Song of Solomon 5
OGCSong of Solomon 5:1
TEXT 4:8 to Son 5:1
SECOND MEETING (Jerusalem); Prolepsis, Son 4:8 to Son 5:1
(Chronologically coming between Son 8:4 and Son 8:5?)
Dialogue:
Shepherd, Son 4:8-16 a
Shulammite, Son 4:16 b
Shepherd, Son 5:1 a
Comment:
Remarks of Wedding Guests or Shepherd’s Companions, Son 5:1 b
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon; Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions dens, From the mountains of leopards.
Thou has ravished my heart, my sister, my bride;
Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.
How fair is thy love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!
Thy lips, O my bride, drop as the honeycomb:
Honey and milk are under thy tongue; And the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
A garden shut up is my sister, my bride;
A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants,
Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon,
with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
Thou art a fountain of gardens,
A well of living waters,
And flowing streams from Lebanon.
16a. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south;
Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:8-16a
What is meant by suggesting in the above outline that this section of scripture is a prolepsis?
How did the bride get so far north as the Lebanon mountains?
What mountains are alluded to with the names of Amana, Senir and Hermon?
Is the shepherd describing the house of the bride with his reference to lions and leopards? Why go there? Or is he asking her to leave it?
The poor shepherd was overcome with one look of her lovely eyesshe has caught him and held him in a chainis this the meaning of verse nine?
The shepherd returns the compliment of the Shulammite (cf. Son 1:2), but he adds something. What is it?
Why refer to her as his sister as well as his bride?
Cf. Son 1:3 with Son 4:10 b and show the likeness and difference.
Is the shepherd speaking of the kisses of his bride in Son 4:11? Cf. Son 5:1.
If speech is intended as what comes from the lips of the maid, how shall we describe what she says?
There is a beautiful figure of speech in verse twelve. Discuss its meaning and application.
The shoots of Son 4:13 a are enumerated through the fourteenth verse. List them.
The maiden is a paradise to the shepherd. Explain.
Pomegranates were a very special fruit to the Hebrews. Why? (Cf. Deuteronomy 8:8; Exodus 28:33-34; 1 Kings 7:18-20)
Define each of these words: henna; spikenard; saffron; Calamus; cinnamon; frankincense; myrrh; aloes.
How was she compared to a flowing spring which formed a river from Mount Lebanon?
Why ask for the north and south wind? Why is the meaning of the figure used here?
PARAPHRASE 4:8-16a
Shepherd (chronologically after Son 8:4?)
Come with me from Lebanon, O bride,
With me from Lebanon come away! Depart from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon; From the dens of lions, From the mountains of panthers.
Thou hast stolen my heart, O my sister-bride!
With one glance of thine eyes, with one turn of thy neck Thou hast captured it.
How delightful are thy endearments, O my sister-bride!
How much better than wine are thy endearments, And the fragrances of thy perfumes than all spices!
Thy lips, O bride, drip virgin honey;
Honey and milk flow from under thy tongue. The odor of thy garments is like pinescented air from Lebanon.
An enclosed garden is my sister-bride;
A spring locked up, a fountain sealed.
Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates and other luscious fruits.
With henna and spikenard plants,
Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon with all incense woods; Myrrh and aloes with all the chief spices.
The garden fountain is a well of spring waters,
And its streams flow down from Lebanon.
Awake, O north wind, and come thou south!
Blow upon my garden that the sweet odors may be wafted abroad.
COMMENT 4:8-16a
Exegesis Son 4:8-16 a
If we consider carefully the content of these verses we will immediately recognize they are not in chronological order or time sequence. We must conclude this paragraph relates to the end of the storyi.e., between Son 7:11 and Son 8:14. There are examples of this literary devise in several books of the Bibleparticularly with Revelation and Ezekielbut even in the gospels. If this interpretation is correct, this passage contains the response of the shepherd to the maiden’s request that he take her back to her country home. The writer of the Song is anticipating the closing scenes. The purpose would seem to be to build suspense. Because of the length of this section we will indicate the verses related to our comments:
Son 4:8. We believe Lebanon is used in a figurative sense. The shepherd is asking his beloved to leave the giddy heights of the court of Solomon and share true love with him. It is an invitation to escapebut also it becomes an insistent claim of the shepherd for the person of Shulammite. Perhaps it would be better to translate the phrase look from to depart from. The whole passage we believe is symbolicbut the mountains used in the symbolism are real mountainsi.e., they are peaks in the Lebanon chain which carry these names. He is saying in effectcome with me from the dangerous position you are inleave the high dignitaries and the ravenous wild beasts of Solomon’s court.
