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This volume provides an edition, translation and extensive study of a unique anonymous medieval peshat commentary on Song of Songs, emanating from Northern France in the late twelfth century.

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This extraordinary commentary by a late twelfth-century anonymous northern French exegete interprets the Song of Songs solely according to its plain meaning as a story of two young lovers and their developing relationship. The exegete pays attention to every detail of the text, offering many enlightening insights into its meaning, all the while expanding upon the "way of lovers" - the ways that young people in love go about their lovemaking. The French background of the exegete is made clear by numerous references to knights, coats of arms, weapons, chivalry, and of course, wine drinking. The edition is accompanied by an English translation and extensive introduction which analyzes the various linguistic, literary, and exegetical features of the text.

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Sara Japhet , Ph.D. (1973), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (emerita) was Professor of Biblical Studies at that university. Her most recent books are The Commentary of Rabbi Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam) on the Song of Songs (2008) and Collected Studies in Biblical Exegesis (2008). Barry Dov Walfish , Ph.D. (1983), University of Toronto, is the Judaica Specialist at the University of Toronto Libraries. His most recent books are Bibliographia Karaitica: An Annotated Bibliography of Karaites and Karaism (2011) and The Bible Retold by Jewish Artists, Writers, Composers, and Filmmakers (edited with Helen Leneman; 2015).

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