BBB Bible Series: Song of Solomon Quiz

Answer: A love song

The Song Of Solomon is a love song. Solomon was considered Israel's greatest and wisest king. Taken at face value it is the story of Solomon's love for a lovely country girl who would become his bride but many Biblical scholars consider it an allegory describing God's love for the people of Israel or Christ's love for His bride the Church.

Answer: mare

"I liken you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariot horses." (Song of Solomon 1:9 NIV)

Horses and chariots were the ultimate mode of transportation in Solomon's time.

"Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem." (1 Kings 10:26 NIV)

Even in Solomon's time it seems a girl had to measure up to her man's "ride".

Answer: She isn't named

Beloved, fairest of women, my dove are a few of the many endearing terms with which Solomon refers to the girl he loves but she is never specifically named. In several places in the song she is described as the Shulammite which could mean she came from a town called Shulam.

Answer: daughters of Jerusalem

"Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar,
like the tent curtains of Solomon." (Song of Solomon 1:5 NIV)

The daughters of Jerusalem probably refer to the women who were assigned to attend and prepare the Shulammite girl for her wedding day.

Answer: foxes

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." (Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV)

Meeting your lover's family, planning a wedding can put a strain on the best of relationships. The wise couple will keep this in mind and stay focused on what is really important to them, their love and their future together.

Answer: Her mother's house

"...I held him and would not let him go till I had brought him to my mother's house,..." (Song of Solomon 3:1b NIV)

Palace life may have been a little overwhelming to this country girl but will the King be happy living with his mother-in law?

Answer: A crown

"...Look on King Solomon wearing a crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced." (Song of Solomon 3:11b New International Version)

Solomon was the second son born to King David and his wife Bathsheba. Their first son, conceived in an adulterous affair, died shortly after his birth. David had many sons by other wives but he had promised Bathsheba Solomon would be his successor to the throne. Solomon's love and respect for his mother is demonstrated in the following verse.

"When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
(1 Kings 2:19 NIV)

Answer: Twice

The first reference is after the beloved describes her lover's many charms she then says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Solomon 2:7 NIV)

It is found a second time is chapter 3:5 after what seems to be a dream in which she thinks her lover has left her. Many believe this is admonition against entering into a sexual relationship outside the covenant of marriage.

In the final chapter, supposedly after their marriage, you will find a similar verse.

"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires." (Song of Solomon 8:4 NIV)

In this verse "by the gazelles and the does of the field have been omitted. Rather than an admonition against sexual relations outside of marriage it may have been an affirmation that it was worth the wait.

Answer: bride

"Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon." (Song of Solomon 4:8a NIV)

After a long discourse on all the ways her beauty delights him he call his bride to come with him. The traditional wedding ceremony of Solomon's time was for the groom to prepare a special room, usually in his father's house, for his bride. He would then go for her in the night as if to kidnap her from her family's home and carry her back to the place he had prepared. The wedding celebration lasted seven days after which the couple would emerge from the room signifying the marriage had been consummated.

Answer: death, grave

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave; It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one's house for love, it would be utterly scorned." (Song of Solomon 8:6-7 NIV)

Passionate love can be very destructive but sealed within the covenant of marriage it can be very powerful and precious.