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SONG OF SOLOMON – INTRODUCTION
I. TITLE OF BOOK
A. The first verse gives the title: “The Song of Songs.”
1. Expresses the “superlative.”
2. Of Solomon’s 1,005 songs, this one is the best or most important (cf. I Kings 4:32)
3. The more common title: “Song of Solomon”
B. Sometimes the Book is referred to as “Canticles” – “a series of songs.”
II. AUTHOR OF THE BOOK
A. Solomon (1:1, 5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11,12)
B. “ Solomon’s;” “of Solomon;” “King Solomon;” “Solomon;” “O Solomon”
III. DATE FOR THE WRITING OF THE BOOK
A. Solomon probably wrote the Book in the early part of his reign – number of wives and concubines not as many as he would have.
1. Song of Solomon 6:8 – 60 queens, 80 concubines, “virgins without number.”
2. I Kings 11:3 – 700 wives, 300 concubines.
3. Probably written 960-
IV. RELATION WITH OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
A. In our English Bibles, the “Song of Solomon” is the fifth of the poetical Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes…Song of Solomon.
1. Similarities between Song of Solomon and Proverbs:
(a). 4:15 – Proverbs 5:15
(b). 4:14 – Proverbs 7:17
(c). 8:6,7-
B. In the Hebrew Bible, it is the first of the “Five Rolls” (Megilloth): Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.
1. Portions of it sung on the eighth day of the Passover feast.
C. Not directly referred to by Christ, nor quoted anywhere in the New Testament.
V. VARIOUS APPROACHES IN INTERPRETING THE BOOK
A. Naturalistic – It is a human love story, of literary merit, with no typical or figurative meaning intended.
1. The love between King Solomon and the beautiful, but humble Shulammite girl from the northern country of Israel is the focus.
(a). Courtship days (1:2-
(b). Wedding (3:6 – 5:1)
(c). Married Life (5:2 – 8:14)
(1). Troubled dream of separation (5:2-
(2). Mutual love of husband and wife (6:4 – 8:4)
(3). The seal of their love (8:5-
2. The love between the Shulammite girl and her true love, a shepherd is highlighted. King Solomon cannot force her to love him. An indictment against Solomon’s polygamy.
(a). A refrain repeated three times: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4).
B. Typical -
1. G. Campbell Morgan: “The songs should be treated then, first as simple and yet sublime songs of human affection. When they are thus understood, reverently the thoughts may be lifted into the higher value of setting forth the joys of the communions between the spirit of man and the Spirit of God, and ultimately between the Church of Chirst” (The Analyzed Bible, p. 197).
2. Psalm 45:6 – Hebrews 1:8-
Revelation 19:7-
VI. THE MAIN CHARACTERS
A. King Solomon – The King of Israel (I Kings 1:32-
B. A Shulammite Woman – The name “Shulammite” appears only at 6:13; it is derived from the place called Shunem, located a short distance north of Jezreel near the plain of Megiddo, occupied by the tribe, Issachar. (cf. Joshua 19:18; I Samuel 28:4; I Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 4:8).
C. The Shepherd Lover – The Shulammite’s true love – “my beloved” (1:16, 5:10-
D. Daughters of Jerusalem – attendants of the king’s palace, companions of the bride, or interested onlookers (1:4b, 11, 3:6, 5:9, 6:1, 13, 8:5, 8:8).
VII. DIVISION OF STUDY
A. Lesson One – 1:1-
B. Lesson Two – 2:2 – 2:17
C. Lesson Three – 3:1-
D. Lesson Four – 5:2-
E. Lesson Five – 6:4-
Lesson Six – 8:1-