SENIOR
AGE
GROUP: 14 - 15 YEARS
STANDARD
(GRADE): IX & X
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LESSON – 19
THE WRITINGS OF KING SOLOMON
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King Solomon – The wisest king on earth
Solomon was the third and final king of the
unified nation of Israel. King Solomon was one of the greatest kings of Israel.
During his rule, Israel was a powerful and rich nation. Solomon is also
described as a man to whom God gave wisdom and understanding beyond measure and
largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. All the kings of earth sought
the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his
heart" (2 Chronicles 9:23).
Solomon was granted great wealth and given the privilege of building the holy Temple at Jerusalem. Among
the members of King Solomon’s royal administration were scribes and a recorder
who recorded his astounding wisdom and marvellous achievements.
The writings of King Solomon
King Solomon also was a skilled and prolific writer.
In the Holy Bible it is recorded that he wrote 1,005
songs and 3,000 proverbs. Only a few hundred of Solomon's proverbs are
recorded in the Book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible. Only one of his songs (known
as the Song of Songs) is preserved in the Bible. It is also mentioned that he
described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of
walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish (I Kings
4:32,33).
King Solomon’s writings in the Holy Bible
There are three books in the Holy Bible written by
King Solomon. His contributions are a part of the Wisdom Books in the Christian
Old Testament and Ketuvim in the Hebrew Bible. Ketuvim means "Writings."
Ø Book of Proverbs (called
as Mishlei in Hebrew), a collection of short
sayings to impart wisdom.
Ø Ecclesiastes
(Qoheleth in Hebrew), a book of contemplation and
self-reflection.
Ø Song
of Songs (Shir ha-Shirim in Hebrew), is a
love poetry.
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
The title given to the Book of Proverbs in the
Hebrew Bible is “Mishle Shelomoh”, which is translated "Proverbs of
Solomon." A proverb is a short saying that imparts moral or religious
wisdom. The Book of Proverbs provides wholistic guidance for the physical,
intellectual and spiritual wellbeing and transformation of an individual. The proverbs
of Solomon are derived from human experiences and observation of nature through
divine wisdom and revelation gifted to him by God. Some consider wisdom traits
to be innate or that people are born wise or unwise. But according to the
Biblical notion, wisdom has to be actively sought after and is a desirable
quality to be acquired. Proverbs frequently instructs the learners to “get” or
“buy” wisdom (4:5 and 23:23). The Book of Proverbs contain thirty-one chapters,
each comprising of twenty to thirty-five wise sayings.
Main Author & Other Authors
King Solomon is the main author of the Book of
Proverbs (1:1, 10:1, and 25:1). The Book of Proverbs also contains the wise
sayings of other authors like Agur and King Lemuel. The last two chapters of
the Book of Proverbs were authored by Agur and King Lemuel, respectively. The chapters from 25 – 29 were collated and written by the
scribes at the court of King Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1). Even though most of
the proverbs were authored by King Solomon during his reign around 900 BC, it
is generally considered that the written teachings in their current form were
collected during the religious reform of Hezekiah, King of Judah in the late 8th
and early 7th centuries BC.
Purpose of Writing: The
first few verses describe the purpose of writing these proverbs. According to
verses 1 – 7 in the first chapter, the main aim of writing these Proverbs is to
help the learners gain wisdom and understanding. The instructions in the
Proverbs would also lead them to understand the words of the wise and their insights.
Insight is the capacity to have accurate and deep understanding about an
individual or situation. Proverbs also provide instruction in prudent
behaviour, helping individuals in choosing and doing what is right, just and
fair. Prudence is the ability to make careful and wise decisions in our
everyday life that helps to avoid unnecessary risks, danger or painful
consequences. The messages ingrained in Proverbs not only counsel the young
people and guide the simple-minded, they also increase the learning of the wise
and give guidance to the one with understanding.
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Structure
The Book of Proverbs is divided into several
sections, each with its own unique characteristics and themes.
Ø Introduction
(Chapters 1–9): The first nine chapters are a
series of discourses that emphasize the value of wisdom and the importance of
seeking it. Discourse is a lengthy talk about a subject. These chapters often
personify wisdom as a woman calling out to the simple and the foolish, urging
them to accept and obey her teachings. These chapters are a series of
discourses on the value of wisdom and the dangers of folly.
