About the Beautiful Young Woman
The Young Man
v1 My dear, you are so beautiful!
Oh, you are beautiful!
Your eyes are behind your veil.
They are like doves.
Your hair is like a group of goats.
They are coming down from the mountain called Gilead.
v2 Your teeth are white like sheep whose wool is clean and neat.
Each sheep has its twin.
None of the young sheep is alone.
v3 Your lips are like a red ribbon.
They are so lovely when you speak.
Your cheeks are red behind your veil.
They are like a pomegranate.
v4 Your neck is like a strong building.
This building stands above the castle that David built.
Your neck is round and smooth.
A thousand shields hang on it.
All these shields belong to soldiers.
v5 Your breasts are like two young gazelles.
A gazelle can have twins.
These twins eat among the flowers.
Your breasts are like these twins.
v6 I will go to the mountain of myrrh.
I will go to the hill of incense.
I will go there until the day begins.
I will go there until the shadows disappear.
v7 You are beautiful, my dear!
How perfect you are!
v8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.
Come with me from Lebanon.
Come down from the top of Amana,
from the top of Senir, the top of Hermon.
Come from the lions’ cave.
And from where leopards live in the mountains.
v9 I want to love you with all of my heart, my sister.
I want to love you, my bride.
You gave me one look with your eyes,
You showed me one stone of your jewels.
v10 Your love is a delight, my sister, my bride!
Your love is so much better than wine!
Your perfume smells better than any spice.
v11 Your lips are sweet.
They are like honey, my bride.
Honey and milk are under your tongue.
Your clothes have the smell of Lebanon.
v12 My sister, my bride, you are like a garden.
This is a garden that someone has locked.
You are like a place where there is fresh water.
It is a private place.
You are like a fountain that someone has closed.
v13 These plants grow in your garden:
· pomegranates with the best fruit
· bushes and flowers that have a beautiful smell
· v14 perfume bushes and other flowers
· many spices
· trees with incense
· myrrh and the best spices.
v15 You are like a fountain in a garden.
You are like a well of fresh water.
This water comes down quickly from the Lebanon mountains.
The Young Woman
v16 Wake up, north wind!
Come, south wind!
Blow on my garden.
Then its smell can spread everywhere.
Let my lover come into his garden.
Then he can taste its pleasant fruit.
Commentary
Verses 1-3
The couple often use descriptions that seem strange to us today. But they are describing things that they considered beautiful.
For example, wild goats on a mountain may not seem beautiful to us. But people who have seen the goats may think differently.
We also need to realize that this is not the record of a conversation. The Song of Songs is a poem. So the poet could write words that the couple would be too modest to say. The poet was not merely trying to record their words. He was also trying to show their attitudes.
Verses 1 and 3 mention a veil. Young women used to cover their faces when a young man was present. Perhaps they wanted to show that they were modest. Or perhaps they did not want the man to stare at them. After the wedding, they might remove the veil. In Genesis 29:18-25, Jacob could not recognize Leah because of her veil. In some countries, women still wear veils today. Solomon cannot see her entire face because of the veil. But he still thinks that she is very beautiful.
Verse 4
Solomon seems to be describing her collar. The materials seemed to shine. Or perhaps she had precious stones on a chain round her neck.
This sight reminded Solomon about part of David’s castle. When the soldiers did not need their shields, they would hang them on the wall. Everybody who saw the shields would be glad. They would know that the country was at peace.
Verse 5
In other words, she is still very young. Compare 8:10. In chapter 8, she will be a mature woman. And she will be a good mother.
Verse 6
Solomon reminds the woman about her words in 2:17. Then, she told him to go away to the mountains. But now she wants him. So he jokes that he will go to the mountains. But he is not going away from her. Instead, he chooses the wonderful places where there are lovely smells. These smells will remind him about their love.
Verse 7
In chapter 4, Solomon chooses nice words when he speaks to the woman. These words remind her that they are engaged. (Or perhaps, they are married.) He calls her:
· My dear (verse 7). This means, ‘the woman whom I love’.
· My sister (verse 10). Of course, she was not really his sister. But he could speak to her as easily as he could speak to a family member. And he could relax when he was with her.
· My bride (verse 10). This could mean that the couple was already married. Or perhaps Solomon was excited to think that they would soon be married. So he was already calling her ‘my bride’.
Verse 8
We do not really think that the woman lived in these places. These are wonderful places. But they are also dangerous places.
We think that Solomon was saying, ‘You are so beautiful. I am surprised that someone so beautiful has come from my own country. I would imagine that you have come from elsewhere. I would like to imagine that you are from Lebanon. There the mountains are high. And the plants have wonderful smells. But there are also many dangers in those mountains. So let me rescue you! You will be safe with me.’
Verses 9-11
Their love seems very special:
· She glanced at him. So he loves her.
· He saw the chain round her neck. And he wanted her to be his bride.
· He prefers her love rather than the best wine.
· He prefers her perfume rather than any other smell.
· Her words seem so sweet (pleasant). He jokes that they are sweeter than honey.
· In the mountains of Lebanon, many plants have beautiful smells. See verses 6 and 8. She seems to come from such a place. When he is with her, he seems to be able to smell the air from the mountains.
We might think that we are not important to God. Or, that God does not really care about us. But the Bible teaches that such ideas are wrong. God really does love us. He loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16). God loves us, and he wants us to love him too (Mark 12:30).
Verses 12-15
In fact, the woman did not come from Lebanon. So Solomon uses another description. Solomon had great knowledge about plants (1 Kings 4:33). He knew about plants with beautiful smells from many countries.
Solomon imagines that the woman has collected these plants. He imagines that she has a wonderful garden. But the garden is a secret garden. Its gate has a lock. Nobody can enter the garden to smell its plants.
Such a garden would need a good supply of water. Israel is often a dry country. And these plants would need plenty of water. So Solomon imagines a fountain in the garden. If the woman is not from Lebanon, then perhaps her water comes from Lebanon!
Of course, this garden does not really exist. Solomon is using his imagination. Really, Solomon is saying, ‘You are very special. I love to be in gardens. I love to smell the beautiful plants. I love to see plants from distant countries. But I feel happier with you than I have felt in any garden. Unusual plants interest me. But you interest me more. Beautiful smells make me happy. But when I smell your *perfume, I am even happier. I am happier, because you are near to me.’
Solomon’s words about the water mean, ‘A garden can become dry. Then its plants will die. And everyone will leave the garden in despair. But I shall never leave you. I always feel delight when I meet you. You always surprise me. I am always excited because of your love.’ Jesus used a similar description in John 7:37-39.
Verse 16
Solomon’s words are wonderful. But the young woman’s reply is also wonderful. She is pleased with Solomon’s words. She wants him to share her life. So she pretends to invite Solomon into her garden. And she tells him to enjoy the fruit.
But the young woman is not selfish. She wants everyone to be happy because of their love. She did not think that a beautiful garden should be secret. She wants everyone to smell the beautiful smells.
Solomon is pleased because of her reply. Her attitudes are the same as his. He is the king. And he believes that he should work hard. Then all the people will benefit. And she is starting to have the same ideas.
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