The Song of Solomon

This is a comparative study, primarily from the standpoint of literature, but with some historical and critical elements. In the twenty-one versions compared are the following treatments:

• allegory
• descriptive poetry
• narrative poetry
• narrative prose
• poetic idyl
• poetical drama

Only those versions which have some form of headings with the selection are included. Other versions are written as either poetry or prose.

The last verse of the book, 8: 14, is included with each version. It is written in the same structure as in the particular version. Examine it from this standpoint.

Examples of figurative language are given. Then, there are comments from various sources.

1. AAT – An American Translation (Beck)
2. ASV – American Standard Version
3. EBR – The Emphasized Bible
4. GW – God’s Word
5. HBME – The Holy Bible in Modern English
6. KJV – King James Version
7. LB – Living Bible
8. MRB – Modern Reader’s Bible
9. NAB – New American Bible
10. NAS – New American Standard Version
11. NBV – New Berkeley Version
12. NCV – New Century Version
13. NEB – New English Bible
14. NIV – New International Version
15. NJB – New Jerusalem Bible
16. NLV – New Life Version
17. REB – Revised English Bible
18. SGAT – An American Translation (Smith-Goodspeed)
19. SNB – Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible
20. TDB – The Dartmouth Bible
21. TEV – Today’s English Version

1. IV – Inspired Version
2. WMF – The Word Made Fresh

 

Narrative Poetry

Away quickly, my lover,
and be like a gazelle or a young deer
on the mountain of spices.

1: 2 – She 1: 4 – Friends 1: 5 – She 1: 8 – He 1: 12 – She 1: 15 – He 1: 16 – She 2: 2 – He 2: 3 – She 2: 7 – He 2: 8 – She 3: 5 – He 3: 6 – Friends 4: 1 – He 4: 16 – She 5: 1 – He 5: 1 – Friends

5: 2 – He 5: 3 – She 5: 9 – Friends 5: 10 – She 6: 1 – Friends 6: 2 – She 6: 4 – He 6: 13 – Friends 6: 13 – He 7: 9 – She 8: 5 – Friends 8: 5 – She 8: 8 – Friends 8: 10 – She 8: 13 – He 8: 14 – She

 

Poetry

Make haste, my beloved,
And be thou like to a roe
or to a young hart
Upon the mountains of spices.

(A heading appears at the top of each page.)
1: 1 – The Bride speaks with the Daughters of Jerusalem. The loving Converse of the Bride with the Bridegroom.
2: 5 – They seek to find each other. The Bridal Procession.
3: 10 – The Bridal Procession. Praise of the Bride, and Her Response at the Morning Feast.
5: 2 – The Temporary Separation. Mutual Praise of the Bridegroom and the Bride.
6: 7 – Mutual Praise of the Bridegroom and the Bride. Their Union in Invincible Love.
8: 1 – Union of the Bridegroom and the Bride in Invincible Love.

 

Narrative Poetry

Come quickly, my beloved, and resemble thou
A gazelle, or a young stag,
Upon the mountains of spices!

1: 2 – She 1: 2 – They 1: 4 – She 1: 4 – They 1: 4 – She 1: 4 – They 1: 5 – She 1: 5 – They 1: 6 – She 1: 8 – He 1: 11 – They 1: 12 – She 1: 15 – He 1: 16 – She 1: 16 – Both 2: 1 – She 2: 2 – He 2: 3 – She 2: 7 – He 2: 8 – She 2: 14 – He 2: 15 – Both 2: 16 – She 3: 5 – He 3: 6 – They

4: 1 – He 4: 16 – She 5: 1 – He 5: 2 – She 5: 9 – Daughters of Jerusalem 5: 10 – She 6: 1 – Daughters of Jerusalem 6: 2 – She 6: 4 – He 6: 10 – They 6: 11 – He 6: 13 – They 6: 13 – She 6: 13 – They 7: 6 – He 7: 9 – She 8: 4 – He 8: 5 – They 8: 5 – He 8: 6 – She 8: 8 – They 8: 10 – She 8: 13 – He 8: 14 – She

 

Narrative Poetry

Come away quickly, my beloved,
Run like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.