Ø Proverbs
of Solomon (Chapters 10–22:16): This
section consists of individual proverbs or short sayings that provide practical
advice on various aspects of life. The sayings are often presented in a
parallel structure, contrasting the wise with the foolish, the righteous with
the wicked etc.
Ø Sayings
of the Wise (Chapters 22:17–24:22): This
section includes further sayings and instructions from a group of respected men
known as "the wise." The “wise” could be the counselors who served an
important function as advisors to the kings (1 Kgs. 12:6; 1 Kgs. 4:31). These
proverbs continue the themes of wisdom, righteousness, and proper conduct.
Ø Further
Sayings of the Wise (Chapter 24:23–34): Additional
wise sayings are provided in this brief section, emphasizing justice, fairness,
and diligence.
Ø Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah’s Men (Chapters 25–29): This section contains the second collection of Solomon's proverbs. These proverbs address themes of leadership, self-control, and social relationships. It is mentioned that this second collection was compiled by the scribes who served in the court of king Hezekiah (25:1).
Ø Sayings
of Agur (Chapter 30): The words of Agur son of Jakeh
provide a humble reflection on human limitations and the greatness of God,
along with a series of numerical proverbs. They are termed numerical proverbs
because they use numbers. There are five numerical sayings in this section, all
list “four” items, using a “three plus one” pattern.
Ø Sayings
of King Lemuel (Chapter 31): This section includes the
advice King Lemuel received from his mother, focusing on righteous leadership
and warnings against indulgence and injustice. The second part contains an
acrostic poem in Hebrew about a Virtuous Woman (Verses 10–31). In
an acrostic poem each verse begins with the subsequent letter of the alphabet.
The poem praises the virtues of a noble wife, highlighting her
industriousness, wisdom, and fear of the Lord.
Themes
The main theme of the Book of Proverbs is undeniably “wisdom”. Wisdom and folly are compared and contrasted throughout Proverbs. Example: Proverbs 10:1: "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother." Wisdom is depicted as a path that leads to life, prosperity, and honor, while folly or foolishness leads to destruction, poverty, and shame. According to the Holy Bible, wisdom is not mere accumulation of knowledge. The Bible says knowledge puffs up (I Corinthians 8:1) and makes one arrogant. There are two types of knowledge i.e. knowledge of the world and knowledge of the holy one. The knowledge of the world puffs up, but the knowledge of the Holy One gives understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
It is generally said that we live in a world that is drowning in information and starving for true knowledge. There is information overload compared to the olden days, due to easy availability of information through various sources of social media. Hence wisdom and understanding are very much needed to counter and balance this information overload.
Wisdom is supernatural and is received from above through God’s word. The Bible repeatedly reminds us that a man develops true wisdom when he fears the Lord and obeys His commandments. James 3:17 describes the characteristics of this heavenly wisdom. The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
The importance of the fear of the Lord
is another recurrent theme in this book. Fear of the Lord doesn’t mean being
scared or afraid of God. It means having reverence, awe, and a deep respect for
God's holiness and sovereignty and submitting to His will. The need for self-control
and control of our thoughts, words, actions and emotions and the reward
for self-control are also stressed in the Book of Proverbs.
The book also addresses the importance of relationships,
particularly within the family and community. It offers advice on parenting,
friendship, and marriage, emphasizing qualities such as loyalty, kindness, and
integrity. For example, Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity," highlighting the value of supportive
relationships. Wise snippets related to business, wealth, charity, battle
and administration of a nation can also be found in the Book of
Proverbs. There is an entire chapter in Proverbs that describes the
characteristics of a virtuous woman.
Foreshadowing
of Christ in Proverbs:
The need for wisdom and its attainment in our lives
finds its fulfillment in Christ, who is the embodiment of God’s wisdom.
According to Colossians 2:3, In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. Jesus Christ often spoke in parables and proverbs, using concise
and memorable sayings to convey deeper truths. In this sense, the wisdom of
Proverbs can be seen as a precursor to the teachings of Christ, preparing the
way for the fuller revelation of God's wisdom in the person of Jesus. Furthermore,
the principles found in Proverbs are echoed throughout the New Testament.
