Song of Solomon 5
BBCSong of Solomon 5:1
5:1a Now the shepherd responds to the Shulamite’s invitation of Son_4:16, saying that he is coming to the garden to gather his spices, to eat honeycomb, and to drink wine and milk. 5:1b The latter part of verse 1 seems to be an anonymous encouragement from interested spectators to these two ardent lovers.
Song of Solomon 5:2
XI. THE SHULAMITE RECALLS A DISTURBING DREAM IN WHICH SHE MISSED SEEING HIM BECAUSE OF HER LETHARGY (5:2-8)5:2-7 Now the maiden describes a dream in which she heard him knocking at the door, calling for her to open. He was wet with the dew of the evening. When she hesitated to open to him because she had already bathed and retired for the night, he withdrew his hand from the door. Finally she got up and went to the door. Her hands became perfumed with the liquid myrrh which he had left on the handles of the lock. But he had . . . gone. She looked for him, called for him, but . . . could not find him. The city watchmenmisunderstanding her characterstruck her and took off her veil. 5:8 In her sorrow she charges the daughters of Jerusalem to tell him, if they should somehow see him, that she still loves him as much as ever.
Song of Solomon 5:9
XII. ON INQUIRY BY THE COURT LADIES, SHE EXTOLS THE BEAUTIES OF HER BELOVED, MAKING THEM WANT TO SEE HIM TOO (5:96:3)5:9 Her constant enthusiasm for a mere shepherd arouses the interest of the daughters of Jerusalem. They can’t understand why anyone should refuse the love of a Solomon for some obscure country lad, so they ask her what is so special about her beloved. 5:10-16 This gives her just the opportunity she wants to extol his physical attractiveness as “chief among ten thousand.” Using a wealth of poetic metaphors and similes, she raves about his complexion, head, locks, eyes, cheeks, lips, hands, body, legs, countenance, and mouth. In short, her beloved and her friend is altogether lovely.