Son 4:9. Here begins a description of the attractive qualities of his beloved. He is wounded to the heart with one look and he is enchained by one turn of her head. A physical feature, not an ornament, is intended. All figures used in verses nine thru eleven refer to graces of gesture and speech as indicative of inward character rather than to mere outward physical attractions. (Clarke)
Son 4:10. Berkley has translated this verse as: How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride; How much more delicious is your love than wine; and the fragrance of your ointments than all the spices. We like very much the expression of Walter F. Adeney in the Exposition of the Bible (p. 532):
His language is entirely different from that of the magnificent monarch. He does not waste his breath in formal compliments, high-flown imagery, wearisome lists of the charms of the girl he loves. That was the clumsy method of the king; clumsy, though reflecting the finished manners of the court, in comparison with the genuine outpourings of the heart of a country lad. The shepherd is eloquent with the inspiration of true love; his words throb and glow with genuine emotion; love of his bride has ravished his heart. How beautiful is her love! He is intoxicated with it more than with wine. How sweet are her words of tender affection, like milk and honey! She is so pure, there is something sisterly in her love that she is almost like a part of himself, as his own sister. This holy and close relationship is in startling contrast to the only thing known as love in the royal harem. It is as much more lofty and noble as it is more strong and deep than the jaded emotions of the court. The sweet, pure maiden is to the shepherd like a garden the gate of which is barred against trespassers, like a spring shut off from casual access, like a sealed fountainsealed to all but one, and, happy man, he is that one. To him she belongs, to him alone. She is a graden, yes, a most fragrant garden, an orchard of pomegranates full of rich fruit, crowded with sweet-scented plantshenna and spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon and all kinds of frankincense, myrrh and aloes and the best of spices. She is a fountain in the garden, sealed to all others, but not stinted towards the one she loves. To him she is as a well of living waters, like the full fed streams that flow from Lebanon. The maiden is supposed to hear the song of love. She replies in fearless words of welcome, bidding the north wind awake, and the south wind too, that the fragrance of which her lover has spoken so enthusiastically may flow out more richly than ever. For his sake she would be more sweet and loving. All she possesses is for him. Let him come and take possession of his own.
Verses eleven through Son 4:16 a are very well discussed in the above quotation.
Marriage Son 4:8-16 a
Surely this passage can be appreciated most by those who are married or who are engaged to be married. Adeney makes an interesting suggestion. He says:
What lover could turn aside from such a rapturous invitation? The shepherd takes his bride; he enters his garden, gathers his myrrh and spice, eats his honey and drinks his wine and milk, and calls on his friends to feast and drink with him. This seems to point to the marriage of the couple and their wedding feast; a view of the passage which interpreters who regard Solomon as the lover throughout for the most part take, but one which has this fatal objection, that it leaves the second half of the poem without a motive. On the hypothesis of the shepherd lover it is still more difficult to suppose the wedding to have occurred at the point we have now reached, for the distraction of the royal courtship still proceeds in subsequent passages of the poem. It would seem then, that we must regard this as quite an ideal scene. It may, however, be taken as a reminiscence of an earlier passage in the lives of the two lovers. It is not impossible that it refers to their wedding, and that they had been married before the action of the whole story began. In that case we should suppose that Solomon’s officers had carried off a young bride to the royal harem. The intensity of the love and the bitterness of the separation apparent throughout the poem would be the more intelligible if this were the situation. It is to be remembered that Shakespeare ascribes the climax of the love and grief of Romeo and Juliet to a time after their marriage. As interesting and instructive as is the above information we yet need application of the principles in the text to our marriages. We see two or three obvious lessons in the text; (1) The safety and comfort of our wife should be of very great concern to every husband. Surely this is how our Lord loved the church. It is