“For in all the world there is nothing to equal the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel, for all the writings are Holy, but the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies.” Such is the importance expressed by Rabbi Aqiba in the year 90 A.D and echoes my recent fascination with the Biblical writings that I have largely been ignorant of.

For more than 10 years, I have done a deep-dive study of the Song of Songs and what I learned is that there may have been more than the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden recorded in the book of Genesis.

At first glance, Song of Songs feels seedy and unholy, covering erotic topics that are not appropriate for general consumption. It is as if it were added to the Bible as a prank by an ornery old rabbi, however, it might be one of the most incredible books ever written. Many theologians would have me believe that in the Song of Songs a kiss is not a kiss, but perhaps the incarnation of Christ, the hair like a flock of goats is in reference to the nations converted to Christianity, and that two breasts represent the Old Testament and New Testament.

But what if a kiss is literally a passionate kiss and hair is indeed hair? What then of the book’s use?

What if there is a mystery that unravels in the Song of Songs that tells us something about the Garden of Eden that can tell us more about the fall of man and the answer found in redemption?