Song of Solomon 1: 1 Commentary

1. Solomon is mentioned as writing 1005 songs
a. He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005 (1 Kings 4:32 ESV)
2. And this one is entitled
a. The song OF songs
b. So it was PRE-EMINENT
3. Solomon is mentioned as having 700 wives
a. And 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3)
4. So scholars have tried to place WHERE
a. This song should appear
b. In the events of Solomon‘s life
5. Some have thought the following:
a. “Proverbs” was written toward the beginning
b. “Song of Solomon” toward the middle
c. And “Ecclesiastes” toward the end
6. Many have ALSO tried
a. To put a NAME on the bride
b. For it is NOT given in the song
7. We probably can rule out his FIRST wife
a. For she was Pharaoh‘s daughter (1 Kings 3:1)
b. An Egyptian and NOT a Shulamite
8. And unless she was an unmentioned wife
a. BEFORE the daughter of Pharaoh
9. So it DOES appear she was one
a. Of his MANY wives
b. But the one he more than likely
c. Loved the MOST
10. She could possibly be ABISHAG the Shunammite
a. Who warmed David in his old age (1 Kings 1:1-4)
11. It MUST be emphasized that this is a LOVE SONG
a. Between ONE man and ONE woman
b. and NOT between ONE man and MANY women
12. This song is NOT a tome for polygamy
a. In an attempt to extol its virtues, pleasures and joys
13. Solomon married for a variety of reasons
a. Most of which in his position as king
b. Were for POLITICAL reasons
14. But THIS woman is a woman he LOVES
a. ABOVE and NOT equal with the others

By Tractorman (wrote 2592 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/5/2011 18:59 pm