The Young Woman Arrives in Solomon’s Palace
1: 2 – [Bride]
1: 4 – [The chorus of young women]
1: 5 – [Bride]
1: 8 – [The chorus of young women]
Solomon Searches for the Young Woman’s Love
1: 9 – [Groom]
1: 11 – [The chorus of young women]
1: 12 – [Bride]
1: 15 – [Groom]
1: 16 – [Bride]
2: 2 – [Groom]
2: 3 – [Bride]
The Young Woman Remembers One Spring Day with Her Beloved
2: 8 – [Bride]
The Young Woman Dreams About Searching for Her Husband
3: 1 – [Bride]
A Description of the Royal Procession
3: 6 – [The chorus of young women]
Solomon Is Charmed by the Young Woman
4: 1 – [Groom]
4: 16 – [Bride]
5: 1 – [Groom]
The Young Woman Dreams of Marriage with Her Husband
5: 2 – [Bride]
5: 2 – [Groom]
5: 3 – [Bride]
5: 9 – [The chorus of young women]
5: 10 – [Bride]
6: 1 – [The chorus of young women]
6: 2 – [Bride]
Solomon Desires the Young Woman More Than the Rest of His Wives
6: 4 – [Groom]
The Young Woman’s Home in Shulam
6: 10 – [The chorus of young women]
6: 11 – [Bride]
6: 13 – [The chorus of young women]
6: 13 – [Bride]
7: 1 – [The chorus of young women]
Solomon Longs for the Young Woman’s Affection
7: 6 – [Groom]
7: 9 – [Bride]
The Young Woman’s Love for Her Husband
8: 5 – [The chorus of young women]
8: 5 – [Bride]
The Young Woman with Her Family and Her Beloved
8: 8 – [The brothers]
8: 10 – [Bride]
8: 13 – [Groom]
8: 14 – [Bride]

 

Poetical Drama

Go away with your love, and be like a Gazelle,
Or the Fawn of the Deer, on the sweet-scented hills!

1: 1 – Prelude
Act 1
1: 4 – Scene 1
1: 7 – Scene 2
1: 9 – Scene 3
Act 2
2: 1 – Scene 1
2: 8 – Scene 2
Act 3
3: 1 – Scene 1
3: 6 – Scene 2
3: 11 – Scene 3
Act 4
4: 1 – Scene 1
4: 16 – Scene 2
5: 5 – Scene 3
6: 3 – Scene 4
Act 5
6: 10 – Scene 1
7: 2 – Scene 2
7: 7 – Scene 3
Act 6
7: 14 – Scene 1
8: 5 – Scene 2
8: 5 – Scene 3
8: 8 – Scene 4
8: 10 – Scene 5

 

Prose as an Allegory

Make haste, my beloved, and be
thou like a roe or a young hart upon
the mountains of spices.

1: 1 – The church’s love and confession
1: 8 – She is directed to the shepherds’ tents
1: 12 – Congratulations
2: 1 – Mutual love of Christ and his church
2: 14 – Care of the church
3: 1 – The church’s victory and glory
4: 1 – The church’s graces
4: 16 – Prayer for fitness
5: 1 – Christ awakens the church with his calling
6: 1 – The church professes her faith in Christ
6: 10 – Christ’s love for her
7: 1 – Further description of the church’s graces
7: 10 – Her profession of faith and desire
8: 1 – Love of the church for Christ
8: 14 – Prayer for the coming of Christ

 

Narrative Prose

Come quickly, my beloved, and be like
a gazelle or young deer upon the
mountains of spice.

1: 2 – The Girl
1: 5 – King Solomon
1: 6 – The Girl
1: 8 – King Solomon
1: 12 – The Girl
1: 14 – King Solomon
2: 1 – The Girl
2: 2 – King Solomon
2: 3 – The Girl
3: 6 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
3: 11 – The Girl
4: 1 – King Solomon
4: 16 – The Girl
5: 1 – King Solomon
5: 1 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
5: 2 – The Girl
5: 9 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
5: 10 – The Girl
6: 1 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
6: 2 – The Girl
6: 4 – King Solomon
6: 11 – The Girl
6: 13 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
6: 13 – The Girl
6: 13 – King Solomon
7: 1 – King Solomon
7: 10 – The Girl
8: 5 – The Young Women of Jerusalem
8: 5 – King Solomon
8: 6 – The Girl
8: 9 – King Solomon
8: 10 – The Girl

 

Suite of Poetic Idyls

Make haste, my beloved,
And upon thou like a roe or a young hart
Upon the nountains of spices.

