Book of Song of Solomon: Overview and Scholarly Commentary
8 chapters · 4 video commentaries · covered in 4 courses
The Song of Songs, also known as Song of Solomon or Canticles, is a collection of lyrical poems celebrating human love and desire. It features a dialogue between a lover and his beloved, often interpreted as a man and a woman, expressing mutual admiration and longing.
AuthorThe book is traditionally attributed to King Solomon, but critical scholarship views it as anonymous, with no definitive author.
WrittenLikely composed between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE, though some material may be older.
GenreLove poetry
AudienceWritten for a broad audience within ancient Israelite society, possibly for use in celebrations or as wisdom literature.
PurposeTo explore and celebrate the beauty and intensity of human romantic love.
Covered inCities of the Bible · Judaism Before Jesus · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on Song of Songs delves into the historical debates surrounding its inclusion in the Hebrew canon. As Bart Ehrman and other scholars discuss, its perceived secular themes and lack of explicit mention of God led to significant rabbinic discussion, with figures like Rabbi Akiva passionately defending its holiness. We will explore how this book, alongside Ecclesiastes and Esther, stood out from other biblical texts due to its unique content. While some scholars argue that love is absent from the Hebrew Bible, our analysis, drawing on insights from "The Bible and the Quran," demonstrates how various forms of love, including passionate love, are consistently emphasized throughout its texts, challenging this common misconception.
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
Following the destruction of the Temple, Jewish communities began to formalize their scripture. While many books like Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms were undisputed, others, such as Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, faced debate. The Mishnah records rabbinic discussions, particularly regarding Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes, with some arguing against their inclusion due to perceived secular themes or challenging theological statements, while others, like Rabbi Akiva, passionately defended their holiness.
Summarized by AI · Cities of the Bible · Lecture 8: Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Rome · watch the clip
Debates on Canonical Inclusion
In early Judaism, there were debates regarding the inclusion of certain books into the scriptural canon, specifically Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Song of Songs. These books were recognized as distinct from others due to their content, such as Song of Songs lacking mention of God, Esther never mentioning God, and Ecclesiastes' perceived nihilistic tone.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · The Bible Before the New Testament: A Conversation with Joel Baden · watch the clip
Background and context
Immortality of the Soul in Wisdom of Solomon
The Wisdom of Solomon presents a Platonic view of the immortality of the soul, asserting that God did not create death and that the earthly body weighs down the soul. It argues that God created humans for incorruption and in the image of his own eternity, with death entering the world through the devil's envy. The souls of the righteous are in God's hand and will live forever, without mention of bodily resurrection.
Summarized by AI · Judaism Before Jesus · Lecture 16: The Egyptian Diaspora · watch the clip
Courses that cover Song of Solomon
Cities of the Bible
Judaism Before Jesus
The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems
