Book excerpt: The interpretations of 'Song of Songs' in the tannaitic midrashim, the first rabbinic scriptural commentaries, employ a form of allegory known as figural interpretation or typology in order to correlate this work to Israel's ideal national narrative represented by events such as the crossing of the sea and the giving of the Torah. This approach to interpreting 'Song of Songs' helped shape rabbinic conceptions of the character and practice of model Israel as well as of an idealised vision of their beloved, God.