Proverbs - Summary
While Proverbs is often associated with the wisdom
of the elderly, its teachings are relevant for people of all ages. The book
addresses the young and the old, the simple and the wise, offering guidance
that is applicable at every stage of life. The call to heed wisdom is directed
to all who seek to live a life that honors God and benefits others. Moreover,
the wisdom of Proverbs is not limited to a specific cultural or historical
context. Its principles are universal, transcending time and place. The
emphasis on integrity, humility, diligence, and the fear of the Lord resonates
with people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or
circumstances.
ECCLESIASTES
Ecclesiastes is another book written by King
Solomon. The English title, Ecclesiastes, comes from the Greek name of the Book
“ekklesiastes.” The word “ekklesia,” means “assembly” or “congregation.” The
Hebrew title for the book is “Qoheleth,” which means “one who calls or gathers”
the people. It refers to the speaker or the one who addresses an assembly or
gathering. Hence we can see that the author is referred to as “the preacher” throughout
the book (1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8–10).
Ecclesiastes is a part of “Megilloth or five scrolls” * (Refer to notes for
teachers at the end of the lesson) in the Hebrew Bible. Jewish rabbis read
these books in the synagogue on 5 special occasions during the year. The Book
of Ecclesiastes was read during the Pentecost also called as Shavuot in Hebrew.
Author and Date
The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes is not
explicitly stated. Nevertheless, traditional Jewish and Christian scholars
ascribe authorship to King Solomon because of the following reasons
(i)
The book describes the Preacher
as the “son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccles 1:1)
(ii)
As someone who was surpassingly
wise (1:16)
(iii)
Someone who had a very prosperous
reign ( Ecc 2:1–9; 1 Kings
3–4).
(iv)
Someone who had great
possessions, more than any who had been before him in Jerusalem” ( 2:7).
(v)
Someone who undertook many
building projects (2:4, 5)
(vi)
Someone who “taught the people
knowledge” and wrote “many proverbs” (12:9)
It is generally opined that King Solomon wrote
Ecclesiastes in his latter years from his life experiences. So it would be no
later than ca. 931 B.C.
Purpose of Writing
Ecclesiastes is a
reflective and philosophical work that grapples with the existential questions
of life. The narrator of Ecclesiastes called himself a
“Teacher”. He sought to answer the question: “What should man do during his
time on earth or while he is under the sun? In a mixture of prose and verse,
the Teacher compiled his studies, hypotheses, and proverbs regarding the
purpose of life. He had the opportunity and means to test the various ways men
seek happiness. He had great riches, and therefore could buy anything he wanted
to buy. He also had great power, and therefore could do anything he wanted to.
Besides this, he was the wisest man in all the earth. He knew how to test
things to see which was best. For the most part, Ecclesiastes seems like the
painful autobiography of Solomon who misspent God’s special gifts on his own
personal pleasure rather than God’s glory. He wrote to warn subsequent
generations not to make the same tragic error.
Structure
The Book of Ecclesiastes has a three-part
structure
(i)
Introduction
(1:1-11) – This is in a third person narrative. These verses form a
third-person prologue introducing “the words of Qoheleth.” The narrator begins
by summarizing Qoheleth’s observation of the world and reflections on life
through one of the most famous phrases in the book – “Vanity of vanities.
Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.”
(ii)
Qoheleth or the Teacher’s speech
(1:12 – 12:7) – This is in a autobiographical format and is the major portion
of the book. The teacher’s speech could be further divided into
Ø First
person introduction (1:12)
Ø First
person narration (1:13 – 6:9)
Ø First
person instruction (6:10 – 12:7)
(iii)
Conclusion
(12:8-14) – This is also a third person narrative. The epilogue begins with the
book’s motto – “Vanity of vanities … all is vanity.” Then the narrator comments
on Qoheleth and his speech and as a conclusion summarizes what should be
learned from Qoheleth’s speech and why.
Themes
Ecclesiastes provokes readers to realize the
ephemeral nature of life. It is an invitation to adjust life’s focus and find everlasting
meaning for one’s life through acknowledging the Creator’s sovereignty and
having a right relationship with Him (Ecclesiastes 2:26; 3:11; 5:2; 8:17,
12:1,13,14). Many people try to do extraordinary feats and seek to make a
lasting impact on the course of world history. But all these human strivings
are futile unless they are directed by God for His eternal purpose. What makes
life weary and meaningless, according to Ecclesiastes, is the attempt to get
more out of life—out of knowledge, pleasure, projects, wealth, entertainment—than
life itself can provide and God ever intended it to give! All earthly goals and
ambitions when pursued as ends in themselves without any higher purpose produce
only emptiness. These things do not provide any fulfillment and leads to
weariness. King Solomon’s introspection and extrospection brought him to the
realization of the temporary nature of life exclaimed through the famous refrain “All is vanity.” This phrase is
repeated in slightly different forms 37 times throughout the entire book.
