Biblical Hebrew Forum

["myron kauk" <myronkauk AT iolky.com>]

Harold Holmyard wrote:

>>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.

If the Shulamite's vineyard is figurative for her life (body?) why should
not Solomon's vineyard be figurative for his life/body?

Andrew Hill in the _Evangelical Commentary on the Bible_ (p. 465) writes:

    "The term vineyard has consistently been a metaphor for the person of
the maiden (including her sexual charms).  The strongest support for the
three-character interpretation of the Song is found here.  The maiden's
'vineyard,' her love and sexual delicacies, belonged to her and were hers to
give.  Solomon had let out his vineyard (his own person and his own sexual
energies) to "tenants" (ie. the women of the royal harem)."

Grace be with you,

Myron C. Kauk
myronkauk AT iolky.com