Battles of the gods

Robert Jenson ( Song Of Songs (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) ) notes that Song of Songs 8:6-7 contains “pervading reference to the myths of Israel’s religious milieu: ” Mot can indeed be translated simply ‘death,’ but it is also a proper name, for the Canaanite god with whom Baal, the giver of life, must struggle. Sheol can be translated ‘grave,’ but it is also the Old Testament’s standard world for the underworld of shadows, which in the myths around Israel and in Israel’s own poesy is often personified as grasping for humans. Resep is ‘flame’ but is also the name of the Canaanite god of pestilence . . . ; according to our poem, love’s flame is the flame of flames, a superlative flame, which resep is not. As for the ‘many waters’ that cannot quench love, they are the Old Testament’s standard and frequent representation of that Chaos which battles against the Creator . . . . Finally, although here the word for wealth is not ‘Mammon,’ surely we are justified in lining wealth up with the rest.”