Contents
Acknowledgments / xi
Introduction / xiii
Part 1: Ecstasy and agony, 1:1-3:5
Section 1: The Passion and the People, 1:2-4 / 3
Day 1: Simply the Best: “Solomon’s Song of Songs”-the title, 1:1
Day 2: Desire and Longing: “Let him kiss me”-Poem 1, 1:2-4
Day 3: Intimacy: “Like perfume poured out”
Day 4: Community: “We will praise your love”
Day 5: Affirmation: “How right they are to adore you!”
Section 2: Hurt and Healing, 1:5-2:7 / 29
Day 6: Insecurity: “dark am I, yet lovely”-Poem 2, 1:5-6
Day 7: Identity: “do not stare at me”
Day 8: Misunderstanding: “Like a veiled woman”-Poem 3, 1:7-8
Day 9: Listening: “If you do not know”
Day 10: Adornment: “earrings of gold”-Poem 4, 1:9-11
Day 11: Friendship: “I liken you, my darling”
Day 12: Delighting: “Resting between my breasts”-Poem 5, 1:12-14
Day 13: As It Should Be: “our bed is verdant”-Poem 6, 1:15-2:2
Day 14: Transformation: “I am a rose of Sharon”
Day 15: Contentment: “His fruit is sweet”-Poem 7, 2:3-7
Section 3: Joy and Fear, 2:8-3:5 / 85
Day 16: Excitement: “Leaping across mountains”-Poem 8, 2:8-17
Day 17: Renewal: “The season of singing has come”
Day 18: Disruption: “Catch for us the foxes”
Day 19: Satisfaction: “My lover is mine and I am his”
Day 20: Restlessness: “All night long on my bed”-Poem 9, 3:1-5
Day 21: Resolution: “I held him”
Part 2: The Heart of the Matter, 3:6-5:1
Section 4: The Wedding, 3:6-11 / 125
Day 22: The Wedding: “The day his heart rejoiced”-Poem 10, 3:6-11
Day 23: Awe: “Like a column of smoke”
Day 24: Security: “escorted by sixty warriors”
Day 25: Extravagance: “Made for himself the carriage”
Section 5: The Wasf, 4:1-5:1 / 147
Day 26: Admiration: “How beautiful you are”-Poem 11, 4:1-7
Day 27: Rapture: “There is no flaw in you”
Day 28: Disclosure: “Come with me”-Poem 12, 4:8-9
Day 29: Friendship: “My sister, my bride”
Day 30: Consummation: “Let my lover come”-Poem 13, 4:10-5:1
Day 31: Realization: “I have come into my garden” day 32: Contrast: “Broken down walls”
Part 3: Lost and Found 5:2-8:14
Section 6: Fear and Joy 5:2-8:4 / 187
Day 33: Abuse: “They bruised me”-Poem 14, 5:2-8
Day 34: Understanding: “What will you tell him?”
Day 35: Strength: “My lover is radiant and ruddy,” 5:9-6:3
Day 36: Confidence: “My lover is mine”
Day 37: Admiration: “You are beautiful”-Poem 15, 6:4-9
Day 38: Transcendence: “Who is this that appears”-Poem 16, 6:10-12
Day 39: Dance: “That we may gaze on you!”-Poem 17, 6:13-7:10
Day 40: Dignity: “His desire is for me”
Day 41: Invitation: “Let us go early”-Poem 18, 7:11-13
Day 42: Yearning: “If only you were”-Poem 19, 8:1-4
Section 7: Desire and Confidence 8:5-14 / 257
Day 43: Continuity: “Under the apple tree”-Poem 20, 8:5-7
Day 44: Identity: “Like a seal over your heart”
Day 45: Love: “As strong as death”
Day 46: Self-Confidence: “My breasts are like towers”-Poem 21 8:8-10
Day 47: Freedom: “Mine to give”-Poem 22, 8:11-12
Day 48: Happily ever After? “Let me hear your voice!”-Poem 23, 8:13-14
Appendices / 299
Day 49: Appendix 1-God: The Garden and the Song
Day 50: Appendix-Redemption: The Son and the Song