King Solomon was wealthy, had power, acquired more
wealth and power, bought property, undertook magnificent building projects, gratified
his pleasures, and immersed himself in artistic entertainment. However, none of
these experiences satisfied him or gave any meaning to his life. After Solomon
tried all of these things, he realized what the true purpose of man’s life on
earth was, which he inscribed in the last few verses of the Book: “Here is the
conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the
duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including
every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14).
The following phrases recur at varying frequencies
in Ecclesiastes:
1. “All is vanity” or “This is
vanity” (1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:19; 4:4, 7, 8, 16;
5:7, 10; 6:2, 4, 9, 11, 12; 7:6, 15; 8:10, 14; 9:9; 11:8, 10; 12:8)
2. “Under the sun” (1:3, 9, 14;
2:11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22; 3:16; 4:1, 3, 7, 15; 5:13, 18; 6:1, 12; 8:9, 15, 17;
9:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 10:5)
3. “Striving after wind” (1:14, 17;
2:11, 17, 26: 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9)
4. “I perceived” or “I know” (1:17;
2:14; 3:12, 22)
5. “I said in my heart” (1:16, 2:1,
15; 3:17, 18; 9:1)
6. “I gave my heart to consider” &
variations (1:13, 17; 2:3; 7:25; 8:9. 16; 9:1)
7. “There is nothing better for a man than
that he should eat and drink and make his soul enjoy good in his labor”
(2:24; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-19, 8:15; 9:7-9)
8. Some variation of “fear God”
(3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12, 13; 12:13)
Why is Ecclesiastes included in the Holy
Bible?
There are some who think that Ecclesiastes should
not be part of the Holy Bible because of the doubts, pessimism and the
conflicting ideas about life that are expressed in certain verses. But on the
contrary, Ecclesiastes is a very important book of the Holy Bible. The deep
ponderings and the searching questions King Solomon recorded in the Book of
Ecclesiastes is not unique to him alone. These are the questions life itself
puts across through many experiences. There are many who struggle to grasp
the meaning of life. King Solomon, through the wisdom given to him by God, did
a thorough study of his life experiences and carefully recorded the
philosophical problems that we face here on earth. He recounted what he had
seen and experienced as he sought
out "wisdom" and "the scheme of
things" as they were "under the sun" (Eccl.
7:25). These verses have to be understood in the context of the entire book, otherwise
some of the passages may sound contradictory and out of place for inclusion in
an inspired book of the Bible.
As King Solomon followed worldly pursuits - worldly
pleasures, worldly projects and worldly accomplishments, he ended up with an
empty feeling, complaining that "everything is
meaningless!" Yet, the outcome of his realization of the vanity of
worldly pursuit was his comprehension of the sovereignty of the eternal God
over His creation. This is clearly evident in the last two chapters of Ecclesiastes. The
Creator has not left us with meaninglessness. He has answered all of life’s
questions through His Word, the Holy Bible, so that we may discover the true
scheme, place and purpose of all things in the present life and also to realise
the existence and significance of eternal life. He also intervened at the
appointed time, by sending the son of God, Jesus Christ to earth so that
whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.
The Foreshadowing of Jesus
According to the Qoheleth, “The words of the wise
are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are
given by one Shepherd” (12:11). Goads were ancient cattle prods; pricks on
sticks used to make an animal move from a place where they are content to a
place desired by the shepherd, perhaps a pasture with better grazing or a place
of better protection. It is a metaphor of guidance. The words of
wise men are like goads in that they prod us to travel in
the right path.
As Prophet Isaiah said when he foresaw the
sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross “All of us like sheep have gone
astray.” Just like sheep, we too are prone to wander, prone to wander from the
paths of life to paths of vanity. That’s why our chief shepherd has given us
His word. The Word of God has the same spiritual function for believers like a
cattle prod, to keep us in the way, and to lead and move us along the way we
should go. Jesus, the Messiah is the giver of the words of life and wisdom (John
6:68). He is the one shepherd and the good shepherd who leads us in the paths
of truth and in the paths of righteousness (John 10).
