The Song of Solomon: Sex or Spirit?

[Aaron]

A couple posts about physical attractiveness at the beach (and the lack thereof) in this thread: http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=61091 I think are excellent arguments for the allegorical application of Canticles. That and nearly three millennia of devout commentary.

 

[kyredneck]

Wonder which one of the 700 wives, 300 concubines this one in the 'Song of Songs, is?

Of course it's allegorical; I believe it to be forerunner of the 'new song' of Rev 5.

I remember several years ago when some of the new translations were coming out at how shocked I was at how vulgar Canticles seemed reading some of them compared to the KJV.

 

[OldRegular]

If I am not mistaken the original Scofield Bible states that the Song of Solomon is an allegory of the love of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church.

Of course according to dispensationalism the Church is unknown in the Old Testament and all Scripture must be interpreted literally. I do agree with Scofield that: The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church (2*Corinthians 11:1-4 refs).

Scofield's remarks have been deleted in the Newer Scofield Bibles.

Following is an excerpt from the Original Scofield Bible:

Source: http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/view.cgi?book=so&chapter=000

Scofield’s Introduction to the Song of Solomon.

"Nowhere in Scripture does the unspiritual mind tread upon ground so mysterious and incomprehensible as in this book, while the saintliest men and women of the ages have found it a source of pure and exquisite delight. That the love of the divine Bridegroom should follow all the analogies of the marriage relation seems evil only to minds so ascetic that martial desire itself seems to them unholy.

The interpretation is twofold: Primarily, the book is the expression of pure marital love as ordained of God in creation, and the vindication of that love as against both asceticism and lust--the two profanations of the holiness of marriage. The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church (2*Corinthians 11:1-4 refs).

In this sense the book has six divisions:
1. The bride seen in restful communion with the Bridegroom, 1:1-2:7.
2. A lapse and restoration, 2:3-3:5.
3. Joy of fellowship, 3:6-5:1.
4. Separation of interest--the bride satisfied, the Bridegroom toiling for others, 5:2-5.
5. The bride seeking and witnessing, 5:6-6:3.
6. Unbroken communion, 6:4-8:14."

 

[The Archangel]

Song of Solomon is about one thing--sex.

In the first place, the first audience would not have, for even a minute, considered it an allegory.

Second, Hebrew boys were traditionally forbidden from reading this book until they had come of age.

Third, there are many passages like this one (Song of Solomon, Chapter 7) that give a vivid and erotic view of the body (in this case of the bride). I have it on good authority (one of my seminary professors who is widely regarded as the foremost Septuagint scholar in the world) that you have not experienced this book until you have read it in Hebrew.

In fact, some of the words in Song of Solomon 7 that describe the bride are very "generous." I am told the word "Navel" probably means something else...but I'll spare the details.

In fact, every language scholar that I know of--whether Greek or Hebrew--affirm that this book is about Sex.

However, it is not about the hot, lurid, and erotic sex that we so often are acquainted with today. It is about the passionate and God-honoring love between a groom and his bride and a bride and her groom.

Here is a good resource for you: Daniel L. Akin, God on Sex: The Creator's Ideas About Love, Intimacy, and Marriage.

Blessings,

The Archangel

 

[Aaron]

Song of Solomon is about one thing--sex.

Okay. Where is the act itself?

In the first place, the first audience would not have, for even a minute, considered it an allegory.

And you know this how?

Second, Hebrew boys were traditionally forbidden from reading this book until they had come of age.

Hebrew boys came of age at 13. Men were forbidden to read the book until age 30.

Third, there are many passages like this one (Song of Solomon, Chapter 7) that give a vivid and erotic view of the body (in this case of the bride).

I would hardly call the descriptions "erotic."

Your belly is a heap of grain, your bosoms are like woodland animals and grape clusters. Your nose is like a tower . . .

That just doesn't do it for me, and I doubt my wife would find any of these comparisons flattering.

Besides, if this IS erotic imagery, at what age does it begin to quit applying? (Referring to the base allusions mentioned in the cited thread in the OP)

I have it on good authority (one of my seminary professors who is widely regarded as the foremost Septuagint scholar in the world) that you have not experienced this book until you have read it in Hebrew.

Hebrew sages assert that the Song is allegory.

In fact, some of the words in Song of Solomon 7 that describe the bride are very "generous." I am told the word "Navel" probably means something else...but I'll spare the details.

Puh-leeze.

 

[rbell]

The Song of Songs is about the love expressed between man and wife.

 

[kyredneck]

Song of Solomon is about one thing--sex.......

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth, or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written.... 1 Cor 9:9,10


Is it for sex that God careth, or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written....


Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,..........This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. Eph 5:25,32

 

[Aaron]

Excellent response.

 

[Aaron]

I said to my lovely wife last night,

"Shall I compare thy nose to a tower,
And thy belly to an heap?"

Her reply,

"Not unless t'is on the couch
You're wishing now to sleep."

 

[Johnv]

To deny the erotic content of Song of Solomon is risidulous. To deny the spiritual content of Song of Solomon is equally as ridiculous.

 

[kyredneck]

I said to my lovely wife last night,

"Shall I compare thy nose to a tower,
And thy belly to an heap?"

Her reply,

"Not unless t'is on the couch
You're wishing now to sleep."

......dummy, you'd better listen to your wife.......

 

[Aaron]

If I said, "You are couragous, and without fear stand up and face your enemies!" at any age and appearance, this is indeed a seemly complement of a beautiful character quality.

The nose is like the tower of Lebanon, the forehead or face set like a flint (Isa. 50:7), undaunted as that tower was impregnable. So it denotes the magnanimity and holy bravery of the church, or (as others) a spiritual sagacity to discern things that differ, as animals strangely distinguish by the smell. This tower looks towards Damascus, the head city of Syria, denoting the boldness of the church in facing its enemies and not fearing them.

Matthew Henry

 

[Aaron]

If I said to my wife, "You have given me beautiful children," can you think of an age where that could not be a warm and loving, well-received compliment?

thy belly is like a heap of wheat;
which denotes the fruitfulness of the church in bringing souls to Christ, comparable to a pregnant woman; and whose fruit, young converts born in her, are compared to "a heap of wheat" for their number, choiceness, and solidity, being able to bear the fan of persecution: it was usual with the Jews to scatter wheat on the heads of married persons at their weddings, three times, saying, "increase and multiply" F18; see (Isaiah 66:8) (Matthew 3:12) . This heap of wheat is said to be "set about", or "hedged, with lilies" F19; which suggests, that it was not a heap of wheat on the corn floor which is meant, but a field of standing wheat, enclosed and fenced, not with thorns, but lilies; and these lilies may signify grown saints, who are often compared to lilies in this book, by whom young converts are encompassed and defended; or the beauties of holiness, in which they appear as soon as born again, (Psalms 110:3) .

John Gill