Song of Songs [OTL] foregrounds at every turn the poetic genius of the great biblical poem and one of the most elusive texts of the Hebrew Bible. Exum locates that genius in the way the Song shows and not only tells its readers that love is strong as death, thereby immortalizing love, as well as in the way the poet explores the nature of love by a mature sensitivity to how being in love is different for the woman and the man. Many long-standing conundrums in the interpretation of the book are offered persuasive solutions in Exum's verse by verse exegesis. This, however, is not atomistic commentary. The focus throughout is on the poetry of the book-the illusion of immediacy it creates, the blurring of distinctions between anticipation, enjoyment, and satisfaction, and the resistance to closure.
About the Old Testament Library Series The Old Testament Library is one of the most respected commentary series produced in the last 50 years. As with any series that reaches this level of respectability, it is comprehensive in scope while acknowledging that it is not exhaustive. Introductory matters cover historical concerns, cultural issues, the reception of the text, the integrity of the text, and other interpretive issues.
Each commentary provides a verse-by-verse analysis of critical exegetical matters that are then synthesized into a progressively building understanding of the text and interpretation. This includes analysis of problems in history, word meaning, syntactical and grammatical issues, text history, and many other exegetically relevant issues. Nevertheless, despite the breadth of their scope, volumes in teh series remain relatively compact in comparison to series who share its aims and scope.
Key Elements
Audience: Students, Pastors, and Scholars
Perspective: Moderate/Liberal (See Author)
Scripture: Inspired
General Acceptance of Higher Critical authorship theories, and the reader should be familiar with these type of textual criticism/li>
Knowledge of Hebrew is not necessary, but a willingness to engage concepts from it will be necessary