Ecclesiastes - Summary
The book chronicles King Solomon’s experiences,
perceptions and conclusions about man’s lifework. Lifework is the principal
work or main task of a person’s lifetime. The summary of the lesson learnt by
Solomon is, “No matter how wise or rich or successful one may be, one cannot
find meaning in life apart from God.” God does everything according to His will
(Ephesians 1:11). God has not revealed all the details of His plan or will
(3:11). All beings and all of creation stand subject to Him. These are some of
the lessons “the Qoheleth or the Teacher” learnt through his life experiences.
The teacher also learnt about the simplicity of life. He undertook many complex projects, created marvellous architecture and tried to be extraordinary. However, the unsurety and vanity of life caught him and he realized it was a futile attempt to gain meaning on one’s own terms excluding God and His purposes. This led Solomon to the conclusion that to have a life well spent, one must fear God and obey His commandments and prepare for the divine judgment appointed for all man.
THE SONG OF SONGS / THE SONG OF SOLOMON
The “Song of Solomon” in the English Bible takes
its title from the first verse of the book, “The Song of songs, which is
Solomon’s” (Song of Solomon 1:1).
The original Hebrew version of the book took its title from the book’s first
two words, “Shir ha-Shirim”, which means “the Song of songs.” The grammatical
notion of the song’s title in Hebrew “Song of songs” is superlative, meaning
“the greatest of all songs,” similar to other Biblical phrases such as King of
kings, Lord of lords. Holy of holies etc. The Song of songs is one of the wisdom
books. The Song of songs is the first of the five Megilloth*—the Festival
Scrolls—and is associated with the celebration of Passover in Jewish tradition.
The reasons for the Song of songs being read
at Passover, which
celebrates the Exodus from Egypt, are not entirely clear. It could be due to
the allegorical interpretation that this book is about God’s love for Israel,
which is well evidenced by the events of the Exodus and especially the Covenant at Mount Sinai.
The Song is unique from other biblical texts because it contains no explicit
reference to God.
Author
Jews and Christians have taken the first
verse of the Book of Song of Solomon (“The
Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s” 1:1) to mean that King Solomon, son of King David,
wrote the Song of Solomon. It is recorded in the Holy Bible that he authored
1005 songs (1 Kings 4:32). King Solomon’s name also occurs throughout the
book (1:5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11–12). The other reasons for considering King Solomon
as the author is due to the
Ø Description
of his royal facilities (3:6–11)
Ø Mention
of his numerous wives and concubines (6:8).
Ø Mentioning
of places such as Lebanon and Egypt from both the north and the south of the
country which were in good relations during King Solomon’s reign.
Ø The
town of Tirzah is praised for its beauty (Song 6:4).
Tirzah, later became a part of the northern kingdom i.e the Kingdom of Israel
which revolted against King Solomon’s son. The mentioning of Tirzah in this
book, makes it likely that the book was written before Israel was divided into
the northern and southern kingdoms, which took place just after Solomon’s death
(931 B.C.).
There are also many critics, especially in the
last two centuries who have disputed Solomon’s authorship of the book.
According to them, the first verse of the Song of songs is grammatically
ambiguous, hence, we cannot be sure that Solomon wrote the Song of songs. When we
read the poems, we find that the main character in the poem is a young woman,
called “the Shulammite.” And there is a male character in the poem, but it is
not Solomon. He is mentioned in the poems, but never as a speaker. When King
Solomon is mentioned (1:5; 3:7, 9, 11; 8:11–12), it is generally as a distant
or idealized figure. The “of Solomon” in verse 1:1 more likely means “in the
wisdom tradition of Solomon.” Solomon was known for his wisdom and poetry as
well as his love of learning about every part of life. He was renowned as the
father of wisdom literature in Israel, and hence may be attributed to a
collection of poems that explore the human experience of love. It is also
possible that it was written in his honor or it was written under his
oversight.
Scholars who accept Solomon’s authorship agree
that the song was written early in his reign (sometime between 971 and 931 BC.)
because the book mentions him and describes his glorious reign as a known fact
and also because of the youthful exuberance of the poetry.
Structure
The Song of songs is written as a dramatic
narrative or a series of exchanges between various individuals. If it is
interpreted in a literal sense, it includes
Ø A
Shulammite young woman, a shepherdess who is not named (1:6)
Ø A
young man, supposedly Solomon
Ø the
daughters of Jerusalem
Ø the
brothers of the Shulammite. (8:8)
Outline based on Literal Interpretation
i.
