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  • From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Song of Songs 1000/200
  • Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 18:59:26 -0500


Dear Christine,

>What is this passage referencing? Checking commentaries I see widely
>varying interpretations---from a covert allusion to the polygamy of the king
>to a reference to vineyards rented out to the number of vines etc.

>What is the "vineyard"? Who are the caretakers? What do the numbers 1000
>and 200 refer to---pieces of silver? women?

HH: Solomon's vineyard is probably a real vineyard in Baal Hamon. That is
the most natural reading of the words. The tenants were real tenants. They
brought a payment to Solomon of a thousand pieces of silver for the
privilege of taking the fruit that they took.

HH: Solomon's love compares herself to Solomon's vineyard. She too has a
vineyard, which may be figurative for her life. The income to be expected
from the vineyard she dedicates to Solomon; she gives herself to Solomon as
it were. But there were those who tended the vineyard, who may be a
figurative representation of her brothers. They deserved their wages for
the work that they did in caring for her vineyard, that is, for developing
her life (vv. 8-9, cf. 1:6), leading to the result in verse 10.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard






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