Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament: Song of Songs

In this volume, which completes the acclaimed Interpretation commentary series, Robert Jenson offers a systematic theologian's careful reading of the Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon. Jenson focuses on the overt sense of the book as an erotic love poem in order to discover how this evocative poetry solicits a theological reading. Jenson finds a story of human love for God in this complex poetic book and offers a commentary that elucidates and inspires.

This commentary views the Song of Songs as a collection of love poems that pays tribute to mutual love, and it carefully examines features of Hebrew poetry in order to uncover the delicacy of their expression. It is unique in the attention that it gives to the obvious feminine perspective of the poems and to their ecosensitive character. Whether it is the woman in awe of the strength and splendor of her lover or the man praising her physical charms, the descriptions all call on elements from the natural world to characterize the feature being described.

Relationships are a wonderful, mysterious, often elusive, sometimes painful part of the human experience. The most intimate of all human relationships, according to the Bible, is that between a husband and a wife. It is not a surprise, therefore, that there is a book of the Bible, the Song of Songs, that focuses on this relationship. What is surprising is how little attention is given to the Song of Songs by scholars, by the church, and by readers of the Bible. With this volume, however, Tremper Longman III has written the finest commentary to date on the Song of Songs, unpacking for modern people what this ancient love poem says about the male-female relationship - and, by analogy, about God's love for his people.

In addition to a comprehensive introduction and an analysis of text and form, Othmar Keel focuses on the metaphorical and symbolic language of the Song of Songs. He makes full use of parallels - textual and iconographic - from Palestine, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. More than 160 illustrations, prepared by Hildi Keel-Leu, add to the interpretation of the songs.

Murphy offers a representative sounding in the major periods of the Song's exegetical history. Attention is given to the hermeneutical principles operative in the development of Jewish and Christian exposition. Murphy examines the literary character and structure of the Song, aspects of its composition and style, and its meaning and theological significance.

Includes: Commentary on Proverbs -- Commentary on Ecclesiastes -- Commentary on Song of Solomon.

The powerful poetry of the Song of Songs and Lamentations gives voice to opposite feelings: the excitement of love and the anguish of grief. In this commentary on two books often neglected in the church, Drs. Garrett and House demonstrate the power of the Hebrew poetry and the message it carries for the people of God.

In The Song of Songs, the inaugural volume of The Churches Bible, Richard A. Norris, Jr. uses commentaries and sermons from the church's first millennium to illustrate the original Christian understanding of Solomon's beautiful poem. In recent times, the Song of Songs has been more a focus of literary than of religious interest, but Norris's work shows that for early Christians, this text was counted, with the Psalms and the Gospels, among those Scriptures that touched most deeply on the believer's relation to God.

This is the Song of Songs commentary from the Anchor Bible Commentary, a collaborative effort of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish scholars from around the world.

Contents: An orientation to the Song -- pt. 1. The Song as a whole -- pt. 2. An exposition of the Song -- Title and attribution (1:1) -- The first cycle: Passionate longings (1:2-2:7) -- The second cycle: Springtime and showers (2:8-3:5) -- The third cycle: The lovers' royal wedding (3:6-5:1) -- The fourth cycle: Lost and found (5:2-6:3) -- The fifth cycle: Beauty kindles desire (6:4-8:4) -- The sixth cycle: The security of love (8:5-14)

Dianne Bergant offers a spiritual reading of the Song of Songs from a literal perspective. She emphasizes the beauty and goodness of love and how its fruits can contribute to a modern, wholesome spirituality that respects others and works for their good.

E. Ann Matter's analysis focuses on the most fertile moment of Song of Songs interpretation: the Middle Ages. At least eighty Latin commentaries on the text survive from the period between the fourth and fourteenth centuries. In tracing the evolutions of the commentaries, Matter reveals them to be a vehicle for expressing changing medieval ideas about the church, the relationship between body and soul, and human and divine love.

Parallel Hebrew text and English translation, English commentary and notes.

Ignatius Catholic Study Bible with an introduction, commentary, and notes by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch ; and with study questions by Dennis Walter.

Contents: v. 1. Sermons 1-20 -- v. 2. Sermons 21-46 -- v. 3. Sermons 47-66 -- v. 4. Sermons 67-86 ; Cumulative index to Sermons 1-86.

An analysis of The Canticle of Canticles that really makes sense--by the renowned author of Mystical Evolution. Goes verse by verse; says it is an extended allegory about the spiritual life. Quotes all the famous Saint-writers.

Translation of Sermones in Canticum Salomonies ab eo loco ubi B. Bernardusmorte praeventus desiit. Part of the Cistercian Fathers series, Vols. 14, 20, 26.

Presents literary analysis of "Song of Songs" by employing the method of New Criticism. This book aims to uncover the messages conveyed by the poems, the inner world of the characters. It discerns poems of physical description, poems of adoration, and poems of yearning.

The Song of Songs has been subject to many interpretations. This commentary aims to delight the eye and enrich the spirit. It contains a contemporary translation as well as the classic St. James version along with a line-by line commentary to help enhance the readers understanding of this exquisite love poem.