Song of Solomon 1:1-17

An Introduction to the Song of Songs

Growing in Intimacy through the Song of Songs

Paul J. Bucknell

Song of Solomon 1

1 The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. 2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. 3 “Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; Therefore the maidens love you. 4 “Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.” 5 “I am black but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. 6 “Do not stare at me because I am swarthy, For the sun has burned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard. 7 “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you make it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself Beside the flocks of your companions?” 8 “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds. (Song of Solomon 1:1-8, NASB).

Questions for Understanding! (Approach)

1) Who wrote the Song of Solomon? (1:1)

2) What is another name for this book? (1:1)

3) What does she desire? (1:2)

4) Why does she desire such a thing? (1:2-3)

5) What does she dream of happening? (1:4a)

6) Who starts speaking halfway through verse 4? Note verse 5.

7) What is their attitude toward her and her desires? (1:4)

8) Finish her statement, "I am ______________." (1:5a)

9) Look at verse 6 and see what the 'dark' means. (1:5-6) How did she get her dark skin? (1:6)

10) What information does she try to find out in verse 7?

11) How do the daughters of Jerusalem respond to her? (1:8)

12) Who starts speaking in verse 9?

13) What does he call her? (1:9a)

14) How do we know that he loves her from the second part of verse 9?

15) What two parts of her body does he refer to in verse 10? Does he speak good or bad about them?

16) Who is speaking in verse 11? How are they joining in with this budding love?

17) Who now is speaking in verse 12? How long (how many verses) does this person speak?

18) Who invited her to dinner? (1:12) Where else is this word mentioned in chapter 1?

19) What did the perfume do? (1:12)

20) What does she call her loved one? (1:13) Where in this chapter do you see this phrase repeated?

21) Describe the illustration in verse 13 and share what she says it stands for?

22) Describe the illustration in verse 14 and share what she says it stands for?

23) The word 'you' indicates: 1) He is talking to her, or 2) He is talking about her. (circle one) (1:15)

24) Write out the phrase that he says twice to her in verse 1:15.

25) What term of endearment does she use in verse 16? Where else is this used in this chapter?

26) Describe the two ways that the bride describes her relationship with the bridegroom. (1:16a-17)

Further application questions are found in the Old Testament Digital Library.