CONTENTS Abbreviations 5 Introduction 7 THE SONG OF SONGS Introduction 9 Text and Commentary 11 A Declaration of Love (Song of Songs 1:1-6) 11 A Conversation between the Lovers (Song of Songs 1:7-2:7) 12 Her Lover's Visit Remembered (Song of Songs 2:8-17) 14 Loss and Discovery (Song of Songs 3:1-5) 17 Solomon's Wedding Procession (Song of Songs 3:6-11) 18 The Beauty of the Woman (Song of Songs 4:1-11) 19 The Lover's Garden (Song of Songs 4:12-5:1) 20 A Fruitless Search (Song of Songs 5:2-8) 21 The Lover Lost and Found (Song of Songs 5:9-6:3) 22 The Beauty of the Woman (Song of Songs 6:4-10) 24 Love's Meeting (Song of Songs 6:11-12) 25 The Beauty of the Beloved (Song of Songs 7:1-6) 25 Love's Desires (Song of Songs 7:7-8:4) 26 Reprise (Song of Songs 8:5-14) 28 THE BOOK OF RUTH Introduction 31 Text and Commentary 33 Naomi in Moab (Ruth 1:1-18) 33 The Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19-22) 35 The Meeting (Ruth 2:1-23) 36 Ruth Again Presents Herself (Ruth 3:1-18) 41 Boaz Marries Ruth (Ruth 4:1-22) 43 THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS Introduction 48 Text and Commentary 50 The Desolation of Jerusalem (Lamentations 1:1-22) 50 The Lord's Wrath and Zion's Ruin (Lamentations 2:1-22) 54 The Voice of a Suffering Individual (Lamentations 3:1-66) 58 Miseries of the Besieged City (Lamentations 4:1-22) 62 The Community's Lament to the Lord (Lamentations 5:1-22) 68 THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES Introduction 71 Text and Commentary 74 Setting the Theme (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11) 74 Qoheleth's Investigation of Life (Ecclesiastes 1:12-6:9) 76 Qoheleth's Conclusions (Ecclesiastes 6:10-11:6) 88 Poem on Youth and Old Age (Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8) 100 Epilogue (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14) 101 THE BOOK OF ESTHER Introduction 103 Text and Commentary 105 Prologue (Esther A:1-17) 105 Esther Becomes Queen (Esther 1:1-2:23) 107 Haman's Plot against the Jews (Esther 3:1-15; B:1-7) 113 Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help (Esther 4:1-5a; C:1-D:16) 117 Haman's Downfall (Esther 5:b-8:2) 123 Jewish Victory and the Feast of Purim (Esther 8:3-9:23; E:1-24) 128 Epilogue: The Rise of Mordecai (Esther 9:24-10:3; F:1-11) 136 Review Aids and Discussion Topics 139 Index of Citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 142 Maps 143.