READING THE SONG OF SONGS

Use this guide to help you read through the Song of Songs.

FIRST READING

Read the book through once or twice before using the rest of this sheet. What are your reactions? Whose song is it (which voice is dominant)? Was it written by a woman? You may find it helpful to read it in different translations.

WHAT ARE WE READING?

The Song of Songs is a sensuous love poem. It's name means the greatest of all songs (like the phrase the Holy of Holies). It is entitled Solomon's Song of Songs. Whether Solomon wrote it, or that it was his favourite is not clear.

BACKGROUND READING

Genesis 1-3; Proverbs 5.15-20; Eph 5.31-32; Rev 19.6-10; 22.17,20; Matt 22.30.

STRUCTURE

It is hard to make out a clear structure. It is a love song with different parts to it (some think it is an anthology, but it is described as a single song in its title). Look for the dream sequences (3.1ff and 5.2ff. There may be one dream which runs from 3.1 - 6.12).

There are four repetitive descriptions of the lovers (4.1ff; 5.10ff; 6.4ff; & 7.1ff).

There are also echoes in the final chapter to themes in the early chapters (8.3//2.6; 8.5//3.6; 8.5//2.3; 8.5//3.4).

There seems to be an introduction (1.1-4), a climax (8.5-7), and a kind of coda (8.8-14).

The voices are identified by the personal pronouns in Hebrew (see the footnotes in your bible). How many characters can you identify?

READING THE SONG

Here are some ideas to consider as you read the song.

• What signs of abuse of the woman are in the poem? How does this and the poem overall relate to Gen 1-3?

• What is the purpose of the descriptions of the lovers? How is this different to what Matt 5.27-30 says?

• There are very erotic parts to the poem (eg 4.9 -5.1; 7.7-13) but the climax is focused differently - why?

• Notice the phrases "come with me..' and the like. Who says this?

• The dreams are both erotic and fearful. How are the fears resolved in the poem?

• What is the meaning of the repeated phrase "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (2.7; 3.5; 8.4)?

• What do you make of the coda (8.8-14)? What is the point of the towers and what do they have to do with bringing contentment (8.10 - the word is shalom)?

• How does God feature in the book?

• What is said about procreation in the context of love?

• What views are implied about singleness?

LET THE BOOK PROBE US

So what has this got to do with us? If the Song of Songs is a love poem what does it have to say about our love - for God, our spouse, our friends ...?

What implications are there about the physical and verbal expressions of love? Is there a mismatch between this ancient Hebrew view of love and the kind of perspective you were brought up with?

Is the Song of Songs prurient, or could it be a model for discourse among friends? That is, is it OK to talk like this in public? Or might this be a better way to talk in public than the ways modelled by TV, and better than not talking, and better than just criticising the secular discourse?

What fears does this Song expose in us?