The view most widely held by scholars today is that the book is simply a loose collection of lyrics-an anthology of songs-united by no special theme other than that of love between the sexes. In chapter 1 the girl speaks, perhaps only in imagination, to her beloved and longs to be united with him in marriage. Speaking to the girls of the city, a peasant girl insists that her attractions have not been diminished by her daily exposure to the sun and the darkening of her complexion. In her imagination the girl begs her shepherd lover to tell her where he has gone. The appreciation of nature exhibited in this book, unparalleled elsewhere in the Old Testament, reaches a climax in chapter 2. The girl speaks of her lover’s coming to her, bounding with joy, calling to her through the window, asking her to come into the lovely countryside. In chapter 3 Solomon appears in his own person. Some scholars think this is a processional ode actually composed for the marriage of Solomon to some princess. In chapter 4 the girl begs the winds to entice her lover into the garden. As I read these chapters I cannot but help think about the tragic story of Madame Butterfly (or Miss Saigon) where the young girl lives the life of a loyal relationship for three years sustained by her imagination. The cruelty of naïve tender young love!
The view most widely held by scholars today is that the book is simply a loose collection of lyrics-an anthology of songs-united by no special theme other than that of love between the sexes. In chapter 1 the girl speaks, perhaps only in imagination, to her beloved and longs to be united with him in marriage. Speaking to the girls of the city, a peasant girl insists that her attractions have not been diminished by her daily exposure to the sun and the darkening of her complexion. In her imagination the girl begs her shepherd lover to tell her where he has gone. The appreciation of nature exhibited in this book, unparalleled elsewhere in the Old Testament, reaches a climax in chapter 2. The girl speaks of her lover’s coming to her, bounding with joy, calling to her through the window, asking her to come into the lovely countryside. In chapter 3 Solomon appears in his own person. Some scholars think this is a processional ode actually composed for the marriage of Solomon to some princess. In chapter 4 the girl begs the winds to entice her lover into the garden. As I read these chapters I cannot but help think about the tragic story of Madame Butterfly (or Miss Saigon) where the young girl lives the life of a loyal relationship for three years sustained by her imagination. The cruelty of naïve tender young love!
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