1: 2 – Idyl I – The Wedding Day
2: 8 – Idyl II – The Bride’s Reminiscences of the Courtship
3: 6 – Idyl III – The Day of Betrothal
5: 2 – Idyl IV – The Bride’s Troubled Dream
6: 4 – Idyl V – The King’s Meditation on His Bride
7: 11 – Idyl VI – The Bride’s Longing for Her Home on Lebanon
8: 5 – Idyl VII – The renewal of Love in the Vineyard

 

Narrative Poetry

Be swift, my lover,
like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices!

1: 2 – Love’s Desires
1: 5 – Love’s Boast
1: 7 – Love’s Inquiry
1: 9 – Love’s Vision
1: 12 – Love’s Union
2: 8 – A Tryst in the Spring
3: 1 – Loss and Discovery
3: 6 – Regal State of the Bridegroom
4: 1 – The Charms of the Beloved
4: 12 – The Lover and His Garden
5: 9 – The Charms of the Lost Lover
6: 1 – Discovery
6: 4 – The Charms of the Beloved
6: 11 – Love’s Meeting
7: 1 – The Beauty of the Bride
7: 7 – Love’s Desires
7: 10 – Love’s Union
8: 5 – Homecoming
8: 6 – True Love
8: 8 – Chastity and Its Welcome
8: 11 – The Bride and Her Dowry
8: 13 – Life Together

 

Poetry

“Hurry, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle or a young stag
On mountains of spice.”

1: 1 – The Young Shulammite Bride
1: 8 – Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
2: 1 – The Bride’s Admiration
3: 1 – The Bride’s Troubled Dream
3: 6 – Solomon’s Wedding Day
4: 1 – Solomon’s Love Expressed
5: 1 – The Torment of Separation and Jerusalem’s Daughters
5: 10 – Admiration by the Bride
6: 1 – Mutual Delight in Each Other
7: 1 – Admiration by the Bridegroom
7: 10 – The Union of Love
8: 1 – The Lovers Speak

 

Narrative Poetry

Come quickly, my lover, beloved,
and be like a gazelle,
or like a young hart upon mountains of spices.

1: 1 – The Maiden to Her Lover
1: 5 – The Maiden to the Daughters of Jerusalem
1: 7 – The Maiden to Her Distant Lover
1: 8 – The Reply
1: 9 – The Lover to His Loved One
1: 12 – She Thinks Yearningly of Him
1: 15 – He Speaks to Her
1: 16 – In Her Heart She Answers Him
2: 2 – He to Her
2: 3 – She to Him
2: 7 – The Beloved Speaks to Her Lover
2: 8 – Her Love Song to Him
2: 15 – A Chorus
2: 16 – She Sings Again
3: 1 – The Loved One Dreams of Her Lover
3: 5 – The Beloved’s Refrain
3: 6 – The Lover’s Arrival
4: 1 – The Lover Sings His Loved One’s Beauty
4: 16 – The Beloved Calls for Her Lover
5: 1 – The Lover to His Beloved
5: 1 – A Welcome to the Lovers
5: 2 – Her Love Song
5: 3 – In Her Dream She Responds
5: 8 – Her Appeal to Jerusalem’s Maidens
5: 9 – Their Reply
5: 10 – Her Description of Her Lover
6: 1 – The Jerusalem Maidens
6: 4 – The Lover Praises His Beloved
6: 11 – The Maiden
7: 1 – The Lover Praises His Beloved
7: 10 – Her Call to Her Lover
8: 1 – Her Tender Wish for Him
8: 5 – She of Him
8: 5 – He of Her
8: 6 – She to Him
8: 8 – The Maiden’s Brothers
8: 10 – The Maiden’s Answer
8: 13 – Bride and Groom to Each Other

 

Narrative Poetry

Hurry, my lover,
be like a gazelle
or a young deer
on the mountains where spices grow.

