:6: 110:2 . s. H ere Solomon is probably John H vr ca nu s (a d . In th e cs charo tonicat age . God himsel f will "Sol om on ' i n h is pol iticn l nrubi uom : let h im Keep what tea c h h is nconlc . Is 4 :-:: 17 : 54; 13 ; 55 : l f : J r3 1:33· 34 . he ha s ex torted. cr. P r 9; 1~ 6 . 1. T he Sa d d ucean official s . u , Sin gula r , here rc fcrrl nu tn \Visd \II11 , idcnt ilied c. It is ui c h r i\l ~ annroa ch in a. lca nin u on th e Belo ved w lw has s p,)I;e n hean 10 hea n with h er in the wil h t ill' b riJ e of th e S \ 1I1~ , d . W s S:2. \', ' m }' .:o nw a nio lls' l.:l)rr,: ' lhc compa nio ns' lI e br. Ll ese r l. I ll ) .:2 :16-.:25 : sh e wiII no w e njo y her own la nJ Th c l,.·\lnl PilI1Y o f th e devou l. d. Ps t 19:62. a ~a in . w, W isJo tll ~i ," e s he r an swe r (.;omDoscJ by a f . Hi l hen{) s he has dclkd awakcn i n ~ , 2:7: 3:5 : 5::: x:4 : no w a l last on the so il lIf the 1l{)ly La nd Ya hweh d itTe:rcn l au thor wh o ma kes use of t he wnrJ s n r th e Ur ide in 2: 17). himsel f rou ses he r.

I. Th e b ride be lo ngs on ly 10 Ya hwe h. d . 110 2:4 :

E/.I\

2 ~: J,2 1.