Song of Songs

By AD100, rabbis were interpreting the Song allegorically, as an exploration of God’s love for Israel.

Origen’s influential interpretation saw the Song as an allegory of Christ’s relationship with the church.

 1

Song attributed to Solomon. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. I am black, but comely. Her mother's children were angry with her. She confesses her unworthiness, desires to be directed to the flock, and is directed to the shepherds’ tents. The bridegroom describes the comeliness of his bride. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved.


2

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. A description of the bridegroom as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, and as a roe or young hart. A description of the spring. The mutual love of both: the beloved is mine, and I am his.


3

The bride mentions the absence of her spouse in bed one night, her search after him, and her ultimate success. A description of the bridegroom, his bed and his chariot.


4

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks [you have dove’s eyes behind your veil – NRSV]: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Similes of body parts. The beloved is compared to an orchard or a garden – an invitation is made to taste to the bridegroom to enter his garden and eat his pleasant fruits.


5

The bridegroom calls on his spouse to admit him. She hesitates, arises and finds him gone. Seeking him, she is smote and wounded by the city watch. She inquires of the daughters of Jerusalem, and describes her beloved’s body parts in a series of similes.


6

The companions of the bride inquire after the bridegroom. A description of the bride, recapitulating some of the images already used. The bride is referred to as ‘the Shulamite’.


7

Further simile-rich descriptions. The bride is described first, then the bridegroom. Sense of mutuality strengthened by the fact that both have an equal voice in the chapter.


8

Instructions to daughters of Jerusalem not to awake the beloved. Many waters cannot quench love. The younger sister is described – worryingly, she has no breasts. Solomon’s vineyard is described as full of precious fruit. He earns much silver from its fruit, which he can keep – because she has her own vineyard, him? Final demand to make haste.