SONG OF SONGS
The Interpretation / Purpose
The Song of Songs, or The Song of Solomon, is perhaps the most difficult and mysterious book in the entire Bible. A cursory glance at The Song’s history of interpretation reveals a diversity of opinion unequaled in the study of any other biblical work. The Song has been interpreted as an allegory, an extended type, a drama involving either two or three main characters, a collection of Syrian wedding songs, a collection of pagan fertility cult liturgies, and an anthology of disconnected songs extolling human love.
The purpose of the book is to extol human love and marriage.
The purpose of the book is to extol human love and marriage.
The Authorship / Date
Song of Songs 1:1 attributes the authorship of this book to Solomon. Six other verses in the book refer to him by name –
1:5..."I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon." (NASB)
3:7..."Behold, it is the {traveling} couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel." (NASB)
3:9..."King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon." (NASB)
3:11..."Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart." (NASB)
8:11 - 12..."Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each one was to bring a thousand {shekels} of silver for its fruit. My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand {shekels} are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit." (NASB)
He is also referred to as the “king” –
1:4..."Draw me after you {and} let us run {together!} The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you." (NASB)
1:12..."While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance." (NASB)
3:9..."King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon." (NASB)
3:11..."Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart." (NASB)
7:5..."Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads; {The} king is captivated by {your} tresses." (NASB)
The book, then, was probably written sometime during Solomon’s reign (971 – 931 B.C.).
1:5..."I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon." (NASB)
3:7..."Behold, it is the {traveling} couch of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel." (NASB)
3:9..."King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon." (NASB)
3:11..."Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart." (NASB)
8:11 - 12..."Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each one was to bring a thousand {shekels} of silver for its fruit. My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand {shekels} are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit." (NASB)
He is also referred to as the “king” –
1:4..."Draw me after you {and} let us run {together!} The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you." (NASB)
1:12..."While the king was at his table, My perfume gave forth its fragrance." (NASB)
3:9..."King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair From the timber of Lebanon." (NASB)
3:11..."Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon with the crown With which his mother has crowned him On the day of his wedding, And on the day of his gladness of heart." (NASB)
7:5..."Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads; {The} king is captivated by {your} tresses." (NASB)
The book, then, was probably written sometime during Solomon’s reign (971 – 931 B.C.).
The Unity
Many interpreters say that the book is an anthology, a collection of love songs that have no connections and that teach no lessons. However, several arguments speak for the book’s unity –
the same characters are seen throughout the book.
similar expressions and figures of speech are used throughout the book
Hebrew grammatical peculiarities found only in this book suggest a single author.
the progression in the subject matter points to a single work.
the same characters are seen throughout the book.
similar expressions and figures of speech are used throughout the book
Hebrew grammatical peculiarities found only in this book suggest a single author.
the progression in the subject matter points to a single work.
The Outline (Bible Knowledge Commentary on The Old Testament - Walvoord, Zuck, Cook)
Pt 1: The Superscription (Song of Songs 1:1)
Pt 2: The Courtship (S of S 1:2 – 3:5)
A) Introduction – The Expressions of longing, insecurity, and praise (1:2 – 11)
B) The Growth of love and its intensity (1:12 – 3:5)
Pt 3: The Wedding (S of S 3:6 – 5:1)
A) The Wedding Procession (3:6 – 11)
B) The Wedding Night (4 – 5:1)
Pt 4: The Maturation of The Marriage (S of S 5:2 – 8:4)
A) Indifference and its resolution (5:2 – 6:13)
B) Praise of The Beloved and her love (7:1 – 10)
C) An invitation from The Beloved (7:11 – 13)
D) The Beloved’s desire for a greater intimacy (8:1 – 4)
Pt 5: The Conclusion – The Nature and Power of Love (S of S 8:5 – 7)
A) A Picture of Love (8:5)
B) An Explanation of Love (8:6 – 7)
Pt 6: Epilogue (Song of Songs 8:8 – 14)
Pt 2: The Courtship (S of S 1:2 – 3:5)
A) Introduction – The Expressions of longing, insecurity, and praise (1:2 – 11)
B) The Growth of love and its intensity (1:12 – 3:5)
Pt 3: The Wedding (S of S 3:6 – 5:1)
A) The Wedding Procession (3:6 – 11)
B) The Wedding Night (4 – 5:1)
Pt 4: The Maturation of The Marriage (S of S 5:2 – 8:4)
A) Indifference and its resolution (5:2 – 6:13)
B) Praise of The Beloved and her love (7:1 – 10)
C) An invitation from The Beloved (7:11 – 13)
D) The Beloved’s desire for a greater intimacy (8:1 – 4)
Pt 5: The Conclusion – The Nature and Power of Love (S of S 8:5 – 7)
A) A Picture of Love (8:5)
B) An Explanation of Love (8:6 – 7)
Pt 6: Epilogue (Song of Songs 8:8 – 14)