not at all enough to issue verbal warnings as edicts from the head of the house. Please note that the text suggests the groom is to accompany the wife and lead by example and companionship. It would suggest, of course, that he knows where he is going. The lover is very much aware of the dangers and also of the nature of the one in danger. This kind of solicitious attention is most welcome when the bride is in love with her spouse. (2) Communicated admiration and respect is such an important part of marriage. We might carry a deep loveadmirationrespect for our wifebut if it is not communicated to her she will not know it. If she does not know itor is but vaguely aware of it, we are hurting her deeply. Self-image is so importantif she does not know and that real oftenthat we admire her greatly what difference will it make what others say about her? It could make a great deal of difference to us if we bottle-up our admiration and never verbalize it in appreciation. (3) Our wives are our gardens. These gardens or fountains are indeed closed to othersbut what we want to say is that we can and should find our enjoyment in this our gardenWe can and should find our refreshment from this our fountain. Gardens do respond to cultivation. Consider what a variety of good things can be continually grown here. Pomegranates and precious fruitall manner of spice and fragrance; but only if we find ourselves often in the garden. Only if we give the careful thought and effort to develop this lovely harvest.
Communion Son 4:8-16 a
The call of our Lord to His bride to leave the heights of this world is very realbut it comes from One who not only loves us but admires us. He sees in us all the beauty described and ascribed in verses nine through sixteen. It is the mercies of God that become the motive for presenting our bodies to the bridegroom. Of course, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind, but we must be moved to set our mind upon the things that are above by a knowledge that He believes we can and loves us in our attempts as much as in our accomplishments. We could delineate these verses one by one and point out each of the qualities our Lord sees in uspotential and actual; we will not develop these thoughts because of the lack of spacejust a list of what He sees in me: (1) One look upwardone move of my heart toward Him is immediately met with an eager interest (verse nine). (2) My companionship and communion in prayer with Him is a high joy to Himindeed He created me to walk and talk with Him (verse ten). (3) How pleasing are my words to Him when I praise Him or speak of Him (Son 4:11). (4) I am His alone and He is mineI want to be a garden in which He can walk with me in the cool of the day. I am a spring of living water not only because of Him but for Him (Son 4:12). (5) My prayers are a sweet smelling incense to Himsupplicationsintercessionsthanksgivingspetitionsare all the varying fragrances of my praying (Son 4:13-15). (6) He bids me to spread His praises to the ends of the earthmay the wind of heaven blow to all His lovely fragrance through me (Son 4:16 a).
FACT QUESTIONS 4:8-16a
What is meant by saying that these verses are not in chronological order?
This passage contains a response of the shepherd to the maiden’s request. What was that request?
How is the term Lebanon used? What does it mean?
What is meant by the reference to the three peaks mentioned in verse eight?
All figures used in verses nine through eleven refer to what?
Show how the language of the shepherd is different than that of the magnificent monarch.
Describe the details of the genuine emotion and fine wholesome passion expressed by the shepherd.
There is a startling contrast here. What is it?
How does the maid reply to this song of love?
How does the lover respond to the rapturous invitation?
This section offers an argument in favor of the shepherd hypothesis. What is it?
Please discuss the three areas of application of this text to present day marriage.
Discuss three-at-a-time the six areas of application of this text to our communion with our Lord.
TEXT 4:16bSon 5:1
Shulammite, Son 4:16 b
Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his precious fruits.
Shepherd, Son 5:1 a
I am come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk.
*Comment:
Remarks of wedding guests or shepherd’s companions, Son 5:1* b
Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:16bSon 5:1
It would seem the marriage is consummated and the story is overbut such is not truewhat has happened?
What is the force of addressing her as both his sister and his bride?
This seems to be past tensethere are no regretsnothing but very pleasant memories and present satisfaction. Why?
Is the shepherd recommending his action to all? What is the import of Son 5:1 b?