Title (1:1)
ii.
The First Meeting (1:2
- 2:7)
iii.
The Second Meeting (2:8
- 3:5)
iv.
The Third Meeting (3:6
- 5:1)
v.
The Fourth Meeting (5:2
- 6:3)
vi.
The Fifth Meeting (6:4
- 8:4)
vii.
The Literary Climax (8:5-7)
viii.
The Conclusion (8:8-14)
Theme
The Song of songs celebrates love. It contains
poetic and passionate exchanges between a young man and woman.
Difficulties in Interpreting Song of Songs
No other book in the Biblical canon has had such
complicated and greater diversity of interpretative strategies than Song of songs.
Expressing the passionate feelings and subtilities of love in an explicit
language, amicable to all is not easy, hence figurative language is often used.
Figurative expressions in another language and from an ancient culture may not
correspond exactly to our own cultural and linguistic context, which has added
to the difficulty in interpretation. The book is full of extravagant
comparisons—for example, the woman is compared to a horse in Pharaoh’s court
(1:9), and her hair to a flock of goats (4:1).
The comparisons are figurative not literal. We may not hear anyone
complimenting a woman in the modern times by saying, “Your hair is like a flock
of goats,” (Song 4:1)
or “Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate” (Song 4:3).
It may be difficult to appreciate words used in ancient times in a particular
part of the world to describe beauty such as flock of goats, halves of
pomegranates and the smell of Lebanon as they may not correspond to our modern language
context and usage. We have to understand that language is just a vehicle for
communication and it evolves and changes over time.
Interpreting Song of songs has been a challenge
and interpreters have used both literal and non-literal approach to decipher
the book. Understanding the cultural standards, language style and usage of the
particular time period is essential for interpreting these poems.
Interpreting Literary Images
There are mainly four different approaches in
which Song of songs is viewed and studied.
1.
Anthology interpretation:
This interpretation views the Song of songs as an anthology or collection of love
poems, similar to those found in many other cultures, arranged around a common
theme of intimate love between a man and a woman. These poems portray
various stages and aspects of love. This understanding is advocated by many modern
interpreters. According to this interpretation the Song of songs does not have
any narrative plot or story around it.
2.
The Solomon-Shulammite
interpretation: This is another interpretation which
views the Song of Solomon as a love poem with two main characters, King
Solomon and the unnamed Shulammite woman. Some consider the Shulammite woman to
be king Solomon’s first wife whom he married before Pharoah’s daughter.
3. The Shepherd Hypothesis: In the nineteenth century the “Shepherd Hypothesis” became popular. According to this, the Shulammite was a young shepherdess who was in love with a shepherd boy. King Solomon tried to win the woman’s consent to become part of his harem. The woman resisted all his flattery and returned home to marry the shepherd. Some of the recent interpreters have advocated this interpretation. The weakness of the Shepherd Hypothesis is that it seems unlikely that Solomon the king would be treated as an interloper in a work that is dedicated to Solomon himself. The song also suggests that Solomon is included in the poem not as an intruder but as a somewhat distant figure, whom the woman brings into her dreams as her idealization of the young man she loves.
4.
Allegorical
interpretation: Allegory is a symbolic fictional narrative,
story or poem which could be interpreted to reveal a secret meaning or hidden
idea. Allegorical interpretation in a Christian context understands that the
Holy Bible has various layers or levels of meaning and this interpretation tries
to bring out the spiritual ideas, messages and applications conveyed through a
particular text. The Song of songs as an allegory, is understood as an extended
picture of a divine pursuit, the love between God and his chosen people, the
Israelites, and then between Christ and His bride (either the Church or the
individual soul). This approach was commonly used for the exposition of the
book until the nineteenth century. This approach is criticized by some scholars
who argue that the valuable lessons that could be learnt from Song of songs as
a wisdom book that celebrates the pure and passionate love between a man and a
woman would be lost if it is considered only as an allegory.
Christian Allegorical View:
Christian commentators applied allegorical method to
interpret the Song of songs, viewing the bridegroom as Jesus Christ and the
bride as His church. This has been the dominant Christian view for most of Church
history. Exactly when this view was first expounded or accepted by Christians
is not known.
