Song of Solomon — Introduction & Outline

The Hebrew title "Song of Songs" comes from the first verse which names this book as Solomon's most exquisite song. His authorship is questioned by some critics who claim the first verse merely says it is "about Solomon" and that the language reflects a later date. But these objections pale against the evidence for Solomonic authorship. He is designated the author in normal Hebrew fashion in 1:1 and is mentioned six more times (1:1,5; 3:7,9,11; 8:11-12). Five times the main character is called a king (1:4,12; 3:9,11; 7:5) and the evidence of royal trappings confirms this (3:6-11; 6:12). Also, a sizeable harem (6:8; 1 Kings 11:3) is best suited to Solomon. Furthermore, geographical locations are mentioned in the north and south evidencing a still united kingdom (e.g. 6:4). Solomon wrote 1005 songs and had a great knowledge of plant and animal life (1 Kings 4:32-33). This book alludes to twenty-one plant and fifteen animal species. Finally, Jewish tradition has always maintained that Solomon wrote the Song.

The book reflects a period of Solomon's reign (970-930 B.C.) before his fall into immorality. Here his harem is relatively small compared to that of his later life (6:8; 1 Kings 11:3). Thus a good date for the origination of the Song is about 965 B.C.

This is the poetic story of the romance and wedding of King Solomon to the Shulamite woman. The Shulamite (6:3) was perhaps from the town of Shunem southwest of the Sea of Galilee in the tribal area of Issachar. Reference is also made to Lebanon as her home area (4:8). The other characters in the story, the Daughters of Jerusalem, are apparently the Shulamite's attendants. Solomon's pure love for the Shulamite may seem inconsistent with his eventual marriage to 700 wives and his 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3), but these marriages were political arrangements, not the results of romance as is true here.

Geographically, the Song mentions fifteen locations from Lebanon in the far north to Egypt in the south. The setting for the scenes is pastoral with only brief glimpses of the royal court in Jerusalem where the wedding appears to take place.

It is sometimes suggested there are three main characters in the story, the third being a shepherd who finally steals the Shulamite from Solomon. But Solomon's failure and heartbreak would not be expected in a Song designated as his most memorable.

The first and most obvious purpose of the Song is to celebrate the beauty of marital love as related in Solomon's courtship of the Shulamite. It is a commentary on Genesis 2:24-25 and paradisical love and thus becomes God's endorsement of marital love. Theologically, the Song must be viewed in the context of the whole revelation of Scripture. When this is done, the marital love pictured in the Song is representative or symbolic of the love between God and His people; first Israel, now the church (cf. Eph. 5:25-32). It anticipates the consummation of the covenant between God and His people accomplished in the Messiah. This is not surprising since elsewhere in Scripture Solomon is typical of the Messiah.

The Song is a lyric poem with unity and natural progression. It relates the courtship, wedding, and marriage of Solomon and his bride then concludes with a climactic statement extolling love.

The first scenes of the courtship period (1:2-3:5) take place in the royal palace in Jerusalem. There the bride and the king express there love for each other in idyllic terms (1:2- 11). The mutual admiration continues at a royal banquet (1:12-2:7). The Shulamite then describes the king's marriage proposal and expresses her commitment to him (2:8-17). She is troubled at night by a dream of losing her lover, but she eventually finds him (3:1-5). This section thus displays the beauty of love in their courtship.

The wedding section (3:6-5:1) reflects the celebration and beauty of this occasion.

There is a description of the wedding procession (3:6-11) and the activities of the wedding night (4:1-5:1). The physical aspect of consummating love is related with the strictest tone of purity and joy, as God intended it.

The final section shows the maturation of the marriage (5:2-8:14). There is a brief conflict between the bride and king but love resolves it and they are reconciled (5:2-6:13).

Following this incident their love for one another is renewed (7:1-8:14). They renew their sexual relationship (7:1-10) and the bride invites the king to her homeland (7:11-8:4) where their love is further renewed and affirmed (8:5-14). This final portion of the book includes a climactic statement extolling the beauty and virtue of love (8:6-7). The truth of this statement is illustrated in the Song by the love exhibited between Solomon and the Shulamite, and points to the higher love of God for His people.

