Teodoreto, Abisak e i «calunniatori del Cantico dei cantici

The Explanatio in Canticum canticorum by Theodoret of Cyrus is one of the most important testimonies on the difficult process of canonization of the Song of Songs. The Antiochian exegete affirms the divine inspiration of the book and informs us about the literal and profane interpretations circulating at his time. This essay analyzes some textual problems of the Prologue and investigates the historical and exegetical reasons that led to identify the Shulammite of the Song with Abisak, the «beautiful and young» Shunammite who served King David in the last years of his life (3 Kings 1-2 LXX).