The commentary of Yefet ben Eli the Karaite (second half of the tenth century) on The Song of
Songs is example of an exegetical work obeying two imperatives: The explanation of the divine
message of Salvation mixed with the assiduous Karaite effort to prove wrong their adversaries
the Rabbanites with the help of the Bible. In so doing Yefet ben Eli wrote a thoughtful and
original commentary on the very symbolic Song of Songs. Indeed according to Yefet ben Eli
nothing in the Book should be taken realistically. The ability of Yefet to replace symbols by
historical events is one of the many marks that show Yefet's mastery and the originality of his
commentary.
