This book is called ‏שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִיﬦ‎ , which is literally translated by the Septuagint, ᾄσμα ᾀσμάτων , by the Vulgate, Canticum Canticorum , and by the English Version, Song of Songs ; and, according to a Hebrew mode for expressing the superlative degree by repeating the same noun in the genitive, denotes the finest , the most beautiful , or the most excellent Song. Compare ‏עֶבֶד עֲבַדִים‎ , servant of servants , i.e. most abject servant (Gen. ix. 25); ‏קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים‎ , holy of holies , i

This Song is the first of the ( ‏הָמֵשׁ מְגִילוֹת‎ ) five Megiloth , or books which are annually read in the Synagogues; viz. The Song of Songs on the Feast of the Passover; Ruth on Pentecost; Lamentations on the Ninth of Ab; Ecclesiastes on Tabernacles; and Esther on Purim. The present arrangement of these five books in the Hebrew canon is according to the order of the festivals on which they are read. This book possesses all the external marks which entitle other writings to a place in the lis

We have no sympathy with those who affirm that the Old Testament Scriptures contain all the national writings which were esteemed valuable in Hebrew literature, that this Song was placed among those writings simply because it possessed much poetic beauty, and was supposed to be the composition of a person so celebrated throughout the East as Solomon, and that it is destitute of any moral or practical instructions. We believe that every book of the Old Testament is inspired; and has, on that acco

On a careful examination of the statements of the various speakers in these five sections, it will be found that the narrative, though not recorded in the order we have stated, may be easily deduced from it. In the FIRST section—ch. i. 2, 7—the heroine of the Song, who, as is evident from verse 8 and vii. 1, is a Shulamite shepherdess, ardently wishes for the presence and love-tokens of her beloved, who, as she herself most distinctly tells us (ver. 7, and ii. 16; vi. 3), is a shepherd; she wish

The curse which God pronounced upon the guilty pair, proves that the woman was created with the same intellectual and moral capacities as the man. Had the woman been weaker in these respects than the man, she would not have been accountable in an equal degree for her sin, and would not have been punished with the same severity. No alteration has taken place in their relative position, in this respect, since the fall. The curse upon the woman in relation to the man does not refer to any intellect

The various opinions, enumerated in the preceding section, respecting the design of this book, may be divided into three classes , the literal , the allegorical , and the typical . The first considers the description as real, that the words should be taken as representing an historical fact; the second considers that the description has no historical truth for its basis, but contains some latent meaning; whilst the third admits the literal meaning, but regards it as typical of spiritual truth. T

It is allowed by scholars of taste, that, regarded as a mere human production, this poem is inimitable. “Every part of this Song,” says the learned Bishop Bossuet, 147 “abounds in poetical beauties; the objects which present themselves on every side are the choicest plants, the most beautiful flowers, the most delicious fruits, the bloom and vigour of spring, the sweet verdure of the fields, flourishing and well-watered gardens, pleasant streams, and perennial fountains. The other senses are rep

The form of the book has also been a matter of great dispute. From its earliest age it has been regarded as one continued poem in a dramatic form. Since the time of Richard Simon, however, who pronounced this book, “ summam confusionem, in quo vix ac ne vix quidem personas discernere queas ,” 154 it has been split by many into fragments, and in turn been regarded as consisting of a number of eclogues, or armorets, as an epithalamium, or nuptial song, and as a regular drama. Having traced the uni

10. Wilcock, an old writer. 11. Bishop Lowth, Praelect. xxx., xxxi. 12. Bishop Percy, Commentary and Annotations. 13. Michaelis, Notes to Bishop Lowth’s Praelect. 14. Jacobi, Das Gerettete Hohelied. 15. Durell, Critical Remarks on Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles. 16. Williams , The Song of Songs. 17. Good, The Song of Songs. 18. Umbreit, Lied der Liebe. 19. Ewald, Das Hohe Lied Salomonis, &c. 20. Döpke, Philologisch-critischer Comment. 21. Rosenmüller, Scholia in Vet. Test. 22

4 Oh draw me after thee! Oh let us flee together! [ 132 ] The king has brought me into his apartments, But we exult and rejoice in thee, We praise thy love more than wine, The upright love thee. 5 I am swarthy, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, [ 133 ] As the tents of Kedar, But comely as the pavilions of Solomon. 6 Disdain me not because I am dark, [ 134 ] For the sun hath browned me. My mother’s sons were severe with me, They made me keeper of their vineyards, Though my own vineyard I never kept.—

Lo! there he stood behind our wall, He looked through the window, He glanced through the lattice. 10 My beloved spake, he spake to me, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come! 11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over, is gone. 12 The flowers appear upon the fields, [ 146 ] The time of singing is come, The cooing of the turtle-dove is heard in our land. 13 The fig-tree sweetens her green figs, The vines blossom, They diffuse fragrance; Arise, my love, my fair one, and come! [ 147 ] 14 My do

ANOTHER. 7 Lo! it is the palanquin of Solomon, Around it are threescore valiant men From the valiant of Israel: 8 All skilled in the sword, expert in war, Each with his sword girded on his thigh Against the nightly marauders. [ 152 ] A THIRD. 9 A palanquin hath king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon. 10 Its pillars he hath made of silver, Its support of gold, its seat of purple, [ 153 ] Its interior tesselated most lovely By the daughters of Jerusalem. A FOURTH. 11 Come out, ye da

How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, How shall I soil them? 4 My beloved withdrew his hand from the door hole, And my heart was disquieted within me. 5 I immediately arose to open to my beloved, And my hands dropped with myrrh, [ 166 ] And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt. 6 I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had withdrawn, was gone! My soul departed when he spoke of it! I sought him, and found him not; I called him, and he answered me not. 7 The watchmen w

Affection as inexorable as Hades. Its flames are flames of fire, The flames of the Eternal. 7 Floods cannot quench love; Streams cannot sweep it away. If one should offer all his wealth for love, He would be utterly despised. ONE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE SHULAMITE. 8 Our sister is still young, [ 189 ] And is not yet marriageable. What shall we do for our sister, When she shall be demanded in marriage? ANOTHER BROTHER. 9 If she be like a wall, We will build upon her a silver turret. But if she be l

Massoretico-Critical Text of the Hebrew Bible , 1894. Introduction to the Massoretico-Critical Edition of the Hebrew Bible , 1897. The Text of the Hebrew Bible in Abbreviations. 1899. The Paseks throughout the Scriptures. 1902. The Massorah. —Compiled from Manuscripts; alphabetically and lexically arranged. 4 Vols., Imperial Folio, 1880–1897. (Vol. IV. in the Press.) Holmlea, Virginia Water, Surrey....

The following corrections have been applied to the text:...

Overview of abbreviations used....