I do not think Song of Songs was written by Solomon

[Dizerner]

Okay , hear me out. I have several reasons for thinking this.

1. The title has ambiguity in the Hebrew and can be "dedicated to Solomon" or "about Solomon."
2. The book constantly speaks of Solomon in the third person and he is not the center character.
3. The book speaks disparagingly of Solomon's polygamy and we have no record of Solomon displaying that humility.
4. The book exalts a monogamous relationship and contrasts its against Solomon's immorality.
5. The book is not written in the style or vocabulary of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Solomon's Psalm.
6. The book uses later vocabulary not from Solomon's time period with a Greek and Persian loanword.

So why do I think this matters?

I think it matters because Solomon was actually a very bad example of human romantic love and should not honored or followed.

 

[TibiasDad]

1. The title has ambiguity in the Hebrew and can be "dedicated to Solomon" or "about Solomon."

The literal meaning of לשלמה is that “of Solomon”, meaning belonging to Solomon.

Doug

 

[Dizerner]

The literal meaning of לשלמה is that “of Solomon”, meaning belonging to Solomon.

Doug

Pastor, I really want to be respectful, but you must know by now this simply isn't true.

By grossly oversimplifying the issue you are actually misleading people.

Please consider this commentary from the NET Bible:

The preposition ל in ) אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה'asher lishlomoh( has been taken as: (1) authorship: "which is written by Solomon." The lamed of authorship (also known as lamed auctoris) is well attested in Hebrew (see GKC 421 §130.b), particularly in the psalms (e.g., Pss 18:1; 30:1; 34:1; 51:1; 52:1; 54:1; 56:1; 57:1; 59:1; 60:1; 63:1; 72:21); (2) dedication: "which is dedicated for Solomon." The lamed of dedication is attested in Ugaritic psalms dedicated to Baal or about Baal (CTA 6.1.1 = UT 49.1); or (3) topic: "which is about/concerning Solomon." The lamed of topic is attested in Hebrew (e.g., 1 Chr 24:20) and in Ugaritic, e.g., lb`l "About Baal" (CTA 6.1.1 = UT 49.1).​

​

Also אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה is an unusual construction here, the asher is usually left out. This is significant.

 

[Tothalordbeallglory]

The literal meaning of לשלמה is that “of Solomon”, meaning belonging to Solomon.

Doug

 

[TibiasDad]

Pastor, I really want to be respectful, but you must know by now this simply isn't true.

By grossly oversimplifying the issue you are actually misleading people.

Please consider this commentary from the NET Bible:

The preposition ל in ) אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה'asher lishlomoh( has been taken as: (1) authorship: "which is written by Solomon." The lamed of authorship (also known as lamed auctoris) is well attested in Hebrew (see GKC 421 §130.b), particularly in the psalms (e.g., Pss 18:1; 30:1; 34:1; 51:1; 52:1; 54:1; 56:1; 57:1; 59:1; 60:1; 63:1; 72:21); (2) dedication: "which is dedicated for Solomon." The lamed of dedication is attested in Ugaritic psalms dedicated to Baal or about Baal (CTA 6.1.1 = UT 49.1); or (3) topic: "which is about/concerning Solomon." The lamed of topic is attested in Hebrew (e.g., 1 Chr 24:20) and in Ugaritic, e.g., lb`l "About Baal" (CTA 6.1.1 = UT 49.1).​

​

Also אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִשְׁלֹמֹֽה is an unusual construction here, the asher is usually left out. This is significant.

1) https://biblehub.com/interlinear/songs/1-1.htm

2) I’ve only seen one example of an alternate translation, Smith's Literal Translation: The Song of Songs that is to Solomon.
3) I am not a Hebrew scholar at all, but the overwhelming majority of those who are that I’ve read seem to disagree with you.

4) I think “misleading people” is a bit strong.

5) And yet the NET renders Sol 1:1
Solomon's Most Excellent Love Song.


