Exploring Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon is the fourth volume in the Exploring Series but the first Old Testament easy-to-use devotional commentary in that series which is especially addressed to church members. This publication contains an interpretation of two biblical books: Ecclesiastes (143 pages) and Song of Solomon (89 pages). It is an excellent combination, because it is important to connect intimate and passionate love with wisdom, as divine insights are needed to appropriately conduct oneself in the sphere of human sexuality.

The commentary is well organized and neatly structured; chapters are clearly subdivided, and main issues covered. Principle thoughts are highlighted. Each biblical book is interpreted according to sections which usually do not correspond to the chapters as found in Scripture. The book of Ecclesiastes has 20 sections which are divided into three major parts: meaninglessness introduced (1:1–3); meaninglessness demonstrated and advice given (1:4–12:7); and meaninglessness transcended (12:8–14). The book of Song of Songs is divided into ten sections with four principal parts: preliminary matters (1:1); moving toward intimacy (1:2–3:5); marriage day (3:6–5:1); and aftermath (5:2–8:14). Each biblical book in this exposition has an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Ecclesiastes resonates with a search for the meaning of life in a postmodern world. It is also an “Adventist” book, because only in Ecclesiastes and in the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14:6–13 are found closely tied together crucial “Adventist” themes such as creation, fearing God, keeping His commandments, eschatology, giving glory to God through a right lifestyle, and divine judgment.

Exploring Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon is not an original commentary, and it is not built on a new original translation. Knight consulted many outstanding biblical commentaries on both biblical books and skillfully included their jewels in his exposition. His contribution is in choosing the best and putting them into his existential perspective. His interpretation of tensions and paradoxes in the biblical material of Ecclesiastes is profound.

Knight’s exposition of Song of Songs presents a well-balanced and respectful perspective on human intimacy and marriage. He rightly associates passionate sexual love with married heterosexual couples and makes it clear that this kind of intimacy belongs only in marriage. At the center of the Song of Solomon is the wedding ceremony which includes the imagery of the first night spent together in love. Virginity is praised by the husband. Within the boundaries of marriage, passion of sexual intimacy is not something sinful, shameful, or degrading, but beautiful and commendable, because it is a joyful celebration of the Creator’s gift of love to humans which needs to be lived according to the creation order. Emotional sexuality is good and belongs to a healthy and happy marital life. The true attitude toward sexuality must be informed by biblical ideals.

In the conclusion of the book, Knight provides a three-ingredient formula for a happy marital life: (passionate) desire for each other; plus commitment (faithfulness); plus (unselfish, self-sacrificing) love; and he rightly stresses the indispensable role of community in building a healthy marriage and its social dimensions.

There are some points which should have been included in this publication. Knight should have explained more clearly why he thinks that the identification of the author of these two biblical books does not affect his exposition. It is this reviewer’s conviction that the author would gain tremendous insights, if he would identify Solomon as the author and intertwine his life’s contradictory experience into their historical background. Knight’s commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes should elaborate more on the theme of creation and “the fear of God” motif with which the book culminates. Lacking is an elaboration on the eschatological and cosmic motif present in chapter 12:1–7 (see, for example, C. L. Seow’s commentary on Ecclesiastes). Consultation of Jacques Ellul’s publication Reason for Being: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes would have helped the author to underline those passages which deal with the vertical dimension and point to eternal values. Word statistics need to be slightly adjusted, because the key word hebel meaning “vapor,” “vanity,” “breath,” or “meaningless” occurs in Ecclesiastes 38 times (not 30 times); and this term is employed in the Old Testament 73 times and not 64 as is stated on page 20.

Apart from these suggested improvements, the volume is a very valuable publication and serious students of the Bible can gain excellent insights from it. It is not using theological jargon and is not technical. Knight has a masterful ability to simplify theological issues, expand them, and drive crucial points home in a fine readable form. This is why his devotional commentary is reader-friendly and easy to follow and yet has a sense for details. It is helpful for all who would like to acquire a deeper understanding of the meaning of life and experience passionate love in their marriages according to God’s ideal.