PARAPHRASE 4:16bSon 5:1
Shulammite:
Son 4:16 b. Let my beloved come into his garden, and partake of its pleasant fruits.
Shepherd:
Son 5:1
I will come into my garden, my sister-bride;
I will gather my myrrh with my spice; I will eat my honeycomb with my honey; I will drink my wine with my milk.
Wedding Guests:
Son 5:1 b Eat, O friends; Drink! Drink deeply of love’s endearments.
(This closes the first half of the Song, the second part beginning retrospectively.)
COMMENT 4:16b5:1
Exegesis Son 4:16 bSon 5:1
Previous comments have discussed these verses but a few more remarks are needed. Readers of our comments will perhaps be inclined to think that the identity of the speakers and the emphasis we have given their words is a very clear and easy matter. It is not. We have struggled with many conflicting interpretations. We only say of our efforts that we have tried to offer a consistent pattern of understanding throughout the text. The last two lines of chapter four we attribute to the Shulammite, she uses the same figure of speech and invites her lover to enjoy the luscious fruits that his own loving care had produced. This is also a rebuff to Solomon. She opens the door of her heart to her lover and in the same gesture closes it on the King.
The comments of Arthur G. Clarke are very good on verse Son 5:1. (Song of Songs, p. 71).
Chapter Son 5:1. Ignore the chapter division. Here is the shepherd’s immediate and eager response. The verbs are in the perfect tense and best understood in the modified sense known to grammarians as the perfect of confidence or certainty, anticipating in time the fulfillment of some purpose or cherished hope. Many examples are to be found in the Old Testament, notably in Psalms 2:6. This devise gives the future tense a more expressive form. Read, I will come. will gather. will eat. will drink. Dr. A Harper so understands the passage. Note the eight times my is repeated in this one verse. Honey was once of far greater importance than it is today since the introduction of sugar. with milkMilk is said to have been sometimes mingled with wine to cool its taste. Eat, O friends. These words clearly break in upon the narrative following the conversation of the two lovers and were introduced by the poet probably as a fitting close to the first half of the Song. The conversation was not necessarily overheard. Among many opinions offered by expositors the most satisfactory, we believe, is the third one suggested in the paragraph heading, namely, that they are the words of encouragement uttered by guests at the wedding celebrations. The lines could be paraphrased, You lovers! eat and drink (to the point of intoxication) of love’s caresses. For similar language. see Genesis 43:34, RSV rendering.
Marriage Son 4:16 bSon 5:1
It is true that women think more often about their relationship with men than men do with womenyour wife is more anxious for you to share the joys of married life with her than you are. However, she must be assured with all the preparation and commitment of yourself that such a union is a continuing one. Such assurance we are glad to give. We want no other relationship. When this is true these verses can and do describe our marriage union.
Communion Son 4:16 bSon 5:7
Are we as anxious for our Lord to have access to our innermost thoughts and motivations as was the maiden in her marriage? It would be easy to give an easy agreementbut it could mean no more than many superficial marriages mean to those involved. We all have a tremendous capacity for ignoring what we do not like and of avoiding the unpleasant. Since our Lord lives in the same house with us (our bodies) I wonder if He shares this same capacity?
FACT QUESTIONS 4:16b5:1
In one gesture the maiden accomplishes two things. What are they?
What does the verb tense have to do with our understanding of the thought of Son 5:1?
Does this text suggest that someone should get drunk? Discuss.
These verses can or should refer to our marriagebut conditions must be metwhat are they?
Discuss the meaning of these verses to our fellowship with our heavenly groom.
Song of Solomon 5:2-7
TEXT 5:28:4
FOURTH SCENEThe King’s Palace Son 5:2 to Son 8:4
Retrospect
Shulammite:
Narration to Court Ladies of another dream, Son 5:2-7
TEXT 5:2-7
I was asleep, but my heart waked:
It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.
I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on?
I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door,
And my heart was moved for him.
I rose up to open to my beloved;
And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt.
I opened to my beloved;
But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. My soul had failed me when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
The watchmen that go about the city found me,
They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 5:2-7
What is meant by saying that she was asleep but her heart was awake?
