Studies in the ScripturesStudies in the Scriptures20072007

Song of Songs: IntroductionSong of Songs: Introduction

TitleTitle

The Song of SongsThe Song of SongsSong of Solomon (1:1)Song of Solomon (1:1)Canticles – “series of songs”Canticles – “series of songs”

AuthorAuthor

Solomon (1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11, 12)Solomon (1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11, 12) ““Of Solomon”Of Solomon” ““For Solomon” (dedication to Solomon)For Solomon” (dedication to Solomon) ““About Solomon”About Solomon”

Date of WritingDate of Writing

Suggested date 965 B.C.Suggested date 965 B.C.Egyptian love poetry from 1300 – 1100 B.C.Egyptian love poetry from 1300 – 1100 B.C.References north and south (1 Kgs.4:32-33)References north and south (1 Kgs.4:32-33)City of Tirzah – northern capital (1 Kgs.16)City of Tirzah – northern capital (1 Kgs.16)Nothing in the book demands a late date.Nothing in the book demands a late date.

Relation to Other BooksRelation to Other Books

Fifth book in English BibleFifth book in English BibleFirst of the “Five Rolls”First of the “Five Rolls” ((Megilloth – Books read by Jews at Megilloth – Books read by Jews at

various holidays): various holidays): Song of Solomon Song of Solomon [Passover], Ruth [Pentecost], [Passover], Ruth [Pentecost], Lamentations [anniversary of fall of Lamentations [anniversary of fall of Jerusalem], Ecclesiastes [Tabernacles], Jerusalem], Ecclesiastes [Tabernacles], and Esther [Purim]. and Esther [Purim].

CanonicityCanonicity

The sensual expressions in the Song The sensual expressions in the Song prompted Jewish and Christian readers prompted Jewish and Christian readers to question whether this document to question whether this document belonged in the Bible.belonged in the Bible.

Rabbi Akiba said, “The whole world is Rabbi Akiba said, “The whole world is not worth the day on which the Song of not worth the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel; all the Songs was given to Israel; all the writings are holy, and the Song of Songs writings are holy, and the Song of Songs is the holy of holies.” (Garrett, p. 367)is the holy of holies.” (Garrett, p. 367)

Literary StructureLiterary Structure

Form of Literature – genreForm of Literature – genre Is it “wisdom literature”?Is it “wisdom literature”? The Song not only celebrates love, it also The Song not only celebrates love, it also

teaches love.teaches love. In a class by itself among biblical wisdom In a class by itself among biblical wisdom

books.books.

Literary StructureLiterary Structure

Literary MethodLiterary Method Similar love songs have been uncovered Similar love songs have been uncovered

among the Papyrus Chester Beatty I (Egypt, among the Papyrus Chester Beatty I (Egypt, New Kingdom Period)New Kingdom Period)

““Through simile and metaphor, even the Through simile and metaphor, even the strongest and most private of the emotions strongest and most private of the emotions of sexual love can be expressed in a way of sexual love can be expressed in a way that is tasteful, appropriate and descriptive.” that is tasteful, appropriate and descriptive.”

Literary StructureLiterary Structure

Literary Form of Ancient Love PoetryLiterary Form of Ancient Love Poetry The Admiration Song The Admiration Song The Song of Yearning The Song of Yearning The Arrival Song The Arrival Song The Invitation The Invitation The Prayer for Success in Love The Prayer for Success in Love

Absent in the Song of SolomonAbsent in the Song of Solomon

Literary StructureLiterary Structure

Literary Motifs:Literary Motifs: Lovesickness (5:8)Lovesickness (5:8) The Door (5:4 – 6)The Door (5:4 – 6) Gazelle or Stag (2:9, 17; 8:14)Gazelle or Stag (2:9, 17; 8:14) The Kiss (1:2; 8:1)The Kiss (1:2; 8:1) The Breasts (1:12;4:5; 7:3; 8:10)The Breasts (1:12;4:5; 7:3; 8:10)

Literary StructureLiterary Structure

Literary Motifs:Literary Motifs: The Authority Figure (5:7)The Authority Figure (5:7) Garden or Vineyard (4:16) Garden or Vineyard (4:16) Stolen or Entrapped Heart (4:9)Stolen or Entrapped Heart (4:9) Horses and Chariots (3:7)Horses and Chariots (3:7) Limbs described (5:14)Limbs described (5:14)

There are examples in the Egyptian love There are examples in the Egyptian love poetry of each of these motifs.poetry of each of these motifs.

Unity and StructureUnity and Structure

Large number of repetitious and Large number of repetitious and associative sequences.associative sequences.

““My beloved is mine, and I am his.” (2:16) My beloved is mine, and I am his.” (2:16) ““I am my beloved's, And my beloved is I am my beloved's, And my beloved is

mine.” (6:3)mine.” (6:3) ““I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward

me.” (7:10)me.” (7:10)

Unity and StructureUnity and Structure

Common themes, refrains and phrases:Common themes, refrains and phrases: ““That you will not arouse or awaken That you will not arouse or awaken mymy love, love,

Until she pleases." [NASB] (2:7; 3:5; 8:4) Until she pleases." [NASB] (2:7; 3:5; 8:4) Description of her beauty (4:1 – 7; 7:1 – 9a) Description of her beauty (4:1 – 7; 7:1 – 9a)

sevenfold; then tenfold description sevenfold; then tenfold description

Unity and StructureUnity and Structure

Chiastic OutlineChiastic Outline ““take me away” (1:1-4)take me away” (1:1-4)

