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YOU ARE HERE: Study Programs >> Perek Yomi (A Chapter a Day) >> Questions to Guide You

Perek Yomi - Song of Songs

A superficial reading of Shir Ha-Shirim would lead the reader to ask how this book came to be included in the Tanakh. The eroticism of much of the poetry seems inappropriate for sacred Scriptures.

The Rabbis justified the canonization of Shir Ha-Shirim on two grounds: the purported authorship of Solomon and the interpretation of the poetry as an allegory of the love between God and Israel.

Some modern scholars view Shir Ha-Shirim as a collection of love songs from the hand of more than one poet. They read the poetry literally rather than allegorically and such is the approach of this study guide.

Chapter 1

  1. Even though modern scholarship casts doubt on the purported authorship of Song of Songs, why is ascription to King Solomon credible?
  2. In verses 2 and 3 why are the metaphors of wine and oil significant?
  3. Compare the language in verse 4 with Psalm 118, verse 24. How do you react to the almost identical wording and the contrasting contexts?
  4. In verse 5 what is the force of the conjunction "but"? Does it imply that dark is not necessarily beautiful? Does it have racial overtones?
  5. Why is the love of shepherds and shepherdesses a popular motif in the Middle East?
  6. Contrast the imagery in verse 9 to what would be more common inWestern literature, e.g., the comparison of the loved one's beauty to that of a mare.

Chapter 2

  1. The first three verses are a dialogue between a young man and a young woman. Is she complimenting herself? Is he complimenting her?
  2. In verse 7 why does the young woman adjure the daughters of Jerusalem "by gazelles or by hinds of the field"? An oath is usually taken with reference to whom?
  3. How does the modern translation improve upon the classical rendering, "the voice of the turtle" (verse 12)?
  4. The reference to foxes in verse 15 in cryptic. Does it have sexual overtones? Is the young woman promiscuous or a victim?

Chapter 3

  1. Is the woman relating a dream or an actual experience at the beginning of the chapter?
  2. In verse 3, do you see symbolism in the figure of the watchmen? Why don't they answer the woman's question?
  3. Verses 4 and 5 clearly report the consummation of love between two unmarried people, as do other passages in this book. How do we reconcile the implicit assent to this relationship with traditional Jewish moral values?
  4. What is the significance/purpose of the reference to Solomon in verses 7?
  5. What could be the "terror by night" referred to in verse 8?

Chapter 4

  1. Contrast the metaphors used to describe the woman's physical attributes with those customarily used in western literature; the same; varying?
  2. Why does the lover compare his loved one's hair to a flock of goats and her teeth to a flock of sheep?
  3. What is particularly peculiar about the imagery of the tower of David in verse 4?
  4. In verse 4 the word talpiot is particularly problematic. Its usage is rare. In modern Jerusalem there is a geographical association which would relate it to the first half of the verse. Are you familiar with it?
  5. Verse 4 illustrates how Biblical metaphors differ from those common in western literature. Explain.
  6. Why do you think Mount Lebanon (verse 6) is chosen as a site for the lovers rather than another part of Israel?
  7. In verse 9 and elsewhere, would the phrase "my sister, my bride," imply incest or is this usage of that period?
  8. In verse 12 what do the phrases "a locked garden" and "a fountain locked" imply? How does the woman respond to her lover's claim?

Chapter 5

  1. Do you see any similarity between verse 2 and following a previous passage in Songs of Songs?
  2. With some imagination, verse 4 might be considered pornographic. How so? See Anchor Bible commentary.
  3. The word me'ai in verse 4 is translated "my heart" but literally means "my intestines." What do you know about the ancients' concept of the sources of emotions? Are there parallels in modern usage?
  4. Most commentators consider Chapter 4 a report of a dream. Dreams often contain irrational or disconnected elements. Can you find any here?
  5. Why would watchmen strike the distracted young lady (verse 7)?
  6. The description of the male lover in verses 10-16 seem more appropriate for a woman. How do you explain it?

Chapter 6

  1. The metaphorical use of lilies is repeated. What does it signify?
  2. Is Tirzah in verse 4 a woman or a city?
  3. The imagery in verse 5-7 is identical with that in an earlier chapter. Does the repetition detract from its power?
  4. The end of verse 9 is reminiscent of a famous passage in Proverbs 31; what is the contrast of the two contexts?
  5. What is the lover seeking in verse 11?

(Note: Verse 12 is unclear as it stands, so indicated in the footnote in the modern JPS translation.)

Chapter 7

  1. The opening verses imply that the "maid of Shulem" is dancing or being invited to dance; what type of dance? From the description that follows how should this dance be characterized in the context of Middle Eastern culture of that era?
  2. Who is asking the question in verse 1?
  3. In verse 2, is the woman necessarily a bat nadiv (nobleman's daughter)?
  4. What might be the differences in the description of the woman's body (verse 2-10) between this text and earlier descriptions? Consider verse 3 in particular.
  5. How can the comparison of hair to purple be considered complimentary (verse 6)?
  6. What are the aphrodisiacs in verse 8-10?
  7. Verse 11 contains vocabulary similar to Genesis 3:16. But is there a difference in gestalt/intent?
  8. The word duda'im (mandrakes) appears in an episode (confrontation) in the lives of Reuben, Leah and Rachel (Genesis 30). What is the context there? What qualities is this plant presumed to possess? Is the role of the duda'im here identical to/similar to the Genesis account?

Chapter 8

  1. As in a previous chapter, how should we understand the reference to the "brother"?
  2. Why should the young woman fear being despised (verse 1)? What do this verse and verse 2 suggest as to social mores and family strictures?
  3. What is the symbolism of the apple tree in verse 5? And, why is mention made of the lover's mother?
  4. What was the importance of the seal, especially the personal seal (verse 6) in ancient times? (See Genesis 38:18-26 for a somewhat related context.)
  5. God's name appears only once in the entire book, not by itself but as part of the phrase Shalhevet-Yah (verse 6) The modern JPS translation does not acknowledge it, rendering the phrase "a blazing flame." But, actually it is "God's searing flame" -- what does it communicate here?
  6. Is verse 8 to be understood literally or symbolically? Is "sister" meant to be taken literally (any more than "brother")?
  7. In verse 8-10 are the "brothers" biological brothers? Are the men threatening force to acquire the object of their desire? Are they concerned about her chastity? Is she concerned about her chastity? Indeed does she describe herself as chaste?
  8. In verses 11 and 12 what is the import of the note of defiance to Solomon (verse 11)? What is the meaning of the references to "thousand" and"two hundred"? Who is paying this to whom and for what?
  9. In verse 13, how do you understand the dialogue between the lovers and why does she reject his request?
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