Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Two Views on Song of Songs (Which I’m Too Tired to Evaluate)

Marvin Pope, Song of Songs, pages 108-109.

A certain Ginsburg said that a French Jewish writing on the Song of Songs interprets it as follows, though there are scholars who disagree with Ginsburg’s reading:

It interprets this Song as celebrating the virtuous love contracted between a humble shepherd and shepherdess; and likewise regards Solomon as a distinct person, whom the shepherdess adduces in illustration of her deep and sincere attachment to her beloved, affirming, that if this great king were to offer her all the slpendour and luxury of his court, she would spurn all, and remain faithful to her humble shepherd.

Many interpreters contend that Solomon was the shepherd and the woman was his shepherdess. Others say that Solomon loved the shepherdess, but she loved the humble shepherd rather than Solomon.