Allegory and the Canonization of the Song of Songs

Abstract

The canonical process that led to the inclusion of the Song of Songs in the lists of books of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament is investigated with focus on the saying attributed to Rabbi Aqiva in Mishnah Yadayim 3:5, and also investigated is whether he referred to the Holy of Holies of the Jerusalem Temple. It is demonstrated that he asserted that all the writings are holy and the Song of Songs is holiest. But the framing of the mishnah associates all scriptures, including the Song of Songs, with the Temple, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Holy of Holies. Allegorical interpretation of the Song likely preceded the book’s canonization.