Song of Solomon 3

Song of Solomon 3:1-4

The Shulammite’s nightmare 3:1-4 The Shulammite narrated an experience she had had “on her bed,” namely, a dream (Son 3:1). She dreamed she could not find Solomon even though she searched everywhere for him. After much distress, she did find him and then took him to the most secure and intimate place she knew: her mother’s bedroom. Her strong love for her beloved comes through in the recurring phrase “whom my soul loves” in each one of the four verses. Such fears are common during the courtship. Will the marriage finally take place? She dreams of consummation, but she wants the consummation to be proper.

Song of Solomon 3:5

The refrain repeated 3:5 Here the refrain marks the end of the section on the courtship (Son 1:2 to Son 3:5) as well as the Shulammite’s nightmare (Son 3:1-4). Solomon and the Shulammite’s patience were about to receive the desired reward. Their marriage was now at hand.

Song of Solomon 3:6-5

III. THE WEDDING 3:6-5:1 Weddings in Israel took place in front of the local town elders, not the priests (e.g., Rth 4:10-11). They transpired in homes, not in the tabernacle or temple (or synagogue, in later times). They were civil rather than religious ceremonies. There were three parts to a wedding in the ancient Near East. First, the groom’s parents selected a bride for their son. This involved securing the permission of the bride’s parents and the approval of both the bride and the groom themselves. Though the parents of the young people arranged the marriage, they usually obtained the consent of both the bride and the groom. Second, on the wedding day the groom proceeded to the bride’s house accompanied by a group of his friends. He then escorted her to the site of the wedding ceremony, and finally took her to their new residence accompanied by their friends.

Physical union consummated the marriage the night after the wedding ceremony took place. Third, the couple feasted with their friends-usually for seven days following the wedding ceremony. [Note: See Edwin M. Yamauchi, “Cultural Aspects of Marriage in the Ancient World,” Bibliotheca Sacra 135:539 (July-September 1978):241-52. In the section before us (Son 3:6 to Son 5:1), the writer mentioned the wedding procession (Son 3:6-11) and the consummation (Son 4:1 to Son 5:1).

“. . . the book is framed by an inclusio involving the ‘brothers’ and the ‘vineyard,’ and at the heart of the book is the wedding day, framed by two ‘dream’ sections with noticeable parallels.” [Note: Tanner, “The Message . . .,” p. 152. See pages 152-57 for further discussion of the Song’s literary structure.]

Song of Solomon 3:7-8

The 60 warriors were Solomon’s chosen friends. Normally the groom’s friends accompanied him to the house of his prospective wife. These friends were very likely members of Solomon’s bodyguard. His example of providing protection for his bride is one that every new husband should follow. This might include a measure of financial security for her.

Song of Solomon 3:9-11

Solomon provided his bride with the best he could afford. This self-sacrificing attitude shows his genuine love for her. Solomon’s crown was a special one his mother Bathsheba gave him for this occasion. It evidently represented his joy as well as his royalty. This may have been a crowning that preceded Solomon’s coronation as king, since the high priest crowned him then (cf. 1 Kings 1:32-48; 2 Kings 11:11-20). [Note: Kinlaw, p. 1227. “Crowns, usually wreaths of flowers rather than royal crowns, were frequently worn by the nuptial couple in wedding festivities.” [Note: Patterson, p. 65.