How could his voice knock? (it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh)
Define each of the four names given in verse two?
What is suggested by his reference to the excessive dew?
The maid seems more interested in her feet than she is her beloved. How shall we understand this expression in verse three?
If he unlocked the door why didn-’t he come in? Cf. verse four.
As she arose did she use perfume? Or what is meant by the reference to myrrh in verse five?
Why do you think her beloved left?
Where did she look as she searched for him? Cf. verse six.
She evidently ran out of the house. Why did the watchman hit her?
Are the keepers of the walls the same persons as the watchmen? Why take her mantle or veil?
PARAPHRASE 5:2-7
Shulammite to Court Ladies:
I was sleeping, and in dreaming (heard)
The sound of my beloved knocking (and saying), Open to me, my sister, my companion, my dove, my undefiled!
For my head is drenched with dew, And my locks with moisture of the night.
(I thought) I have already taken off my gown,
How can I put it on again? I have already bathed my feet, How can I soil them?
My beloved put his hand through the grille,
And my heart yearned for him.
I rose up to open to my beloved,
My hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with choice myrrh Upon the handles of the lock,
I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had withdrawn himself and passed on. When he had spoken my wits seemed to leave me. I sought him but I found him not; I called after him but there was no answer.
The city watchmen found me;
They struck me; they wounded me. Sentinels of the walls snatched away my veil.
COMMENT 5:2-7
Exegesis Son 5:2-7
We are back in the palace of the kingeither at Jerusalem or his residence in the north nearer to Shunem. It is morning in the chambers of Solomonthe maid from Shunem is recounting to the ladies of the court a vivid dream of the night. It is all so real she almost becomes again a participator as she tells it. I was asleep but I was constantly aware of my beloved from whom I am separated. All at once he was at the gate! I heard his voicehe knockedHe called to me: Open blood of my blood, love of my heart, my alert soft one, my purest one. I have been long in coming to you over many mountains. I have comeall through the night I have hastened to your sidemy head is wet with dew. Let me in. I turned on my bedI hardly knew what was happening. So very foolishly I thought only of myselfI cannot go to himI have undressed and bathed for bedI cannot go out in the courtyard to the gate I will soil my feet. I looked toward the doorhe had already entered the courtyard and was even now at the door of our house. His hand appeared through the hole near the door and attempted to unlock the door. When I saw his dear hand my heart almost stopped. I hardly knew what I was doingI jumped out of bed and threw a mantle over myselfI thought I must meet him with perfumeI dipped my hands in myrrhI hurried to the door, I could not move the lock or hold the handles of the door so full were my fingers with myrrh. When I did at least get the doors open, my beloved was gone! I was beside myselfPerhaps he came in another wayI looked in every room of these courtshe was nowhere to be found. I could yet hear his voice and his dear words of loveI called him, I called him againthere was no answer. I must find him. I will find him. I ran out the open dooracross the courtyard and out into the streets of the city. I had no sooner entered the streets than the watchmen were all around me. One of them struck me. It was a heavy blowI can yet feel the pain. One of the sentinels jerked my veil from me. I do not blame them, I must have appeared as a wanton woman wandering the streets at that hour. Was it only a dreamit was so realwas he really here?
We have chosen this form of narrative to give a degree of the reality that must have been present when it was first told. In our narrative we have tried to include the meaning of the text.
Marriage Son 5:2-7
These verses would make a fine section for an evaluation of the actions of the bride and groomhow did they respond to this circumstance? What does it reveal of their character? In this evaluation we can see ourselves. First we shall consider the groom:
He has come a long way at great dangerHe openly gives expression of his heart. He is willing to consider the maid as his sisteri.e., he will treat her in the responsible manner of a brother. At the same time the term sister suggests the strongest blood relationships. He believes the very best of his brideshe is dove-like and pure.A virgin. Even when she does not answer his call or knock, he will yet try to enter. When he is unsuccessful he leaves. We do not know why he left. We could conjecture but it would be futile. the bride:
Her consciousness and sub consciousness was always upon her love. Even when asleep she was yet with him. This being true, she yet responds subconsciously in a selfish manner. Perhaps we could excuse her on grounds of confusion or frustration. One often acts irrationally upon being suddenly awakened. But why should she care about her appearance?or her feet?isn-’t his presence more important than her comfort? Why the excessive myrrh? We do appreciate her concernbut why so concerned? for her lover or for herself? Perhaps we are too critical of the bride. If we are, please correct our evaluation in a discussion on this subject.