1. The Introduction 1:1
2. The Courtship 1:2-3:5

   1. The bride and the king express their love in the palace. 1:2-11

      1. The bride longs joyfully for her beloved. 1:2-4

         1. She rejoices in his love. 1:2-4a
         2. The daughters of Jerusalem rejoice with her. 1:4c
      2. The bride laments her dark appearance 1:5-6
      3. The bride expresses desire to be with the king's flocks 1:7-8

         1. She asks the king where he rests his flocks. 1:7
         2. The daughters of Jerusalem give her directions. 1:8
      4. The king praises the bride's beauty 1:9-11

         1. The king compares her to his finest horse. 1:9-10
         2. The daughters of Jerusalem join in the praise. 1:11
   2. The bride and the king talk at the banquet. 1:12-2:7

      1. The bride expresses her attraction to the king. 1:12-14
      2. The king praises the bride for her beauty. 1:15
      3. The bride praises the king's attractiveness. 1:16-2:1
      4. The king praises the bride's surpassing beauty. 2:2
      5. The bride rejoices in the king's affection for her. 2:3-7

         1. She rejoices in his protective presence. 2:3
         2. She rejoices in his displays of affection. 2:4-6
         3. She warns the daughters of Jerusalem. 2:7
   3. The bride describes the king's proposal. 2:8-17

      1. He appears physically attractive at his coming. 2:8-9
      2. He proposed that she come away with him. 2:10-15
      3. They are committed to one another. 2:16-17
   4. The bride dreams of losing and finding her lover. 3:1-5

      1. She could not find him at night. 3:1
      2. She searched the city and asked for him. 3:2-3
      3. She finds him and holds him securely. 3:4
      4. She tells the daughters of Jerusalem not to arouse love. 3:5
3. The Wedding 3:6-5:1

   1. The wedding procession 3:6-11

      1. The bride describes the king's entourage. 3:6-8
      2. The bride describes the king's palanquin. 3:9-10
      3. The bride tells the daughters of Jerusalem to view him. 3:11
   2. The wedding night 4:1-5:1

      1. The king praises the bride's beauty. 4:1-15

         1. He describes her beautiful physical features. 4:1-7
         2. He invites her to come with him. 4:8
         3. He describes her ravishing love. 4:9-11
         4. He compares her to a fragrant locked garden. 4:12-15
      2. The bride invites the king to come into her. 4:16
      3. The king declares the consummation of the marriage. 5:1a
      4. The daughters of Jerusalem encourage their lovemaking. 5:1b
4. The Maturation of the Marriage 5:2-8:14

   1. Conflict between the bride and the king is resolved. 5:2-6:13

      1. The bride explains the source of the conflict. 5:2-8

         1. She insensitively delayed in coming to the door. 5:2-6a
         2. He had gone so she searched for him in the city. 5:6b-7
         3. She gives the daughters of Jerusalem a message. 5:8
      2. The daughters of Jerusalem question the bride. 5:9-6:3

         1. They ask what is special about her lover. 5:9
         2. She answers by describing the king's beauty. 5:10-16
         3. They ask where her lover has gone. 6:1
         4. She answers by describing his location and love. 6:2-3
      3. The king and his bride are reconciled. 6:4-13

         1. The king praises the bride's beauty. 6:4-10
         2. The bride describes her reception by the king. 6:11-12
         3. The daughters of Jerusalem hail her return. 6:13a
         4. The king encourages his bride to return. 6:13b
   2. The love between the bride and the king is renewed. 7:1-8:14

      1. They renew their sexual relationship. 7:1-10

         1. The king praises her sexual beauty. 7:1-5
         2. The king expresses his desire to enjoy her. 7:6-9a
         3. The bride responds with a desire to please him. 7:9b-10
      2. The bride invites the king to her homeland. 7:11-8:4

         1. She promises him love and refreshment there. 7:11-13
         2. She expresses a desire for greater intimacy. 8:1-3
         3. She warns the daughters of Jerusalem about love. 8:4
      3. They renew their love in the bride's homeland. 8:5-14

         1. The bride's family notes the couple's arrival. 8:5a
         2. The bride affirms their unquenchable love. 8:5b-7
         3. The bride recalls how her love for Solomon began. 8:8-12
         1. Her brothers protected her purity. 8:8-9
         2. She met the king and gave herself to him. 8:10-12
         4. The bride and king invite each other to love. 8:13-14
         1. The king responds that he is waiting for her. 8:13
         2. The bride responds that he should come quickly. 8:14