Bible Literalism

To begin, not everything in the Bible is literal--some things (such as creationism, the Flood, the burning bush, and the Exodus) are literal. Some are figurative. Being a Jew (as I am and if you are a Jew--given that the person for whom I originally wrote this is Jewish), you might be familiar with the figurative, "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (See http://karaite-korner.org/tefillin.shtml). In context, the verses are "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Now could you write all of Torah (even all of Tanakh) on your doorposts and gates? Sure; but that would take time, effort, and resources. Even tefillin and mezuzot don't contain all the words of Torah (See http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/272660/jewish/Making-Tefillin.htm and http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/278460/jewish/Guide.htm.). Others are obviously similies, metaphors, and symbolisms--which could fall into the figurative category. Now, did every word of Tanakh literally come from G-d's mouth and finger? Yes (cf., e.g., Exodus 31:18 and Deuteronomy 9:10). But as I said, not everything in the Bible is literal--for example (and I ran out of characters in the original answer), "I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys." Is Song 2:1 literally saying that he's a bunch of flowers? No.