Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon

by Robert Davidson

Fascinating, surprising, challenging--these are among the words used by Robert Davidson to describe the two books covered in this commentary. The book of Ecclesiastes concerns the ultimate meaning of life itself and reminds us that we can be happy even amid uncertainty. The Song of Solomon invites us to an exploration of love that reminds us of God's unending care for the world. Carrying forward brilliantly the pattern established by Barclay's New Testament series, The Daily Study Bible has been extended to cover the entire Old Testament as well. Invaluable for individual devotional study, for group discussion, and for classroom use, The Daily Study Bible provides a useful, reliable, and eminently readable way to discover what the Scriptures were saying then and what God is saying today.

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

1750-1812

Reviews

[Marie]

Fascinating, surprising and challenging--these are among the words Robert Davidson uses to describe the two books covered in this commentary. He writes that these books, linked in tradition to Solomon, share "a refreshing honesty and a healthy exploration of the most powerful of human emotions, presented to us in the conviction that all of life, its unanswered questions and its passions, its joys and its frustrations, come to us from God."

One of the latest of the Old Testament books, Ecclesiastes concerns the ultimate meaning to be found in a life that is frail and fleeting. According to Davidson, the author of this biblical book seems to be saying that that when you seriously consider the meaning of life, you are confronted with many questions. Nevertheless, as the commentary illustrates, the Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that we can "rejoice in the richness of the life God has given us, and yet live with many questions unanswered."

The Song of Solomon has probably been the subject of more varied interpretations than any other part of the Bible. Davidson discusses different ways of looking at this beautifully written book, but he focuses on it as a collection of love poems standing within the Wisdom tradition in Israel.

The commentary helps readers understand the poetic language and the meaning of the words for today. As Davidson writes, when we "explore the mystery of human love and come face to face in the Song of Solomon with the total and tender self-giving of the lovers to each other, we shall be reminded of the depth and mystery of God's self-giving love for the world, and also of the responsive love to which we are all called."

[Covenant Presbyterian Springfield Ohio]

Call Number: 220.7 DSB-17

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