0 notes &
![Song of Song: Love Poetry and the Ancient World
In reading the Song of Song, it is clear that its genre is unique within the Hebrew Bible. By genre, I am referring to its categorization as a type of literature. For instance, stories in books such as Genesis, Samuel, Kings, etc., are all narrative books. We categorize these books as such, because they contain all the elements of narratives: characters, plot, and point of view. Poetic books express ideas in parallel lines where the thought in the first line is complement, contrasted, or expanded in a second or third line. In addition, poetry also makes extensive use of metaphors.
Although the Song has narrative-like elements, it is poetry not narrative. But, its poetry is not like Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes or the Psalms. It is unique among Poetic books because it is love poetry. Along the way, some group decided to include this hot, lusty, and romantic book into the Canon of Scripture. Of course, this did not happen without debate.
In order to understand the Song as love poetry, scholars have compared the Song to extant love poetry in the ancient world. Among the scholars worthy of mention are Michael Fox. His book, “The Song of Songs and the Ancient Egyptian Love Song” is a classic in this regard. Fox, through comparative methods, has compared the Song of Song to Egyptian love poetry. The results of his study allow readers to note the shared characteristics of love poetry within the ancient world. One of the main characteristics shared between ancient love poetry and the Song is that of dialogue.
The two lovers in the Song enter into a dialogue about their desires. They describe each other’s effect on them as well as describe how they appear to each other physically. An important observation in this regard is that the female initiates the dialogue and thus starts the path of igniting desire for both of them. However, a major difference between ancient love poetry and the Song is the absence of metaphors of God (although this has been challenged in some respective by others).
For instance, look at this line from “The Crossing,” which is an Egyptian love poem. This is the female voice speaking to her lover. Notice the ways in which she invites her love to experience her desire. Also, note how she describe him in the opening line:
“My god, my lotus….
The north wind [blows]
Pleasant it is to go to reach [the river]
…breath…
…flower…
My heart desires to go down
To bathe myself before you,
That I may show you my beauty
In a tunic of the finest royal linen,
Which is drenched in tisps-oil,
[my hair plaited] in reeds.
I’ll go down to the water with you,
And come out to you carrying a red fish,
Which is just right in my fingers.
I’ll set it before you,
While lo[oking upon your beauty.
O my he]ro, my brother,
Come, look upon me!
(Translation taken from Michael Fox “The Song of Songs and Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luaobbqEEQ1r4c5jlo1_400.jpg)
Song of Song: Love Poetry and the Ancient World
In reading the Song of Song, it is clear that its genre is unique within the Hebrew Bible. By genre, I am referring to its categorization as a type of literature. For instance, stories in books such as Genesis, Samuel, Kings, etc., are all narrative books. We categorize these books as such, because they contain all the elements of narratives: characters, plot, and point of view. Poetic books express ideas in parallel lines where the thought in the first line is complement, contrasted, or expanded in a second or third line. In addition, poetry also makes extensive use of metaphors.
Although the Song has narrative-like elements, it is poetry not narrative. But, its poetry is not like Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes or the Psalms. It is unique among Poetic books because it is love poetry. Along the way, some group decided to include this hot, lusty, and romantic book into the Canon of Scripture. Of course, this did not happen without debate.
In order to understand the Song as love poetry, scholars have compared the Song to extant love poetry in the ancient world. Among the scholars worthy of mention are Michael Fox. His book, “The Song of Songs and the Ancient Egyptian Love Song” is a classic in this regard. Fox, through comparative methods, has compared the Song of Song to Egyptian love poetry. The results of his study allow readers to note the shared characteristics of love poetry within the ancient world. One of the main characteristics shared between ancient love poetry and the Song is that of dialogue.
The two lovers in the Song enter into a dialogue about their desires. They describe each other’s effect on them as well as describe how they appear to each other physically. An important observation in this regard is that the female initiates the dialogue and thus starts the path of igniting desire for both of them. However, a major difference between ancient love poetry and the Song is the absence of metaphors of God (although this has been challenged in some respective by others).
For instance, look at this line from “The Crossing,” which is an Egyptian love poem. This is the female voice speaking to her lover. Notice the ways in which she invites her love to experience her desire. Also, note how she describe him in the opening line:
“My god, my lotus….
The north wind [blows]
Pleasant it is to go to reach [the river]
…breath…
…flower…
My heart desires to go down
To bathe myself before you,
That I may show you my beauty
In a tunic of the finest royal linen,
Which is drenched in tisps-oil,
[my hair plaited] in reeds.
I’ll go down to the water with you,
And come out to you carrying a red fish,
Which is just right in my fingers.
I’ll set it before you,
While lo[oking upon your beauty.
O my he]ro, my brother,
Come, look upon me!
(Translation taken from Michael Fox “The Song of Songs and Ancient Egyptian Love Poetry)
