The Song of Songs in the Hebrew Bible: inner-biblical allusions embodied by Solomon and the Daughters of Jerusalem

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The Song of Songs in the Hebrew Bible: inner-biblical allusions embodied by Solomon and the Daughters of Jerusalem

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title: The Song of Songs in the Hebrew Bible: inner-biblical allusions embodied by Solomon and the Daughters of Jerusalem

creator: Wust, Kamina

subject: Bible - Song of Songs - Criticism, interpretation, etc.

description: Abstract reads :"The perception that the Song of Songs demonstrates minimal affinity with other biblical texts has been widely accepted. This thesis draws out overlooked allusions to other texts in the Hebrew Bible, arguing that the unrealised significance of the named characters (Solomon and the daughters of Jerusalem) anchors the Song more firmly to Israelite history and religion than has previously been recognised. This is effected by first establishing the semiotic significance of Solomon and the daughters within the Song and then testing the explanatory power of the preliminary conclusions by applying them to exegesis of key verses from the Song.The first stage of analysis defines the literary figures of Solomon and the daughters of Jerusalem within the Song of Songs, with reference to the associations carried by their respective names from the wider Hebrew canon. Regarding Solomon, whose persona in the canon is composite, a set of criteria is defined for selecting which texts from the canon have most relevance to his characterisation in the Song. These are brought to bear on the analysis of his characterisation in the Song and on the assessment of the intent of the Solomonic superscription in Song 1:1. It is concluded that the enduring association between Solomon and הָבֲהַא in the canon is negative and that this association is sustained in the Song, wherein he is characterised with reference to the critical elements of the account in 1 Kings 3–11.With respect to the daughters of Jerusalem, language is offered to articulate the prevalent understanding that they function as surrogates for the external audience to the Song, and the way this effects the Song’s didactic intent. The sense of the Hebrew idiomatic device of “daughter(s)” in construct with a place name is examined with a view to discerning whether the usual usage applies in the Song. The significance of the daughters’ association with “Jerusalem,” taking into account the cultural weight of this place name in the canon, is discussed with respect to the implications for the understood audience of the Song.The second stage of analysis applies the preliminary conclusions drawn from the above to the exegesis of key verses from the Song: the adjuration repeated in 2:7; 3:5; 8:4, and the climactic description of love in 8:6–7. The preliminary propositions regarding the significance of Solomon and the daughters of Jerusalem are found to have more satisfying explanatory power than traditional justifications for the urgency of the adjuration and the content of the exhortation regarding love in 8:6–7. The exegetical conclusions refute the tendency to interpret the Song in relative isolation from the rest of the Hebrew canon and challenge prevalent Christian applications of the Song of Songs."Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 SolomonChapter 3 The Daughters of JerusalemChapter 4 Exegesis of the Adjuration (song 2:7; 3:5; 8:4)Chapter 5 Exegesis of Song 8:6–7Chapter 6 ConclusionSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Moore Theological College.

publisher: Moore Theological College

date: 2021-11-01

type: Text

language: English

rights: In copyright - educational use only.

rights: This item may be used for the purposes of research and study. Please acknowledge that it is held by Moore Theological College.

rights: This digital item is accessible online to all.

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