Alt-Country Rhetorics

Patterson, George Stuart

doi:10.4324/9781315144535-9

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“…"Like the armies of Israel or like God himself, the entourage appears from the wilderness with clouds of glory "Crowns, usually wreaths of flowers rather than royal crowns, were frequently worn by the nuptial couple in wedding festivities." 129 Garrett believed that Solomon was not personally a character in this story, but that "Solomon" represents "regal majesty, a quality that every groom (ideally) partakes of." 130 ".…”

Section: A the Procession 3:6-11mentioning

confidence: 99%

Song of Solomon

Encyclopedia of Christianity Online

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Although the Song is not an allegory, it may be admitted that it lends itself to allegorical interpretation." 15 Those who interpret the book allegorically-the majority of interpreters do-believe that what the writer said is only a symbolic husk for a deeper spiritual meaning that the reader must discover. Jewish interpreters took this deeper revelation to be God's love for Israel. Christian scholars have frequently seen it as Christ's love for the church 16 or of Christ's relationship with believers-sometimes in Israel and sometimes in the church. 17 However, the text itself does not indicate that we should interpret this book differently than any other Bible book. 18 "All things are possible to those who allegorize-and what they come up with is usually heretical." 19 Another interpretive issue is whether the main characters were real people or composite figures, types of lovers rather than specific individuals. The book presents them as real people, and even most of those who view them as types admit that the characters "seem to take on distinct personalities as we get to know them." 20 It has seemed to many interpreters, including me, that the book presents the Shulammite and Solomon as real people. However, this is poetry, so the characters may be somewhat idealized. 21 Most conservative interpreters who view the book as an extended type believe the events recorded really took place, in contrast to the allegorical interpreters, but their primary significance lies in their illustrative value. 22 "The shepherd is a picture of Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep. The Shulamite mirrors the Church or the individual believer devoted to Him. Solomon represents the prince of this world armed with all worldly pomp, power, and magnificence. The court women are those who admire him and who look askance at those who turn their backs upon the world, its system, and all that it has to offer in favor of an absent and, to them, unknown Beloved." 23

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Section: A the Procession 3:6-11mentioning

confidence: 99%

Song of Solomon

Encyclopedia of Christianity Online

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Alt-Country Rhetorics

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Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon

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