THE SONG OF SONGS THE SOUL AND DIVINE BELOVED

On the face of it, the biblical Song of Songs tells the tale of a passionate and worldly love. Yet it contains not one word that speaks explicitly of God or spirituality, though the Song was accepted long ago into both the Jewish and Christian scriptural canons. In this enthralling book, John Davidson brings out the spiritual meaning of one of the most intriguing books in the Bible. Over the centuries, both Jewish and Christian mystics have agreed that the Song should be understood allegorically, not literally -- in keeping with the widespread use of metaphor, parable and story among the poets and mystics of the ancient Middle East. From the perspective of a universal spirituality, John Davidson sheds light on many of the Song?s obscure passages, uncovering the artistry of its unknown poet. The commentary is illuminated by passages from biblical texts and other spiritual literature, including the teachings of Jesus, Gnostic writings, Jewish and Christian mystics, and some of the ecstatic psalms found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.