"The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's" (1:1).
How should we interprete Solomon's role in this poem. Is he narrator or is it a tribute to him? The mention of "queens and concubines" approving the female voice would point to a more royal heritage of the characters in the book. I also think it's worth mentioning that Solomon was a king renowned for his wisdom, bolstering the legitimacy of a section of the Bible devoted to pleasures of the heart (be it love for God or a mortal).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Attribution to King Solomon may have just been a way to justify inclusion of the Song of Songs in the Bible. He has been a very popular figure throughout Jewish (and Christian and Muslim) history, and I know of many parables and fairy tales that revolve around him--sort of like the Jewish King Arthur. These stories (like the Song of Songs?) don't have any real connection with the historical King Solomon or even with the Jewish religion, but gain a Jewish/religious bent through the association with this mythical character.
Post a Comment