Communion Son 5:2-7
We now take the maiden’s place as we attempt to relate these verses to our Lord and His bride. Oh, that we were as constantly concerned about the presence of our Lord as was the maid in the text. Even when we sleep He is not out of our sub consciousness. How often do we dream of our Lord? We have heard so often Revelation 3:20 misapplied. In the context this verse relates to lukewarm Christians, it reads: To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:14; Revelation 3:19-20). He loves us and believes in uswe are His blood-relative. We are His brother, His sisterwe do have the Holy Doveby His blood and grace we are virginsHe has, at great danger and from a great distance, come to us. How do we react to His knock?to His voice? We are about as mixed up as the maid. His call is never convenientwe are forever half asleep or busy with something or someone else. If He had just timed His coming on another dayor night or when I was better preparedon and on we goI would get my feet dirty if I answered His knockwe are sure you would! He got His feet dirty coming to call on you and me. But He is insistentif we will not answer He will attempt to unlock the doorsee His nail-pierced hand near the latch of your heart? We will get hurt looking for Himthe watchmen of the world will misunderstand our intentions and will tear aside all attempts of concealmentwe will become totally vulnerable! They will wound us deeply! But unlike the dream of the maidwe will find Himin the dark streets or deep needs of our world we shall find Him.
FACT QUESTIONS 5:2-7
What are the circumstances of these verses:
We have used synonymous expressions in describing the maid. Reword them again.
She made a foolish mistake. Why?
There was a time when she was especially moved. When was it?
Why couldn-’t she get the door open?
Where did she make her search?
Why rush out into the streets? Why was she wounded?
Discuss our evaluation of the groom. Have we left something out?
Do we represent the bride accurately? Discuss.
Do you believe there is any practical value in our comments on communion? If so, discuss its meaning in our present day life.
Song of Solomon 5:8-16
TEXT 5:8-16
Adjuration to Court Ladies, Son 5:8 (third)
Court Ladies, Challenge, Son 5:9 (ironical)
Shulammite, Description of her beloved, Son 5:10-16
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If ye find my beloved, That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.
What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?
My beloved is white and ruddy,
The chiefest among ten thousand.
His head is as the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His eyes are like doves beside the waterbrooks,
Washed with milk, and fitly set.
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as banks of sweet herbs;
His lips are as lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
His hands are as rings of gold set with beryl:
His body is an ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold:
His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 5:8-16
The maiden seems to confuse her dream with reality. Has the shepherd ever truly been lost?
She was lovesick from two causesread Son 2:5 and compare with Son 5:8what were these causes?
The court ladies have not changed their attitude since Son 1:8. What was it?
What is meant by the expression white and ruddy?
The chief among ten thousand would stand out in some conspicuous manner. What was it with the shepherd?
What quality is suggested in describing his head as most fine gold?
What is the meaning of the compliment as related to having bushy hair?
His hair was black as compared to what other color?
There is a beautiful figure of speech in verse twelve. Read it carefully and express it in your own words.
Her beloved must have had a beardread verse thirteenhis lips were red anemoneswhat is represented by the myrrh?
She describes his hands. What is the figure?
His body is as a work in ivorybut morewhat is added?
What is suggested by saying his legs are as pillars?
His bearing is described in Son 5:15 b. What was it?
Is the sweetness of his mouth a reference to his kisseshis voice or his speech?
She concludes by calling him more than her belovedhe is also my friend. What does this suggest?
PARAPHRASE 5:8-16
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem!
That if ye should find my beloved. What shall ye tell him? (Tell him) that I am lovesick.
Court Ladies:
What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?
Shulammite:
My beloved is clear-skinned and ruddy,
Outstanding as a standard-bearer in an army of ten thousand.