If we consider the Jewish
history, this song was always regarded in a spiritual sense by the Jewish people
and the ancient Jewish expositors. God betrothed the people of Israel to
himself; He entered into covenant with them, and it was
a marriage-covenant. In the Old Testament, God sometimes spoke of Himself
as the husband of the Israelite people (Isa. 54:5, Jeremiah 2:2; 31:31; Hosea
2:16, 19), and rejoiced in it as His bride (Isa. 62:4-5). He displayed His
love through many exclusive acts for them, and required of them to love Him
with all their heart and soul. Idolatry, which is the worship or adoration of
any other god or object was often spoken of as spiritual adultery. Though he
might seem sometimes distant and hidden, He encouraged them to continue
faithful to him and to wait for His further manifestation in the promised
Messiah.
It was
quite easy for the Christian church too to take the Song of Songs in a
spiritual sense, because the revelation and experience of divine love is richer
and more abundant under the gospel of grace than under the law. In the New
Testament, Christ is represented as the bridegroom of His church (Matt. 25:1;
Rom. 7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:32), and the church as the bride, the Lamb's
wife, (Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9). The Song of songs displays the King’s desire for
his Bride, the one in whom he delights.
Even
though it seems like an ordinary poem at the basic outset, the song conveys
wisdom beyond individual human relationships. The song is considered allusive –
which means it draws out ideas and imagery from all over the Scriptures without
mentioning explicitly. The following are some of the imageries used in Song of
Songs
Land Imagery
Throughout the Song of songs, we can find the
beauty of the bride expressed in geographic or agricultural terms. The song
refers to 15 beautiful, scenic and prosperous ancient geographic locations all
through the region from Lebanon to Egypt. They are (1) Kedar 1:5
(2) Egypt 1:9 (3) En Gedi 1:14 (4) Sharon 2:1
(5) Jerusalem 2:7 (6) Lebanon 3:9 (7) Mt Gilead 4:1
(8) Amana 4:8 (9) Shenir 4:8 (10) Hermon 4:8
(11) Tirzah 6:4 (12) Heshbon 7:4 (13) Damascus 7:4
(14) Mt Carmel 7:5 (15) Baal Hamon 8:1. They
are used as imageries to portray the beauty and the perfection of the bride. The
bride is described as being as beautiful as Tirzah and lovely as Jerusalem
(6:4). Her eyes are pools in Heshbon, her nose like the tower of Lebanon (7:4-5).
This is the love of the King for His chosen nation and His people. According to
this exposition, the beauty and majesty of the Israelite tribes encamped around
the Tabernacle setup by Moses in the desert (Num 2) is described through the
Song. (Compare to Balaam’s revelation about Israel - Numbers 24: 4-7). In the
New Testament too, the redeemed surround the King as the charming and beautiful
bridal City, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21).
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Edenic Imagery
The Song is full of the imagery of Eden. The
relationship between the young man and the woman is described with nature
imagery. The young man and woman could be compared to Adam and Eve, in their
unfallen and innocent state before shame, guilt etc. caught hold of them. Four
times the young man calls her “my sister, my bride” which is similar to Adam’s
statement of Eve, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh (Gen
2:23-25).” It is a statement of kinship.
The word “garden” is used eight times (4:12, 15, 16, 5:1; 6:2; 8:13), and the
poem frequently refers to trees, fruits, flowers, springs. The Song of songs
not only reminds us of the paradise that was lost to sin, but conveys a longing
to get back to the garden - to escape the wretched consequences the fall of man
brought and enter into a blissful state and regain the paradise that was lost. It
indicates that there is an Edenic paradise or millennial state buried in our
hearts where there is cohesion between nature and men, natural and spiritual which
we long to recover.
Temple Imagery
Eden garden was Adam’s original sanctuary, the
place where he met and fellowshipped with God. The imagery of the garden in the
Song shifts over into imagery of the Tabernacle or the sanctuary. King Solomon
built the Temple of God and adorned it with ornate botanical images –
Pomegranates, palm trees, lilies etc. The same imageries are strewn all over
the Song of songs. The house where the young man and woman meet are made from Temple
materials – cedar and cypress (1:17).
