Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Song of Solomon.
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Basics
- Author: Solomon, King of Israel, son of David
- Extensive debate between literal versus allegorical interpretation
- No direct mention of God; central subject is human love
- Distinguishing feature: abundant symbolism and imagery
- Purpose: portray ideal male-female relationship within a loving marriage
Wisdom Literature
- Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Solomon
- General interest in humanity and universal pronouncements (as opposed to the people of Israel)
- Grounded in a theology of creation
- Fear of YHWH as proper context for wisdom, sometimes explicitly stated, but often implicit
- Questioning attitude about the basic problems of life: why is there suffering, inequality, death, why do the wicked prosper, etc.
Genre: Understanding Hebrew Poetry
Background & Outlines
Ray Stedman: Overview of each Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
ESV: Introduction to the Song of Solomon
ESV: The Global Message of Song of Solomon
NIV: Wisdom Literature
James van Dine: Analysis of Song of Solomon
Charles Swindoll: Book of Song of Solomon Overview
JVernon McGee: Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon
William Orr: Key to Song of Solomon
David Malick: An Introduction to the Song of Songs
David Malick: An Argument of the Song of Songs
Kenneth Boa: Song of Solomon overview
Paul van Gorder: OT Reflections of Christ – Song of Solomon
Major Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry: Parallelism
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
The Battle at Ebenezer and the Loss of the Ark
The Ministry of Samuel and Anointment of Saul
The Kingdom of Saul and His Wars
The United Monarchy under Solomon (1)
The United Monarchy under Solomon (2)
Solomon’s Economic Enterprises
Jerusalem in the Time of David and Solomon
ESV Maps
Key Words
- Love, beloved, beautiful
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Song of Solomon, Theology of
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary: Solomon’s Song
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Song of songs
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Solomon, Song Of
Fausset Bible Dictionary Canticles; the Song of Solomon
Holman Bible Dictionary Song of Solomon
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Song of Songs
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Solomon, Song Of
McClintock and Strong’ Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Morrish Bible Dictionary Song of Solomon
Hawker’s Poor Man’s Dictionary
People’s Dictionary of the Bible Solomon the Song Of
Watson’s Theological Dictionary
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Solomon’s Song
The Jewish Encyclopedia Song of Songs, The
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Keith Mathison – Top 5 Commentaries on The Song of Songs – Ligonier Ministries
Best Commentaries on Song of Solomon – Tim Challies
Best Commentary on Song of Songs – Best Commentaries
Bruce Waltke: Song of Solomon – Mp3
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible:
Matthew Henry: Song of Solomon
Albert Barnes Notes: Song of Solomon
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Song of Solomon
Geneva Study Bible: Song of Solomon
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Song of Solomon
Ligonier Devotionals on Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon 1–2 The Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon 2:8–17 Marriage, Love, and Sex
Song of Solomon 3–4 A Time for Love
Song of Solomon 3:5 The Right Time for Love
Song of Solomon 8:13–14 The Only Love That Can Fully Satisfy
Song of Solomon 8:6–7 A Seal on the Heart and Arm
Song of Solomon 4:1–7 Building Relationship
Song of Solomon 5–6 The Beauty of Love
Song of Solomon 7–8 A Still Greater Love
Articles
Iain Campell: The Song Of David’s Son: Interpreting The Song Of Solomon In The Light Of The Davidic Covenant
G. Lloyd Carr: The Old Testament Love Songs And Their Use In The New Testament
Donald E. Curtis: The Song of Songs – interesting review of the various approaches to interpretation of this book
Samuel Ives Curtis: Does A Literal Interpretation Of The Song Of Songs Remove Its Character As Scripture?
Richard Davidson: Theology of Sexuality in the Song of Songs: Return to Eden,” Andrews University Seminary Studies 27.1 (Spring 1989) 1-19
Weston Fields: Early and Medieval Jewish Interpretation of the Song of Songs -Grace Theological Journal 1.2 (Fall, 1981) 221-31
Thomas Fountain: A Parabolic View of the Song of Solomon
Tony Garland: Discussion of the rise of allegorical interpretation
James M Hamilton Jr: The Messianic Music of the Song of Songs: A Non-Allegorical Interpretation
Arthur Lewis: Equality Of Sexes In Marriage: Exposition Of The Song Of Songs
Grant Richison: Theology of Sex
J Paul Tanner: The Message of the Song of Songs
J Paul Tanner: The History of Interpretation of the Song of Songs
GotQuestions.org
Song of Solomon – Bible Survey
Is Song of Solomon an allegory of God’s love for Israel and-or Christ’s love for the Church-
Why is there an entire book of the Bible dedicated to romantic love-
What should we learn from the life of Solomon-
What does it mean that the Shulammite had dark skin (Song of Solomon 1-6)-
Who are the daughters of Jerusalem in Song of Solomon-
What is the meaning of the foxes in Song of Solomon 2-15-
Why does Solomon refer to his wife as his sister (Song of Solomon 4-9)-
What are the mandrakes mentioned in the Bible-
Next: Isaiah
Previous: Ecclesiastes
Resources: by Book of the Bible
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