His head is as the purest gold;
His locks are wavy and raven-black;
His eyes are like doves by the water brooks,
Bathed in milk and fitly set like gems;
His (bearded) cheeks are like a raised bed of balsams,
As clustered aromatic plants; His lips are red as anemones, And his words like flowing myrrh;
His fingers are cylinders of gold set with topaz;
His body like polished marble veined with lapis lazuli;
His legs are like alabaster pillars
Set upon bases of refined gold; His bearing is as Lebanon, majestic as its cedars,
His voice is melodious;
Indeed, all of him is surpassingly lovely, This is my beloved, yes, this is my companion, O daughters of Jerusalem!
COMMENT 5:8-16
Son 5:8. All this (Son 5:1-7) Shulamith dreamed; but the painful feeling of repentance, of separation and misapprehension which the dream left behind, entered as deeply into her soul as if it had been an actual external experience. Therefore her words to the daughters of Jerusalem are not out of place. (Delitzsch)
In contrast with the watchmenat least the daughters of Jerusalem will understand her need. They have had similar experiences. She carries a deep love-sorrow without him all of life is out of focus. I am love-sick.
Son 5:9. Do these women ask because they want to know or only because they wish to needle their rival? We believe it is the latter reason.
Son 5:10. If Solomon is the author of this song (and we believe he is) the words that follow would be the most exaggerated of self-praise if they referred to himselfhowever, put in the mouth of the Shulammite concerning her shepherd lover, they become far more believable. She calls into use the kingdom of nature and art in her praise of this one who is altogether lovely. Whatever is precious, lovely, and grand, is all combined in the living beauty of his person. (Ibid) The rosy whiteness of his skin suggests perfect health. The term chiefest among ten thousand refers to the one who carries the banner in war. She is saying to the ladies of the court or harem you could easily pick him out. It would be as easy as seeing the banner-bearer among ten thousand.
Son 5:11. To say that his head is precious fine gold is to immediately associate it with beauty-value and honorperhaps the imposing nobility of bearing is the point in comparison. The locks of his hair appear as a terraced hillsideor a series of hills seen at a distance, hill upon hill. Seen from his neck upwards, his hair forms in undulating lines, hill upon hill. In color, these locks of hair are black as a raven. the raven-blackness of the hair contrasts with the whiteness and redness of the countenance, which shines forth as from a black ground, from a black border. (Delitzsch)
Son 5:12. The eyes in their glancing moistness, and in the movement of their pupils, are like doves which sip at the water-brooks, and move to and fro beside them. That the eyes are like a precious stone in its casket, does not merely signify that they fill the sockets. but that they are not sunk like the eyes of one who is sick. they appear full and large as they pass forward from wide and open eyelids. (ibid)
Son 5:13. His cheeks are like a soft, raised flower bed, the impression received upon seeing them is like the fragrance which flows from such a flower bed, planted as it is with sweet-scented flowers. This latter allusion is probably to the practice of perfuming the beard. (Cf. Psalms 133:2) His lips are as blood-red as the scarlet anemone. His speech is as fragrant and sweet as the smell of myrrh.
Son 5:14. His handsgolden cylinders, filled with stones of Tarshish. The fingers, full, round, fleshy in mould are compared to rods or bars of gold formed like rollers garnished with stones from Tarshish, to which the nails are likened. The transparent horn-plates of the nails, with the white segment of a circle at their roots, are certainly, when they are beautiful, an ornament to the hand, and without any need of being stained are worthy to be compared to the gold-yellow of topaz. His body is an ivory work of art, covered with sapphires. The term covered over perhaps should be with sapphires. The well formed body over which are the branching blue veins under the white skin.
Son 5:15. His legs are white marble columns, set on bases of fine gold. Strength and stability as well as beauty are here symbolized. His whole bearing is noble, the impression one gets upon looking at him is the same as when we stand at the base of a giant cedar tree and looks up.
