Song of Solomon

Title

Song of Solomon

The title is taken from the first verse and is also called Song of Songs.

Authorship

The book is attributed to Solomon because of evidence found in verse 1.

Date

Jewish tradition considers the book a product of Solomon's early years before his wives and concubines. This would but it in the 970-950 B.C. range.

Content Overview

The Song of Solomon is a Love Song which is full of oriental, romantic imagery. It depicts the wooing and wedding of the Shepherdess by the king and the joys and heartaches of a married couple in love.

The book is arranged somewhat like scenes in a drama with three main actors:

1. Priole - The Shulamite Woman

2. King

3. Chorus - Daughters of Jerusalem

This book is Hebrew and characterized like Proverbs, with the parallelism in its line and stanzas. Key images and themes in the book include wine, the garden, the caress or kiss, spices and fruit and the countryside.

Three Basic approaches have been employed to interpret this book as follows:

1. The Alagorical View: a poem symbolizing the relationship between God and Israel or Christ and the Church.

2. The Tipilogical View: this view acknowledges the historical foundation and recognizes the reality of the bride and her lover but these are analogous to a higher spiritual love relationship that God and His chosen people (the Jews and the Church).

3. The Literal View: This view takes the content at face value. It is a story of human romantic love within the confines of God ordained marriage.

Outline

1. The Beginning of Love (1:1-5:1)

A. Moving toward love

B. United in love

2. The Broadening of Love (5:2-8:14)

A. Struggling in Love

B. Growing in Love

Purpose

To celebrate the physical and emotional nature of man

To affirm the goodness and righteousness of physical, romantic love within the confines of a God ordained marriage.

Return to Old Testament from Song of Solomon