Shalom folks!
...As long promised, I will begin our discussion of Yohannan and the Song of Songs. But first, we must really get familiar with the Song of Shlomo...so I'm just going to begin posting the text of Shir haShirim for discussion and analysis. If you find parallels (with the rest of the Tenakh or Yohannan) great! Post your insights, I'm just going to continue adding the text cycle by cycle...and after we discuss the four cycles of the poem, we will begin discussing the parallels you and I see with Yohannan and the structure of the fourth gospel.
A Warning! Proceed in this study at your own disgression. Shir haShirim is, on the surface, an erotic poem! I will use euphamisms but I expect us to be adults here. I will avoid as best I can the pshat (simple) meaning of the text and concentrate on the allegorical, midrashic significance only, which is all we need to understand Yohannan's gospel. I expect us to also avoid posting questions or analysis of the pshat. Normally, we begin by discussing the pshat and then proceed to the midrash. But when we approach Shir haShirim in public we must discuss the allegorical and leave the pshat to husbands and wives, lest our discussion lead to impure thoughts. Shir haShirim must be handled with the dignity it deserves. (Nonetheless, I still encourage discussion of the Hebrew text...so Debi and others can feel free to contribute their linguistic insights if it is relevant).
A Note on the Structure of Shir haShirim:
Shir haShirim is composed of four cycles. Each cycle begins with the introduction of the King (Shlomo) and ends with a "consummation" close (the euphamisms begin here). Each cycle builds on the last and intensifies the drama of the last. Tensions develop as we progress, the poem becomes lyrically richer and more potent cycle to cycle.
Many say that the song is a "narrative" and try to force a reading of such into the poem....I completely disagree with this opinion. Rather, the poem is really cyclical in the tradition of Hebrew and ANE love poetry. I don't see a "courtship", "wedding", "honeymoon phase" being alluded to anywhere. The partners, our heroine Shulamit and our hero King Shlomo, are already wedded and when we first encounter her, she is already a member of his harem. This will become evident to you as we proceed.
The poem changes voices quite often between Shulamit and Shlomo. One key to understanding the poem is that there is also a chorus. That chorus are the "maidens" I believe (although some also include the "friends" of the King, however, the tensions in the poem become more evident when we realize that the chorus are the young ladies--aka, the nations--who are competing with Shulamit for the King's attentions). Of course, Jewish tradition says Shulamit is Israel, and the King is none other than HaShem. I see no reason to disagree with this opinion, but you pose what you may.
I encourage you to think also of the Pesach story...It is the main key to the allegorical interpretation of Shir haShirim, but rich parallels also exist to the Exile and the history of Israel...which we will see richly sublimated in the gospel of Yohannan and in the prophecies of Israel's destiny in our times....
...As long promised, I will begin our discussion of Yohannan and the Song of Songs. But first, we must really get familiar with the Song of Shlomo...so I'm just going to begin posting the text of Shir haShirim for discussion and analysis. If you find parallels (with the rest of the Tenakh or Yohannan) great! Post your insights, I'm just going to continue adding the text cycle by cycle...and after we discuss the four cycles of the poem, we will begin discussing the parallels you and I see with Yohannan and the structure of the fourth gospel.
A Warning! Proceed in this study at your own disgression. Shir haShirim is, on the surface, an erotic poem! I will use euphamisms but I expect us to be adults here. I will avoid as best I can the pshat (simple) meaning of the text and concentrate on the allegorical, midrashic significance only, which is all we need to understand Yohannan's gospel. I expect us to also avoid posting questions or analysis of the pshat. Normally, we begin by discussing the pshat and then proceed to the midrash. But when we approach Shir haShirim in public we must discuss the allegorical and leave the pshat to husbands and wives, lest our discussion lead to impure thoughts. Shir haShirim must be handled with the dignity it deserves. (Nonetheless, I still encourage discussion of the Hebrew text...so Debi and others can feel free to contribute their linguistic insights if it is relevant).
A Note on the Structure of Shir haShirim:
Shir haShirim is composed of four cycles. Each cycle begins with the introduction of the King (Shlomo) and ends with a "consummation" close (the euphamisms begin here). Each cycle builds on the last and intensifies the drama of the last. Tensions develop as we progress, the poem becomes lyrically richer and more potent cycle to cycle.
Many say that the song is a "narrative" and try to force a reading of such into the poem....I completely disagree with this opinion. Rather, the poem is really cyclical in the tradition of Hebrew and ANE love poetry. I don't see a "courtship", "wedding", "honeymoon phase" being alluded to anywhere. The partners, our heroine Shulamit and our hero King Shlomo, are already wedded and when we first encounter her, she is already a member of his harem. This will become evident to you as we proceed.
The poem changes voices quite often between Shulamit and Shlomo. One key to understanding the poem is that there is also a chorus. That chorus are the "maidens" I believe (although some also include the "friends" of the King, however, the tensions in the poem become more evident when we realize that the chorus are the young ladies--aka, the nations--who are competing with Shulamit for the King's attentions). Of course, Jewish tradition says Shulamit is Israel, and the King is none other than HaShem. I see no reason to disagree with this opinion, but you pose what you may.
I encourage you to think also of the Pesach story...It is the main key to the allegorical interpretation of Shir haShirim, but rich parallels also exist to the Exile and the history of Israel...which we will see richly sublimated in the gospel of Yohannan and in the prophecies of Israel's destiny in our times....
