Song of Songs (New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT))

I thought this was awesome. Instead of focusing attention on how the Songs should be taught, Longman focused instead on how the poetry should be understood in light of its original intent and genre. I was challenged in some of my previous assumptions and found that I walked away with a deeper, richer understanding and appreciation of the poetry. It was especially informative to have help understanding the rich metaphors and symbolism since it comes from a time and culture long lost on readers like me.

This is a great book from a great series. Song of Songs is one of the more unusual books in the Bible. There are a lot of strange ideas floating around about its content and why it is in the Bible at all. This book does well at addressing the content, meaning, and theology of the book. Great for exegetical work.

This treatment of the Song of Songs is valuable for all readers. The book is thorough in exploring the Song and very well-written. It is technical when it needs to be, yet is highly readable due to excellent explanations. It refers to the Hebrew text when necessary, but provides the untrained reader with enough of an explanation to be understandable. Mr. Longman takes the approach that the Songis an anthology of love poetry. But he moves beyond the secular to deomonstrating clearly how the Song fits into the canon for Jews and Christians. The book is appropriately reverent while celebrating the God-given human love expressed so beautifully in the Song. People of faith will find the book valuable and others will find the scholarship excellent. If you want a highly readable commentary, with superior scholarship and an elucidating exploration of this bible book, this commentary will not let you down.

informative & concise. easy to grasp. not too technical. good background material. certainly worth the money. always a pleasure reading the prepared work of Longman...

Love this series!

Let me say up front that I have not yet read this commentary, but I wanted to offset the obviously biased "1-Star" review by Pastor Puritan. It's good to know that the "Salem Witch-Trial" mentality is still prevalent in the Church! I was also unaware that doubting Solomonic authorship of all Wisdom Literature and that the literal interpretation of Song of Songs was considered a damnable heresy! I'm sure that guy would also consider me a heretic just because I'm not a Calvinist either. Where's the love at? I thought putting our trust in Christ alone and following Him is good enough? His review prompted me to check out Longman's commentaries, and I'm sure Longman was writing in an inductive manner rather than a deductive, systematic theological manner and that's why he came to his conclusions. "Examine everything and hold fast to that which is good," is what Paul exhorted. Now I do not doubt some of the allegorical aspects of Songs that Pastor Puritan pointed out--as a secondary intention revealed to New Covenant believers after the works of Christ, but I surely doubt that Solomon (or whoever wrote Songs) had in mind the allegory of Christ and His bride, and the writer might have not even had in mind Yahweh and His bride Israel--but it's possible. The explicit sexual descriptions make that very doubtful in my mind, and as we know Solomon was quite knowledgable in matters of romance and poetry.Therefore, I will read this commentary with optimism while seeking the truth of the author's intention and the original audience's probable interpretation rather than hold to my biased presuppositions and studying in an eisogetical manner. I will comment further when I complete the commentary.

This is an outstanding commentary on Song of Songs. Coming in at around 225 pages for a Bible book that only contains 8 chapters means that we are getting a thorough treatment. At the same time, the book is exceptionally readable. It was a pleasure to read this commentary (that is not something I can often say of commentaries). I was pleased to read this commentary cover to cover and not just look at the introductory material and particular passages of interest. There will always be controversy over the interpretation of Song of Songs, but all readers will benefit from Longman's careful scholarship regarding the imagery and meaning of this poetic book.

I like Tremper Longman's approach to the Song, especially since he is Reformed & quote him extensively. I highly recommend this commentary.

Very poor product for this price. Theologians are supposed to expound text and lay choices before us. This man does not expound text and is so biased in his view that everyone else is wrong. Not the way to produce high level theology. And I have as 50 years of study and plenty of experience.

Longman successfully argues, following Tribble 1975, that this is a love poem, or a collection of poems. His division of the book is not convincing and neither is his argument that Solomon is the hero in chapters 1 and 3 and the villain in chapter 8. In chapter 3 Solomon's sexual conquests seem to resemble a military campaign after Provan. But Longman is good at taking the poem as an analogy of the love between God and his people and as a lyrical exposition of the creation and redemption of erotic love.

One of the best commentaries I have ever read. Obviously the subject matter is close to the author's heart!

I always enjoy the insights of Tremper Longman III. What I appreciate about this book is his insight in the fact that as a result of the fall Love needed to be redeemed. Song of Songs is a collection of poems about the redemption of love. It makes so much sense for God to speak about this vital part of our relationships through the genre of poetry. It there is any downfall to this commentary it would be that Tremper could enhance it by giving the reader his insights on how each poem reflects the message of God in redeeming love.

Arrived on time and as described.