Both the Bride and the Beloved are described in
terms of Temple imagery. She is pictured as a lily, with cheeks like halves of
pomegranates, like the lily-topped and pomegranate-encircled pillars in the
temple court (Song 2:2; 6:7; 1 Kings 7:18-22). Her aroma is that of
frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and spices, like the perfumed anointing oil used
in the sanctuary (Song 3:6; Exodus 30:23). The beloved is described as a man
with a head like gold, eyes like doves, cheeks of spices, lips of lilies, body
of ivory and appearance like cedar. The interweaving of imagery in the Song
hints at God’s meeting with His own people Israel in the Sanctuary.
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Sexual Imagery
As a love poem, it expresses in very passionate
terms the desire of the Bride for the Beloved, and that of the Beloved for his
Bride. In Ephesians 5, Paul points out that the fundamental meaning of the
relationship between a husband and wife is that it is an image and a type, of
the relationship of Christ and the Church.
Why is “Song of songs” included in the Bible?
If this book were found alone, detached from
biblical context and tradition, it undoubtedly would be viewed as
secular. The book has no overt religious content. Its few references
to King Solomon, a historically identifiable person and to known places such as
Jerusalem and Tirzah show its Jewish connection. But the usual marks of Old
Testament Biblical literature such as references to God’s commandments,
sacrifices or any other religious ritual or theme is absent. The word “God” or
“Jehovah” is also not mentioned in the text.
The literal
interpretation considers it to be a
collection of secular love
poems, without any religious implications,
that may have been sung at wedding festivities. According to this view, the
poems were received into the Biblical canon despite
their secular nature and their lack of mention of God because they were
attributed to Solomon and were understood as wedding songs and marriage was
ordained by God.
But it was not the main reason why the Song of
songs was held in a high place in the affections of the Synagogue and the Church. In
Israel, the book was associated liturgically with the greatest Hebrew festival,
being read on the eighth day of Passover. During the first fifteen centuries of
the Christian church, so many expositions were done on this little work.
According to the Jewish people and the ancient
Jewish expositors this song is about God’s love for His people, the Israelites.
God betrothed the people of Israel to himself and made a covenant with them. It
was quite easy for the Christian church too to take the Song of Songs in a
spiritual sense, because in the New Testament, Christ is represented as the
bridegroom of His church (Matt. 25:1; Rom. 7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:32), and
the church as the bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev. 19:7; 21:2, 9). Even though it
seems like an ordinary poem at the basic outset, the song conveys wisdom beyond
individual human relationships. It is about a divine love pursuit that would
culminate in the eschatological marriage of Revelation 19 -22. That’s why it is
included in the Biblical canon and called the Song of songs, meaning the
greatest of all songs.
Song of songs - Conclusion
The Song of songs is an allegory of God’s love, a
divine pursuit, the letter of which kills those who look no further, but the
spirit of which gives life (2 Cor. 3:6). It is a parable, which makes divine
things more difficult to those who do not love them, but more plain and
pleasant to those who do (Matt. 13:10-17).
Teacher’s Notes:
Megilloth – The
short books in the Old Testament that include Song of songs, Book of Ruth, Book
of Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Book of Esther are collectively known as the
Five Megilloth or Five Scrolls. Megilloth means scrolls. Each of the megilloth
is associated with a Jewish festival or commemoration and is read during that time.
Ø Song
of songs – Pesach (Passover)
Ø Book
of Ruth – Shavuot (Festival of weeks or Pentecost)
Ø Book
of Lamentations – Tisha B’Av (Anniversary of the destruction
of the Temple)
Ø Ecclesiastes
– Sukkot (Harvest Festival or Booth festival)
Ø Book
of Esther – Purim
Bible Reference: Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of songs
Memory Verse: The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:11-14)
ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES
Fill in the blanks:
1. King
Solomon wrote ………….. songs and ………… proverbs.
2. Proverbs
chapters from 25 – 29 were collated and written by the scribes at the court of
King ……………………
3. The
famous refrain repeated in slightly different forms 37 times throughout Ecclesiastes
is …………………….
4. Shir ha-Shirim or Song of songs means ………………………………..
Give short answers:
1. Why
did King Solomon write the Book of Proverbs?
2. Who
was “Qoheleth” and which questions did he seek to answer in the Book of
Ecclesiastes?
3. How is
Christ foreshadowed in the Book of Ecclesiastes?
4. Describe briefly the land imagery used in the Song of songs.
Answer in brief:
1. Why is Song of songs included in the Biblical canon?
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