SONG OF SONGS- The Love Poetry of Scripture

The Song of Songs is a classical work of ancient literature that continues to be read, studied and prayed the world over. Essentially it is a collection of sensual love poems. Its inclusion in the Holy Scriptures can be surprising and even shocking to some. What, then, is the depth and meaning behind this ancient masterpiece? How can we read it and understand it today? Dianne Bergant offers a spiritual reading of these scriptural love poems from a literal perspective. She emphasizes the beauty and goodness of love and how its fruits can contribute to a modern, wholesome spirituality that respects others and works for their good. Moreover, Bergant shows how the Song of Songs is particularly sensitive to the issues of ethnic origin, ecology, class and gender.

Sr. Dianne Bergant is a professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The general editor of The Collegeville Bible Commentary (Old Testament), she was editor of The Bible Today from 1986-1990. Her areas of interest include biblical interpretation, biblical spirituality, and social issues such as feminism, ecology, and peace. She is the author of The World is a Prayerful Place.