AFAIK, the Hebrew is sorted into three "voices", a male, a female, and a chorus. Apparently it was some sort of wedding song. Notice that the really kinky stuff only goes down after a period of courtship.
I suppose you could do this today and have the groom and bride sing the parts with the bridesmaids as chorus. A biblical wedding!
For most of church history, Song of Solomon was seen as a metaphor for Christ's love for his church. If you read the Puritans, they mainly read the book in this way and will often cite the Song as a source of Christian encouragement.
Many have disagreed with this metaphorical interpretation of the book, however, arguing that there is no indication in the text of a metaphor. Such people see in the Song a depiction of marital love and read it, as Abbie said, as primarily a wedding song.
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AFAIK, the Hebrew is sorted into three "voices", a male, a female, and a chorus. Apparently it was some sort of wedding song. Notice that the really kinky stuff only goes down after a period of courtship.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you could do this today and have the groom and bride sing the parts with the bridesmaids as chorus. A biblical wedding!
Thanks Abbie,
ReplyDeleteThe book makes more sense now.
For most of church history, Song of Solomon was seen as a metaphor for Christ's love for his church. If you read the Puritans, they mainly read the book in this way and will often cite the Song as a source of Christian encouragement.
ReplyDeleteMany have disagreed with this metaphorical interpretation of the book, however, arguing that there is no indication in the text of a metaphor. Such people see in the Song a depiction of marital love and read it, as Abbie said, as primarily a wedding song.
I tend to be more of a metaphor man myself.
@Adam: You metaphor a Christian wedding and she said you were reading it wrong? :-P
ReplyDelete