INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

The Hebrew title of this Scriptural book is SONG OF SONGS, a title that employs a common figure of speech in the Hebrew language, known as Polyptoton, the reduplication of a word to emphasise its meaning, to intensify its significance, and to raise its status above other songs. The Song is mighty hard to understand in the A.V., and amongst modern translations there is still much room for improvement in style. The author of the story described events in the format of a play, and even without the naming of characters the reader would understand who was speaking, because Hebrew, like other languages of the time, retained gender classification in its pronouns. Contrariwise, English words such as we you my your have no such signification, and require clear contexts to ensure their intended connections. [Read more…]

SCENE ONE

Somewhere between Shunem and Tirzah, as Solomon’s caravan slowly returns to Jerusalem. The time is mid-day, and the entourage has set down beneath the shade of the trees. The court-ladies have been instructed to ‘prepare’ the shepherd girl, to anoint her, and array her with costume and jewellery, to be ready ‘for the King’s pleasure.’ Reluctantly she agrees. The process itself is not irksome, but she would prefer to be ‘prepared’ for another man. Of course, he is following, but she must not reveal too much, even to the court-ladies, lest it bring harm to the one she loves. She is none too sure of herself, neither is she too sure of the reactions of those around her, and all the time she is aware of the royal prerogative that demands implicit obedience from all the King’s subjects. The Shunamite girl soliloquises as the Court Ladies attend to her. She appears to be in a world of her own. [Read more…]

SCENE FOUR

Quite a lot of time has passed since last we heard the girl speak. They have been in Jerusalem for some days, and during this time she has only been able to find her lover on one occasion. As we join them in the palace rooms, she is relating her experiences to the court ladies, and as always, they are extremely good listeners when it comes to the affairs of the heart! [Read more…]

SCENE SIX

SHEPHERD GIRL:

I was sleeping, but my heart was awake!
Of a sudden I heard a knock at my door,
And then the voice of my beloved,
Whispering to me,
“Open to me my sister, my dearest,
My dove, my perfect one,
For my head is drenched with the night dew,
My locks with the moisture of the night!” [Read more…]

SOLOMON:

How beautiful you are my love,
Beautiful as Tirzah,
Comely as Jerusalem,
Majestic as my bannered hosts! –
Turn your eyes away from me,
They dazzle me! [Read more…]