Pulelulu ‘Okatopa 25, 2023
Love and Mandrakes
Ko e ‘Ofa mo e ‘Akau Fanau
SONG OF SONGS 7:11-13
COME, MY BELOVED, LET US GO OUT INTO THE FIELDS AND LODGE IN THE VILLAGES; LET US GO OUT EARLY TO THE VINEYARDS. THERE I WILL GIVE YOU MY LOVE. THE MANDRAKES GIVE FORTH FRAGRANCE, AND BESIDE OUR DOORS ARE ALL CHOICE FRUITS, NEW AS WELL AS OLD, WHICH I HAVE LAID UP FOR YOU, O MY BELOVED.
HIVA ‘O E HIVA 7:11-13
11 Ha‘u ange, si‘oku ‘ofa‘anga, Ta ō ki he tuku‘uta, Ta nofo vilisi. 12 Ta uhu ki he ngaahi ngoue vaine, Ta vakai pe kuo muka ‘a e vaine; Na‘a kuo lūpū ia; Na‘a kuo moto ‘a e pomikānite Ko e potu ia te u ‘atu ai ‘eku ‘ofa. 13 ‘Oku manongi ‘a e ‘akau fakafanau, Pea kuo hilifaki ‘i homau ngaahi funga matapā ‘a e fungani kai kehekehe, Ko e me‘a fo‘ou mo e me‘a motu‘a foki, ‘A ia kuo u tauhi ma‘au, si‘oku ‘ofa‘anga.
Dudaim ("mandrakes") are "love fruits," plants that, as the Song says, "give forth fragrance" - a fragrance often linked with intimacy in other ancient texts and iconography. We might compare them to our romantic perfumes and colognes, perhaps even an aphrodisiac. In Genesis, they are mentioned in a barter between the sister-wives, Rachel and Leah, for who will have Jacob in her bed that night (30:14-16). In the Song, their scent wafts through the air where the Shulammite, Solomon's wife, says, "There I will give you my love." There is even a play on words, because "my love" (dodai) and "my beloved" (dodi) sound like mandrakes (dudaim).
This earthy, romantic scene, scented with mandrakes, where husband and wife embrace, is one of the many ways the Bible pictures the intimate bond between God and his people, Christ and his church, who are no longer two but one flesh, joined as a head to a body in love.
Christ our Bridegroom, who gave your life as a ransom for the church, make us one with you, even as you are one with the Father and Spirit.
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