1: 2 – The Woman Speaks to the Man She Loves
1: 5 – Friends Speak to the Man
1: 5 – The Woman Speaks
1: 8 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
1: 12 – The Woman Speaks
1: 15 – The Man Speaks
1: 16 – The Woman Answers the Man
2: 1 – The Woman Speaks Again
2: 2 – The Man Speaks Again
2: 3 – The Woman Answers
2: 7 – The Woman Speaks to the Friends
2: 8 – The Woman Speaks Again
2: 14 – The Man Speaks
2: 16 – The Woman Speaks
3: 1 – The Woman Dreams
3: 5 – The Woman Speaks to the Friends
4: 1 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
4: 16 – The Woman Speaks
5: 1 – The Man Speaks
5: 1 – The Friends Speak
5: 2 – The Woman Dreams
5: 9 – The Friends Answer the Woman
5: 10 – The Woman Answers the Friends
6: 1 – The Friends Speak to the Woman
6: 2 – The Woman Answers the Friends
6: 4 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
6: 10 – The Young Women Praise the Woman
6: 11 – The Man Speaks
6: 13 – The Friends Call to the Woman
6: 13 – The Woman Answers the Friends
7: 1 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
7: 9 – The Woman Speaks to the Man
8: 3 – The Woman Speaks to the Friends
8: 5 – The Friends Speak
8: 5 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
8: 8 – The Woman’s Brothers Speak
8: 10 – The Woman Speaks
8: 13 – The Man Speaks to the Woman
8: 14 – The Woman Speaks to the Man

 

Narrative Poetry

Come into the open, my beloved,
and show yourself like a gazelle or a young wild goat
on the spice-bearing mountains.

1: 1 – Bride 1: 4 – Companions 1: 5 – Bride 1: 8 – Bridegroom 1: 11 – Companions 1: 12 – Bride 1: 15 – Bridegroom 1: 16 – Bride 1: 16 – Bridegroom 2: 1 – Bride 2: 2 – Bridegroom 2: 3 – Bride 2: 7 – Bridegroom 2: 8 – Bride 2: 14 – Bridegroom 2: 15 – Companions 2: 16 – Bride 3: 5 – Bridegroom 3: 6 – Companions

4: 1 – Bridegroom 4: 15 – Bride 5: 1 – Bridegroom 5: 2 – Bride 5: 9 – Companions 5: 10 – Bride 6: 1 – Companions 6: 2 – Bride 6: 4 – Bridegroom 6: 13 – Companions 6: 13 – Bridegroom 7: 10 – Bride 8: 4 – Bridegroom 8: 5 – Companions 8: 5 – Bridegroom 8: 8 – Companions 8: 10 – Bride 8: 13 – Bridegroom 8: 14 – Bride

 

Narrative Poetry

Come away, my lover,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the spice-laden mountains.

1: 1 – Beloved 1: 4 – Friends 1: 4 – Beloved 1: 8 – Friends 1: 9 – Lover 1: 12 – Beloved 1: 15 – Lover 1: 16 – Beloved 1: 17 – Lover 2: 1 – Beloved 2: 2 – Lover 2: 3 – Beloved 2: 14 – Lover 2: 16 – Beloved 4: 1 – Lover 4: 16 – Beloved 5: 1 – Lover 5: 1 – Friends

5: 2 – Beloved 5: 9 – Friends 5: 10 – Beloved 6: 1 – Friends 6: 2 – Beloved 6: 4 – Lover 6: 10 – Friends 6: 11 – Lover 6: 13 – Friends 6: 13 – Lover 7: 9 – Beloved 8: 5 – Friends 8: 5 – Beloved 8: 8 – Friends 8: 10 – Beloved 8: 13 – Lover 8: 14 – Beloved

 

Narrative Poetry

Haste away, my love,
be like a gazelle,
a young stag,
on the spice-laden mountains.

Title and Prologue
1: 2 – Beloved
First Poem
1: 4 – Beloved
1: 8 – Chorus
1: 9 – Lover
1: 12 – Duo
Second Poem
2: 8 – Beloved
3: 5 – Lover
Third Poem
3: 6 – Poet
4: 1 – Lover
4: 16 – Beloved
5: 1 – Lover
5: 1 – Poet
Fourth Poem
5: 2 – Beloved
5: 9 – Chorus
5: 10 – Beloved
6: 1 – Chorus
6: 2 – Beloved
Fifth Poem
6: 4 – Lover
7: 1 – Chorus
7: 2 – Lover
7: 10 – Beloved
8: 4 – Lover
Epilogue
8: 5 – Beloved
Appendices
8: 8 – Two Epigrams
8: 13 – Final Additions

 

Narrative Prose

“Hurry, my love. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.”

