List of commentaries This is a list of books that comment about Song of Solomon. They are the people I call, so called experts. They have studied and it is worth checking out what they say. But don't just believe something because they say it and it is published in a book. Study for yourself. (1) Franz Delitzsch, The Song of Songs and … [Read more...]
There are people who write books about the Bible and the meaning of words and phrases used in it. They have degrees. They often have teaching positions. I’m using this title “so called experts” not as a put down for them (well it is meant as a put down for the pompous ones), but as a way to try to level the playing field in your mind. It is great that they offer their expertise. It is not so great if you assume they are always correct. Read different opinions and conclusions. Read about why they came to their conclusions. Let them help you gather information, don’t let them intimidate you into agreeing with them because of their degrees and expert status.
Song of Solomon — some church history
(25) long quote, p. 159-160 “what kind of book is the song of songs? ‘All the writing s are holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies (shir hashierim qodesh qodashim).’ So spoke Rabbi Aquiba ben Joseph almost 2000 years ago, paying the Song of Songs a work of ultimate tribute. Bt the rabbi said it in the midst of a controversy in Judaism … [Read more...]
Wall or Door
Chapter 8 verses 9-10 We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for? (29) p 278 Ezek 16:7 names the development of the breasts and the growth of pubic hair as signs of puberty (when the girl became eligible for marriage). Young women were often married between ages … [Read more...]
You can’t buy love
Chapter 8 verse 7 If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned. (22a) p 151 Any attempt to buy love invites scorn. It displays ignorance of the nature of love, since no one can buy or sell the inner feelings from which love comes. It shows insensitivity to the one being propositioned, since it … [Read more...]
Under the Apple Tree
Chapter 8 verse 5 8:5 under the apple tree I awakened you (29) p 267-268 in the resent Hebrew text, the woman is the speaker and the man the addressee. Many exegete (e.g., Rudolph, Krinetzki) change the masculine suffixes for “you” to feminine forms, because “the claim by a woman that she has ‘awakened’ the man’s love would, however, be … [Read more...]
