the Protestant commentaries almost uniformly adopt a primarily ecclesial allegory, with the tropological dimension as a valid application. But so, in fact, is the medieval tradition built on the foundation of the ecclesial interpretation, and even those commentaries devoted most strikingly to the . . . . Continue Reading »
The modern oblivion of the book has tended to blind us to the really crucial position it holds in exegetic history, not only for the question of allegory but for the central matter of the relation of divine to profane love, and in fact, as Ruth Wallerstein has said, the Song involved for the Middle . . . . Continue Reading »
Carey Ellen Walsh ( Exquisite Desire ) points to the difference between classical responses to desire and the account of desire in the Song of Songs. Using Odysseus and the Sirens as an illustration, she notes how this scene reveals the Greek instinct that desire “harbors danger by . . . . Continue Reading »
Love is as strong as death. But no stronger. It’s a standoff. No, Jenson says: “death does not allow of stalemates. If love binds lovers even in death’s despite, death is overcome by love. Nor does the grave allow of partial retrievals; if it yields its . . . . Continue Reading »
Barthian that he is, Jenson gets the point of the Song’s “seal on my heart” just right: Jesus’ “death has made us the seal of his identity: he dies ‘for’ us, in identification with us. Now he is not what he is without us; he did not go into death . . . . Continue Reading »
Robert Jenson ( Song Of Songs (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) ) notes that Song of Songs 8:6-7 contains “pervading reference to the myths of Israel’s religious milieu: ” Mot can indeed be translated simply ‘death,’ but it is also a . . . . Continue Reading »
Jealousy refers to a relentless and exclusive passion and attachment. For Solomon, it is as hard as the grave. Once someone goes into the grave, the grave doesn’t let him back up; once it takes hold, it doesn’t let go. Jealousy is like that. It is “that . . . . Continue Reading »
Love is “as strong as the grave” and ardor “as hard as Sheol.” Both descriptions are arresting because they attribute a kind of violence to love. “Strong” describes the driving wind of the exodus (Exodus 14:21), the raging waters of the sea that swallowed . . . . Continue Reading »
“Put me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm,” says the Bride in the Song of Songs (8:6). Seals mark something with the name of the owner. A letter is sealed as proof of its author (1 Kings 21:8). The high priest’s golden plate is engraved with the name . . . . Continue Reading »
Dionysus said that creation is the overflow of the superabundant love of God. That’s true: Many waters cannot quench Yahweh’s fiery love. That love is the flame of the Spirit, the uncreated Flash that flickers over the formless earth and is not put out but instead moves . . . . Continue Reading »
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