The First Song
1: 2 – The Woman
1: 8 – King Solomon
1: 12 – The Woman
1: 15 – King Solomon
1: 16 – The Woman
2: 2 – King Solomon
2: 3 – The Woman
2: 7 – King Solomon
The Second Song
2: 8 – The Woman
3: 5 – King Solomon
The Third Song
3: 6 – The Woman
4: 1 – King Solomon
4: 16 – The Woman
5: 1 – King Solomon
The Fourth Song
5: 2 – The Woman
5: 9 – Women of Jerusalem
5: 10 – The Woman
6: 1 – Women of Jerusalem
6: 2 – The Woman
The Fifth Song
6: 4 – King Solomon
6: 11 – The Woman
6: 13 – Women of Jerusalem
7: 1 – King Solomon
7: 10 – The Woman
8: 4 – King Solomon
The Sixth Song
8: 5 – Women of Jerusalem
8: 5 – The Woman
8: 8 – The Woman’s Brothers
8: 10 – The Woman
8: 11 – The Woman’s Brothers
8: 14 – The Woman

 

Narrative Poetry

Come into the open, my beloved,
and show yourself like a gazelle or a young stag
on the spice-bearing mountains.

The rendering of this version is the same as for the NEB – New English Bible, except that the first speech of the bride begins with 1: 2 instead of 1: 1.

 

Narrative Poetry

“Hasten, my beloved,
be like a gazelle,
Or a young stag,
upon the mountains of spices!”

1: 2 – The Maiden to the Youth
1: 5 – The Maiden to the Chorus
1: 7 – The Maiden to the Youth
1: 8 – The Chorus to the Maiden
1: 9 – The Youth to the Maiden
1: 12 – The Maiden to the Chorus
1: 15 – The Youth to the Maiden
1: 16 – The Maiden to the Youth
2: 1 – The Maiden
2: 2 – The Youth
2: 3 – The Maiden to the Chorus
3: 6 – The Chorus
4: 1 – The Youth to the Maiden
4: 16 – The Maiden
5: 1 – The Youth to the Maiden
5: 1 – The Chorus
5: 2 – The Maiden
5: 9 – The Chorus to the Maiden
5: 10 – The Maiden to the Chorus
6: 1 – The Chorus to the Maiden
6: 2 – The Maiden to the Chorus
6: 4 – The Youth to the Maiden
6: 11 – The Maiden
6: 13 – The Chorus to the Maiden
7: 7 – The Youth to the Maiden
7: 10 – The Maiden
8: 5 – The Chorus
8: 5 – The Maiden to the Youth
8: 8 – The Chorus
8: 10 – The Maiden

 

Narrative Prose

Come quickly, my beloved, and resemble thou a gazelle or young stag, upon the mountains of balsam-trees.

The names and divisions are the same as for EBR – The Emphasized Bible, except that 2: 1 is not named.

 

Narrative Poetry

Make haste, my beloved,
and be thou like a roe
or to a young deer upon the mountain of spices.

NOTE: This version is an abbreviated form of the KJV – King James Version. The folowing verses have been omitted:
1: 4 (part), 7 (part), 11, 12, 14.
2: 14 (part).
3: 5-11.
4: 8, 10.
5: 3.
6: 4 (part), 5 (part), 6, 7, 11-13.
7: 13.
8: 1-5, 7 (part), 8-13.

1: 2 – The maiden to her shepherd lover
1: 5 – The maiden to the court women
1: 7 – The maiden to the shepherd
1: 8 – The shepherd, leaving, before the king appears
1: 9 – The king to the maiden
1: 13 – The maiden, professing her love for the shepherd
1: 15 – The king
1: 16 – The maiden, of her lover
2: 2 – The king, withdrawing
2: 3 – The maiden to the court women
3: 1 – Her dream
4: 1 – The king, entering
4: 9 – The king leaves; the shepherd, reappearing
4: 16 – The maiden
5: 1 – The shepherd, withdrawing
5: 2 – The maiden, to court women, repeating the dream
5: 9 – The court women
5: 10 – The maiden
6: 1 – The court women
6: 2 – The maiden
6: 4 – The king
7: 10 – The maiden, protesting
7: 11 – The king impressed, sets her free; the maiden, to the shepherd
8: 6 – The shepherd
8: 7 – The maiden

 

Narrative Poetry

Come to me, my lover, like a gazelle,
like a young stag on the mountains
where spices grow.

