Eroticism in the Song of Songs – Ask the Rabbi
Q. How is it that such an erotic book as Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) is in the Bible?
A. The book is a collection of love songs telling of the courtship of a young man and his maiden. There are two main interpretations.
The metaphorical approach views Shir HaShirim as describing the love between God and Israel. This love is so intense that ordinary words do not describe it, and the poet resorts to colourful language which at times is daring in the extreme.
According to the literalistic approach, the book is about human love, and the poet’s concern is to show that the love between man and woman is beautiful and holy.
Nachmanides says in his Epistle of Holiness (Iggeret HaKodesh), “When a man is in union with his wife in a spirit of holiness and purity, the Divine Presence is with them”.
Since both interpretations present a dimension of holiness, the book clearly warrants its place in the Tanach.
