Table of Contents:
  • I. Title 1
  • II. Authorship 2
  • III. Literary Style 9
  • IV. Language 17
  • V. Date 19
  • VI. Text 19
  • VII. History of Interpretation 20
  • VIII. Genre 48
  • IX. Ancient Near Eastern Background 49
  • X. Structure 54
  • XI. Canon 56
  • XII. Significance and Theology of the Song of Songs 58
  • Text and Commentary
  • Superscription (1:1) 87
  • Poem 1 Woman's Pursuit (1:2-4) 89
  • Poem 2 Dark, but Beautiful (1:5-6) 95
  • Poem 3 An Invitation to a Tryst (1:7-8) 99
  • Poem 4 A Beautiful Mare (1:9-11) 102
  • Poem 5 Intimate Fragrances (1:12-14) 104
  • Poem 6 Outdoor Love (1:15-17) 107
  • Poem 7 Flowers and Trees (2:1-7) 109
  • Poem 8 A Poem of Spring (2:8-17) 116
  • Poem 9 Seeking and (Not) Finding (3:1-5) 127
  • Poem 10 A Royal Wedding Procession (3:6-11) 131
  • Poem 11 From Head to Breasts: The Man's Sensuous Description of the Woman (4:1-7) 140
  • Poem 12 Invitation (4:8-9) 148
  • Poem 13 Eating in the Garden of Love (4:10-5:1) 152
  • Poem 14 To Search and (Not) Find, Once Again (5:2-6:3) 160
  • Poem 15 Awesome As an Army under Banners (6:4-10) 177
  • Poem 16 A Surprise in the Nut Grove (6:11-12) 183
  • Poem 17 A Description of the Dancing Shulammite (7:1-11 [English 6:13-7:10]) 188
  • Poem 18 I Will Give You My Love (7:12-14 [English 7:11-13]) 199
  • Poem 19 Yearning for Love (8:1-4) 203
  • Poem 20 Like a Seal (8:5-7) 206
  • Poem 21 Protecting the Sister (8:8-10) 215
  • Poem 22 Who Owns the Vineyard? (8:11-12) 218
  • Poem 23 Be Like a Gazelle (8:13-14) 220.