The First Song
1: 2 – The Woman
1: 8 – The Man
1: 12 – The Woman
1: 15 – The Man
1: 16 – The Woman
2: 2 – The Man
2: 3 – The Woman
The Second Song
2: 8 – The Woman
2: 10 – The Man
2: 16 – The Woman
The Third Song
3: 6 – The Woman
4: 1 – The Man
4: 16 – The Woman
5: 1 – The Man
5: 1 – The Women
The Fourth Song
5: 2 – The Woman
5: 2 – The Man
5: 3 – The Woman
5: 9 – The Women
5: 10 – The Woman
6: 1 – The Women
6: 2 – The Woman
The Fifth Song
6: 4 – The Man
6: 13 – The Women
6: 14 – The Woman
7: 1 – The Man
7: 9 – The Woman
The Sixth Song
8: 5 – The Women
8: 5 – The Woman
8: 8 – The Woman’s Brothers
8: 10 – The Woman
8: 11 – The Man
8: 14 – The Woman

 

In keeping with good literature, The Song of Songs has numerous examples of figurative language. A few types of figures of speech, their definitions, and some examples used are given. Definitions are as they are explained in Harbrace College Handbook. The examples appear in the Modern Reader’s Bible.

Simile:

An explicit comparison between two things of a different kind or quality, usually introduced by like or as.
Being a love song, this writing is rich with similies. A series of them appear in 7: 1-9. One is – “This thy stature is like to a palm tree, … .”

Metaphor:

An implied comparison.
An example is in 2: 1 – “I am a rose in Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”

Personification:

The endowing of inanimate objects or qualities with personality or human attributes.
An example is in 5: 2 – “I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, … .”

Hyperbole:

A deliberate overstatement or fanciful exaggeration.
An example is in 2: 8 – “Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.”

In 8: 6 is a line which contains both personification and a simile – “Jealousy is cruel as the grave.”

 

William Whiston: (Dissertation IV)
“This further appears by Josephus’ entire omission of the book of Canticles [Song of Solomon], and I think only of that book in the whole Old Testament, now extant, earlier than Nehemiah; which yet is in all our Masorete, Septuagint, and other copies, though it can make no just pretence to the title of a sacred book, as I have proved elsewhere. Nor is this other than a character that Josephus used no later copy than that of Nehemiah; there being not the least sign that the Jews so early admitted that strange book into their canon, though it appears some of them, at least, did so when the Septuagint version was made, about two hundred years afterward. I mean this if their later copies be in that case like the original ones.”

New American Bible (NAB): (the introduction)
“The Song of Songs meaning the greatest of songs, contains in exquisite poetic form the sublime portrayal and praise of the mutual love of the Lord and his people. The Lord is the Lover and his people are the beloved. The poem is not an allegory in which each remark … has a higher meaning. It is a parable in which the true meaning of mutual love comes from the poem as a whole.”

In regard to the author, the same source makes the following statement: “Although the poem is attributed to Solomon in the traditional title, the language and the style of the work, among other considerations, point to a time after the end of the Babylonian Exile (538 B.C.) as that in which an unknown poet composed this masterpiece.”

The Word Made Fresh (WMF): (editorial comment at the beginning)
“It is not for me to try to justify this book being in the Bible. It is written for a purpose, for some day and age. It doesn’t do much for me, but at least try it – it might be just the thing for you.”

Inspired Version (IV): (at the end of Ecclesiastes)
The MS. of the Inspired Version states that ‘The Songs of Solomon are not inspired writings.'”

The Dartmouth Bible (TDB): (the introduction)
“…, at the time of its inclusion, the more discerning minds already held the opinion … that the poetry was the work of several authors living in different periods. Some now believe that the book reached its final form in the third century B.C. or even later. When the Song of Songs was considered for admission to the canon, it gave occasion for sharp debate.”
The editors describe five types of explanations to this writing. These are as follows: allegorical, natural, anthropological, sociological, and the literary.

New Berkeley Version (NBV): (the introduction)
“These Songs speak the love-language of a young woman and her lover. Their frankness and intimacy express the joyful exultation of that love which sanctifies marriage. … No Jew younger than thirty was allowed to read this book. It was admitted into the canon of the Old Testament because it was decided that it allegorizes the love of God for Israel.”

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB): (the introduction)
“Traditionally it has long been understood as an allegory of the love of God for his people. But in origin it is surely a collection of purely secular love-songs, celebrating the God-given love of the Lover for his Beloved and the Beloved for her Lover. … It is post-exilic, probably fifth or fourth century, in the tradition of Egyptian and Syrian love-poetry.

New English Bible (NEB): (in a footnote)
The Hebrew text implies, by its pronouns, different speakers, but does not indicate them; they are given, however, in two MSS. of Septuagint.”