Doug

 

[Love Fountain]

Okay , hear me out. I have several reasons for thinking this.

1. The title has ambiguity in the Hebrew and can be "dedicated to Solomon" or "about Solomon."
2. The book constantly speaks of Solomon in the third person and he is not the center character.
3. The book speaks disparagingly of Solomon's polygamy and we have no record of Solomon displaying that humility.
4. The book exalts a monogamous relationship and contrasts its against Solomon's immorality.
5. The book is not written in the style or vocabulary of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Solomon's Psalm.
6. The book uses later vocabulary not from Solomon's time period with a Greek and Persian loanword.

So why do I think this matters?

I think it matters because Solomon was actually a very bad example of human romantic love and should not honored or followed.

Hello,

The Song of Songs is about the love between a Shepherd and a shepherdess and concerning a man king(Solomon) who tries to woo the shepherdess but doesn't succeed. The love between the Shepherd and shepherdess is too strong.

The style of writing of the whole book of Song of Songs is exactly the same as the whole of Proverbs, this is seen when comparing the subject structure outlines with each other as follows which can be seen in the Companion Bible by E.W. Bullinger.







There really is only one Author of the biblical texts which wrote through the hands of many Hebrew people from many different walks of life over many hundreds of years.

Blessings,
Love Fountain


PS - Ecclesiastes is very similar in writing style as Song of Songs and Proverbs as well when comparing the whole book subject structure outline.

 

[Dizerner]

Companion Bible by E.W. Bullinger

I don't at all see the logical relation from a literary chiasmus and authorship.

There's just no relation there.

Also Bullinger, although he did a lot of legitimately good work, was just determined to see a chiasmus everywhere no matter what.

 

[Love Fountain]

I don't at all see the logical relation from a literary chiasmus and authorship.

There's just no relation there.

Also Bullinger, although he did a lot of legitimately good work, was just determined to see a chiasmus everywhere no matter what.

Hello,

Someone looking at the biblical text from a western writing understanding won't see or understand the Hebrew Thought Patterns and Hebrew Thought writing styles that exist throughout all the biblical texts from Genesis to Revelation.

It's not just chiasmus, it's following Subject, Object and article as the subject alternates or introverts according to Hebrew Thought writing style.

Here's a good explanation on Hebrew Thought Patterns and Hebrew Thought writing styles as follows:

Hebrew Thought Patterns link

"Receiving greater understanding from “the virtue of the word” by being aware of common Hebrew literary styles found in the scriptures. "

"There are seven characteristics:

1. Clear Statements of Truth from the Lord - often given in the context of the prophet’s personal experience, with the expectation that the truth will be learned and applied.
2. The Broader Context - the verses before and after, as well as the circumstances.
3. Contrasts describing good and evil or obedient and rebellious.
4. Repetition of ideas are used to help define, clarify, emphasize and expand understanding. This repetition is called “parallelisms.”
5. Lists are common in individual verses as well as whole chapters like the Ten Commandments.
6. Cause-and-Effect Statements are used to stress the importance of responsibility to obey. They show the positive and the negative consequences of choice. Example: “if ye keep the commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.”
7. Words with significant symbolism, literal and figurative meanings as well as for their poetic beauty. Example: “Feast upon the words of Christ.”

Benefits of using and applying the Hebrew Thought Patterns

1. Recognize the Savior’s loving kindness in teaching us truth and warning us of Satan’s destructive influences.
2. Retain passages in a broader context
3. Receive Clearer ideas and cross-references between passages
4. Remember Meaningful imagery, words and symbols
5. Increased ability to liken or apply the scripture to your own life
6. “Mental hooks” to “hang” doctrinal insights and ideas onto to help you remember more
7. Memorize Scripture passages with ease

Every single page of the Bible has Hebrew Thought writing styles from Genesis to Revelation, every book as a whole, every chapter and every page is Hebrew Thought writing style and Hebrew Thought Patterns!

Blessings,
Love Fountain