Son 5:16. His mouth (or speech) is most sweet, this is a reference to the manner by which he addresses otherswith true sweetness. (Cf. Proverbs 16:21)
To sum up her evaluation she can say he is altogether lovely. The women of the court wanted to know(or did they?) As she stands back before this full length portrait she can tell themThis (emphatically) is my beloved, and this is my friend.! She evidently had spent enough time with him in various circumstances so she could say she was describing not only his physical appearance, but his personality and character.
Marriage Son 5:8-16
What a paragon of manhood! What hope is there for us poor, ordinary mortal husbands? Before we turn the page and look for more practical materialpause! Look again. The various parts of the body of the husband all relate to a quality of character we each can find in our lives as they relate to our wivesConsider: (1) A pure mind(refined gold)What a valuable, honorable, beautiful quality this is. A slavery to King Jesus by which He brings every thought into captivity is the answer here. Surely there is no greater gift we could offer our wives. (2) A single eyei.e., a healthy eyeThe eye is the window of the soul. A single resolute purpose in life is so important to marriage. If our Lord cannot supply such a purpose we shall never have it. (3) A pleasant faceit is possible to cultivate a happy cheerful expression on our face. An optimistic attitude in our general demeanor which is reflected on the face will be a very large help. Who can offer reason for such an expression? The fruit of His presence is joy. (4) Words of fragrant sweetness can be said. Many a bride wishes she were married to Barnabusi.e., the son of encouragement. One of the gifts of His presence is encouragement or exhortation. (5) Beautiful handsstrong and helpful. There are so many little areas of need where we can help. Show me your love apart from your works and I by my works will show thee my love. (6) A body like a work of artA work of art is only produced by the most careful cooperation and practice of the skills of an artist. Our whole person should be fashioned by the Master artist until we become like Him. Until we become in truth His own body, indwelt by His Spirit. (7) *Strong legs by which and on which we stand.*Our foundation is solid gold. Having done all to standto do that requires strong legs. He who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation can cause us to stand today. We stand in a beautiful, valuable place every time we let Him direct our posture.
So we can see with Him and through Him and because of Him we are altogether lovely. What wife wouldn-’t be delighted to share life with such a man?
Communion Son 5:8-16
It is not at all difficult to see the application of this text to our heavenly husbandindeed, and in truth He is altogether lovely! We should like to attempt a paraphrase of the text as we relate it to our Lord: My beloved is pure and strong. The leader among all men. He carries the banner of His own conquest. He is the head of His body, the churchsuch a head is of value beyond estimate. He is eternally youthful and strong. His beauty is such a contrast to the environment in which He lives. What a refreshment it is to look into His eyes! His eyes are full of love and alive with interest in my life in all of it, all the time. He looks at me tenderlysoftly, -like doves beside the water brooks-‘peaceful, restful, yet full of life. He always is able to see what no one else could. Everything moves into its proper place when I look long enough into His eyes. All the love and care of my Father is seen in the face of my Lord. To know that even now I have the fragrant words that came from His lips is startling! What beautiful strong hands does my Lord have. Today His hands are my hands. His help is my help in our world. The body of my Lord is indeed a work of artnot of men but of God. I stand in the strength of His might. His total bearing is one of the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. This is my beloved and my nearest, dearest Friend. How inadequately we have represented HimHe is moremuch more than we were able to say.
FACT QUESTIONS 5:8-16
There is a carryover of the dream of Son 5:1-7 into verse eight. What is it?
The daughters of Jerusalem are contrasted to the watchmen. How?
Why do the women of Solomon’s harem ask about the shepherd?
It really does not seem sensible to think of these verses applying to Solomon as the groom. Why?
What is meant by saying my beloved is white and ruddy?
Explain the phrase the chiefest among ten thousand?
Why say of his head: his head is as the most fine gold?
Describe the hair of her beloved.
His eyes are surely one of his most attractive features. Explain.
Show how his cheeks were like a flower bed.
What symbolism is used to describe his hands?
What is taught by saying His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of gold?
What does the bride say as she stands back to view the full length portrait she has just painted?
Group the seven qualities of the husband here described and discuss three in one session and four in another as they relate to your husband-wife relationship.
Please read over again our paraphrase in the description of our Lordnow make your own paraphrase by following the text and your own heart.