Why Do We Sing the Song of Songs on Pass
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The rabbis' choice to read Song of Songs on Passover reflects a profound theological understanding rather than mere seasonal coincidence. Through close analysis of midrashic sources, particularly Shir Hashirim Rabbah, alongside modern scholarship by Cohen, Fisch, Greeley, and Boyarin, a deeper rationale emerges: the Song functions as Solomon's poetic midrash on the Exodus narrative itself. By bridging traditional allegorical interpretation with contemporary biblical criticism, this research reveals how the rabbinical view of Song of Songs as divine-human love allegory builds upon metaphorical traditions established by the prophets. The midrashic interpretation effectively transforms Song of Songs Rabbah into a Passover Haggadah, reading the biblical text as a retelling of the Exodus from Egypt and revelation at Sinai. This theological coherence validates the liturgical pairing and demonstrates that the allegorical reading emerged contemporaneously with the text's Hellenistic-era composition. These findings offer valuable insights into how ancient Jewish interpretive methods can enrich modern homiletical approaches to classical texts.

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Published 1996
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Benjamin Scolnic