Solomon seen as a symbol for Christ. We explore His love and His lover's challenge. The story begins with the cross. It's the story of the church. See the introductory page.
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| .1 ¶ The song of songs, which is Solomon's. | Song of songs This is one among 1005 according to 1ki0432. Its title indicates its superlative nature. It is important. Also the singular nature argues against the idea expressed by some that the book is divided into numerous poems. |
| .2
¶ Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better
than wine.
Texts linked to often have more than one verse. |
Let
him kiss me Do you remember the story Jesus told about a father
who kissed his son? lu1511.
Here the one who loves Solomon would be the early church.
Kisses of his mouth co0316, je1516, ps13804. Love is better than wine Jesus said He would not drink the fruit of the vine until He could do so in the kingdom mr1425. We may see that as the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, re1907. Here the fiancée is willing to wait. |
| .3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. | Savor
Or "fragrance" ep0501.
Ointments Jesus was anointed several times beginning with His baptism . Also ac1038. Name is an ointment The names of our Lord, "Messiah" and "Christ," mean "the anointed one" in Hebrew and Greek. |
| .4a Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. | Draw
me jn1232.
We will run In verse 5, the bride or fiancée of Solomon addresses this group as "the daughters of Jerusalem." In the wedding scene, we may view them as her attendants. And by application to Christ and His church they may be considered as church members. In Jesus' story of the ten virgins, we see the same distinction between the bride and the attendants mt2501. In the end, believers who overcome and remain faithful are found to be the purified church – the bride so0811. Into his chambers After His death and ascension, Christ went to minister for us in the sanctuary or temple he0802, he1019 which had two rooms re0308. We enter with Him by faith. |
| 4b Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. | We
will be glad and rejoice in thee The Hebrew for "thee" is feminine
singular. Perhaps the daughters say to the bride, "We will be happy and
praise because of you."
We will remember your love more than wine They with the bride v2 accept the promise. They would remember 1co1125. Your Masculine singular. |
| .5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. | Black
but comely The pure church held beautiful promises but faced trials
and darkness. We will see this later in the story. In jb3030,
the blackness apparently represents mourning.
Daughters of Jerusalem Jesus confirms our understanding of this scene lu2328. The women who followed Jesus to the cross were disappointed and loved Him as their spiritual strength. The phrase, "daughters of Jerusalem" appears five more times in this book so0207, so0305, so0310, so0508, and so0804. Kedar Means alien. See ps12005 and je4928. Curtains Consider the curtains that obscured her lover, represented by the two veils of the temple. We saw the temple rooms above v4a. Solomon The name means "peaceable." so0810. |
| .6a Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. | Look
not upon me The little group whose leader had been crucified was
despised by their neighbors but the Lord looks at the heart 1sa1607.
He promised protection is2504.
Black This symbol is not a racial feature but a sun tan. See v5. |
| .6b Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. | Mother's
children In a still somewhat patriarchal society, why would it not
be her father's children? Her mother appears again in so0204
and we see Solomon's mother in so0311. Also
note so0609, so0801f,
so0805.
Angry ac0421, ac0751-end, mt1034. Keeper of the vineyards Jesus told the Jewish leaders that the vineyard would be taken from them and given to others mt2143. Vineyards Israel was unfaithful is05. Mine own ... not kept The new church had come out of the Jewish nation. They refused to preach the gospel to the world leaving the new church the full responsibility. Compare mr1201. |
| .7
¶ Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou
makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth
aside by the flocks of thy companions?
7 Declare to me, thou whom my soul hath loved, Where thou delightest [Or "where you feed (eat)"], Where thou liest down at noon, For why am I as one veiled, By the ranks of thy companions? (Young's Literal Translation) |
Notice the literal reading
of the text. We may see the beloved compared to an animal that knows where
to feed and lie down to rest. Later so0209
we see him as a gazelle or stag, and so he may be here. The bride
is also compared to an animal. She is seeking safe pasture. We may
view her in verse 8 as a mother goat, with her kids, following the sheep.
Symbols in the story change frequently and abruptly. In verse 9,
she is like a horse.
Where you feed Jeremiah pictured God's people as sheep led astray je5004. Rest (lie down) In the Messiah ps02301, mt1128. Turneth aside Some manuscripts read "veiled" as shown in the YLT. Choosing "turneth aside" which may also be translated "wanders," we see harmony with the text in Jeremiah (above). Noon At the time the sun is hot v6a. Companions Perhaps false shepherds – not the true Solomon. |
| 8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. | Fairest
The beloved does not see her as dark or black v5.
Consider what Jesus said to the church in Smyrna. "I know thy works, and
tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich)." re0209.
[Follow] the footsteps In John 10 Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd. See jn1027 and consider pr0220, ps00101. Shepherds' tents [or "dwellings"] je0602f. |
| 9 I have compared thee,
O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely [pretty] with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. |
9 -
To a company "To a mare harnessed to one of Pharaoh's chariots."
Possibly a reference to ex1427.
Also see on so0612.
10 - Cheeks ... neck Continuing the horse metaphor, we would imagine a jeweled bridle and collar. 11 - Borders Or "earrings." The bride/church is now a woman whose faith must be presented as beautiful jude03. On jewelry, see 1pe0303. |
| 12 ¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. | King
The woman expresses love for Solomon as the church loves Christ.
At his table Or "in his circle." Christ as priest in the heavenly sanctuary v4a had a routine of duties representing His atoning grace. Smell The burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering were by fire with "a sweet aroma (as smoke) to the Lord" ascending to heaven. For example, le0109. Some other special offerings also had the aroma. These represent the process of salvation and our prayer connection with heaven. |
| 13 A bundle of myrrh
is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in [or "from"] the vineyards of Engedi. |
Myrrh
... betwixt my breasts Expressing heart love and longing for closeness.
Camphire Henna blossoms. |
| 15 Behold, thou art
fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 15 How beautiful you are, my darling. How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves. 16a How handsome you are, my beloved, and so pleasant! (NASB) 16b And our bed is verdant. (NIV) |
15,
16 The exchange of compliments is clarified by modern translations,
also shown. The Hebrew determines the pronoun genders.
Green That is living green or "verdant." See ps02302. |
| 16b
Also our bed is green.
.17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir. 2:1 ¶ I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. |
Fir
Cypresses or junipers.
I am The fiancée or bride is speaking. 2:1 This verse belongs to both chapters. Rose of Sharon Or "Plain of Sharon." The picture is of the great outdoors. We may see the international advance of the gospel in a time of relative peace. Christ, the beloved, works with His church through the Holy Spirit. |
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