““my own vineyard” (1:5 – 7)my own vineyard” (1:5 – 7) ““Into his garden” (4:16)Into his garden” (4:16) ““Into my garden” (5:1a)Into my garden” (5:1a)

““my own vineyard” (8:10 – 12)my own vineyard” (8:10 – 12)

““come away” (8:14)come away” (8:14)

OutlineOutlineCourtship Phase (1:2 – 3:5)Courtship Phase (1:2 – 3:5)Wedding Phase (3:6 – 5:1)Wedding Phase (3:6 – 5:1)

Wedding Ceremony (3:6 – 11)Wedding Ceremony (3:6 – 11)Fulfillment in Marriage (4:1 – 5:1)Fulfillment in Marriage (4:1 – 5:1)

Married Phase (5:2 – 8:14)Married Phase (5:2 – 8:14)Obstacles (5:2 – 8)Obstacles (5:2 – 8)Reconciliation (5:9 – 6:12)Reconciliation (5:9 – 6:12)Renewal (6:13 – 8:14) Renewal (6:13 – 8:14)

Setting: Historical or Poetical?Setting: Historical or Poetical?

Solomon (1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11,12; 1Kgs.)Solomon (1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11,12; 1Kgs.) Shulammite woman (6:13)Shulammite woman (6:13)

Possible variant of Possible variant of ShunemShunem Feminine form of Solomon – “Solomoness” Feminine form of Solomon – “Solomoness”

Daughters of Jerusalem (1:5; 2:7; Daughters of Jerusalem (1:5; 2:7; 3:5,10;5:8,16; 8:4) [1:4, 5, 10;2:3 NKJV]3:5,10;5:8,16; 8:4) [1:4, 5, 10;2:3 NKJV]

Shepherd lover – Additional lectures Shepherd lover – Additional lectures

InterpretationInterpretation

Allegorical - ask Jeff SmelserAllegorical - ask Jeff SmelserAnthology - ask Jeff SmelserAnthology - ask Jeff SmelserDramaDrama

Two characterTwo characterThree characterThree characterWeaknesses of dramatic interpretationWeaknesses of dramatic interpretation

InterpretationInterpretation

HistoricalHistorical CulticCultic FuneraryFunerary WeddingWedding Love SongLove Song

Josephus (Josephus (Antiquities, Antiquities, viii. 7.3.)viii. 7.3.) ““In love every groom is King Solomon, a In love every groom is King Solomon, a

shepherd, and even a gazelle; and every shepherd, and even a gazelle; and every bride is a princess and country maiden.”bride is a princess and country maiden.”

Marriage and the Song of SongsMarriage and the Song of Songs

““The Song presents sexuality as a good The Song presents sexuality as a good thing protected by marriage and not as thing protected by marriage and not as an evil thing made permissible by an evil thing made permissible by marriage.” (Garrett, p. 378)marriage.” (Garrett, p. 378)

It never indicates that the sexuality of a It never indicates that the sexuality of a couple has any cultic or ritual couple has any cultic or ritual significance or mythical power of fertility significance or mythical power of fertility in the renewal of nature.in the renewal of nature.

Marriage and the Song of SongsMarriage and the Song of Songs

The cults of the ancient and twenty first The cults of the ancient and twenty first century world promote sexuality as a century world promote sexuality as a ritual of religious devotion.ritual of religious devotion.

““Sexuality falls into its greatest Sexuality falls into its greatest perversion and excess when it is perversion and excess when it is mythologized and given cosmic mythologized and given cosmic significance.”significance.”

Marriage and the Song of SongsMarriage and the Song of Songs

Tell her you love her. Tell her you love her. They celebrated their pleasure not only They celebrated their pleasure not only

with physical action, but with carefully with physical action, but with carefully crafted words.crafted words.

Lesson: We need to speak often of our Lesson: We need to speak often of our joy in our beloved, our spouse. Many joy in our beloved, our spouse. Many homes would be happier if men and homes would be happier if men and women would simply women would simply speakspeak of their love of their love for one another more often.for one another more often.

Marriage and the Song of SongsMarriage and the Song of Songs

There is no “open relationship” in this There is no “open relationship” in this Song of Songs.Song of Songs.

It is the love of a man for a woman, not It is the love of a man for a woman, not another man.another man.

The ideal of marriage, exclusive love, is The ideal of marriage, exclusive love, is present throughout the Song.present throughout the Song.

ConclusionConclusion

The Song of Songs is a love song The Song of Songs is a love song written during the time of Solomon. written during the time of Solomon.

It is neither allegory, drama, hymn, history It is neither allegory, drama, hymn, history nor a wedding ceremonial text. nor a wedding ceremonial text.

It is a song of love with two parts, the man It is a song of love with two parts, the man and the woman’s, assisted by a chorus. and the woman’s, assisted by a chorus.

Other examples of this genre of literature Other examples of this genre of literature are found from Egypt, ca. 1300 – 1100 B.C. are found from Egypt, ca. 1300 – 1100 B.C.

The message is that the mutual pleasures The message is that the mutual pleasures of love are good and possible in our world. of love are good and possible in our world.

ConclusionConclusion

Literary Climax:Literary Climax:

““Place me like a seal over your heart, like a Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” (Song of Solomon, 8:6-7)utterly scorned.” (Song of Solomon, 8:6-7)