This book was written by King Solomon in the middle of the 10th century and is the only remaining song that remains out of the 1005 songs he has written (1 Kings 4.32-33). The theme of the book is the love and marriage of Solomon and a maiden called the “Shulamite” (related to “shalom” “peaceful” and “complete”-this word is also related to “Shlomo” which is the name of Solomon, so she is being called by her husband’s name). It is a parable and an allegory about the love of Yehovah for Israel and Messiah for the eschatological congregation (kahal) of Israel in the sowd (hidden, secret) level. In the peshat (literal) level it is about two lovers. It mingles the peshat and sowd levels and should be studied on at least these two levels. We will predominantly look at these verses as Yehovah/Messiah and his relationship with his bride/kahal.
This book never mentions Israel specifically, its history, or the Torah covenant but we believe there are allusions to it and we will point these out as we move along. It does not talk about the fate of mankind or other topics that Solomon dealt with in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew name of this book is “Shir ha Shirim” or Song of Songs. This phrase alone is very Hebraic in nature, and the poetical style is also used in such phrases as “King of Kings” or “Lord of Lords” or “Holy of Holies.” It carries the idea of “most superior.”
This book is not quoted in the Gospels or Epistles, or is it alluded to by Yeshua or the Shaliachim (apostles). We will go verse by verse as we work through this book because every verse is rich in Hebrew idioms, phrases, and concepts that will be seen in other books. We will not concentrate on the literal, physical aspects of this song, but will we will point out and discuss the rich eschatological concepts found along the way.
The book is read during Passover in modern Judaism because it is connected to springtime, and it symbolizes God’s love for Israel as we have said. The characters in the book are fairly simple to understand. Solomon is a picture of God and the Messiah and the Shulamite is Israel, the bride, and kahal. The daughters of Jerusalem are pagan nations and the maidens are non-Jewish believers.
There are many commentaries on this book so we are going to keep this as simple as we can so that we can glean the truth out of its verses. A good Jewish interpretation can be found in the book called “Shir ha Shirim” by Mesorah Publications, and it can be used alongside any non-Jewish commentary you may wish to use. Studylight.org has hundreds of non-Jewish commentaries you can look at.
This book belongs to the third section of the Tanak called the “Ketuvim” or “writings.” The word “Tanak” is an acronym for Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim which makes up the Jewish Bible erroneously called the “old testament” by non-Jews. This book is also part of what is called the “Megillot” which are five scrolls including Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. For brevity, we will use the term “Song” to designate scriptural references.
Song 1.1-17 is an introduction to the characters, with the Shulamite speaking about her desire for a kiss from her beloved. Both Solomon and the Shulamite are called “beloved” in this book.
v 1…The Song of songs (Shir ha Shirim) which is Solomon’s (to whom peace belongs and written by him).
v 2…May he kiss me (she has a great longing for her husband) with the kisses of his mouth (symbolizing the communicated word of God in the sowd level), for your love is better than wine (friendship and the awe of God is more pleasant).
v 3…Your oils (reputation) have a pleasing fragrance, your name (fame) is like purified (flowing) oil (his character is seen by his Torah observance); therefore the maidens (alluding to the non-Jewish believer for imagery-Song 1.8, 5.9; Psa 45.14) love you (not only does the bride see his character, but others do too. Something isn’t right when the bride sees how amazing her man is, but others don’t).
v 4…Draw me (by chessed or kindness) after you (John 6.44 says “draw” which is “helkuo” in Greek meaning “to drag”-Acts 16.19, 21.30; John 12.32- a good influence); and let us run together (Israel followed Moses into the wilderness to receive the Torah and the Mishkan), the king (Yehovah/Messiah) has brought me into his chambers (betrothal devotion as in Jer 2.2, and this alludes to the future redemption as in John 14.1-3. The Temple had chambers and the Torah is shown to those intimate with Yehovah). We (the daughters of Jerusalem) will rejoice in you and be glad (because we know you-Hos 4.6; 1 John 2.1-4; Matt 7.21-23 tells us what happens when one doesn’t). We will extoll (commemorate, remember) your love more than (over) wine. Rightly (with straightforward intellect, sincere) do they love you.
Song 1.5-6 has Israel, the bride, discussing her shortcomings to the nations.
v 5…I am black (with sin in my own sight-Isa 6.5) but lovely (before God in his sight), O daughters of Jerusalem (the non-Jewish believers), like the tents of Kedar (black tents-Psa 120.5), like the curtains of Solomon (but beautiful to behold-Isa 1.18. A parallelism can be seen in “black but lovely” and “black tents, lovely curtains”).
v 6…Do not stare at me (with contempt) because I am dark (black with sin-Isa 6.4), for the sun has burned me (“gazed upon”-her blackness is not genetic but brought about by the sun and it is removable and reversible). My mother’s sons (false prophets and brethren who caused her to sin) were angry with me (in the literal level, her family caused her to work outside in the sun); they made me caretaker of the vineyards (used her like a slave, which is what idolatry and sin does), I have not taken care of my own vineyard (no time to do her own duty to God in the Torah).
Song 1.7 has Israel (bride) talking to Yehovah/Messiah.
v 7…Tell me, O you whom my soul loves (Yehovah/Messiah), where do you pasture your flock (Israel was among the wolves), where do you make it lie down at noon (a distressful time in the heat of the day for sheep)? For why should I be like one who veils herself (in mourning) beside the flocks (the nations who prosper) of your companions (kings, rulers in government, fellow shepherds)?
Song 1.8-11 has Yehovah/Messiah responding to Israel (bride).
v 8…If you yourself do not know (where to graze), most beautiful among women (or the maidens, the nations-Israel is considered the most beautiful of all-Dan 11.37). Go forth on the trail of the flock (follow the tracks and the footsteps of those who followed the Torah, like Moses and the prophets), and pasture (feed) your young goats (immature spiritually) by the tents (mishkan) of the shepherds (righteous priests, teachers, and kings).
v 9…To me (Yehovah/Messiah), my darling, you are like my mare (the choicest one-Isa 5.1-2) among the chariots of Pharaoh (like one of the finest horses Egypt could breed).
v 10…Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments (like pearls), your neck with strings of beads (chains, necklaces).
v 11…We (Yehovah in a plurality-Gen 1.26; Job 35.10; Psa 149.2; Prov 9.10; Isa 30.20; John 1.1-3; Col 1.16) will make you ornaments of gold with beads of silver (redemption comes from Yehovah).
Song 1.12-14 has Israel responding to Yehovah.
v 12…While the king (Yehovah/Messiah) was at his table (at Sinai) my perfume (her works) gave forth its fragrance (the evil odor of corruption at the Golden Calf incident-Isa 64.1-7).
v 13…My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh (forgiveness, expiation, used in the korbanot), which lies all night between my breasts (his presence; the Shekinah dwelt between the two cheruvim on the Ark).
v 14…My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms (yields four to five times a year, meaning forgiveness is multiplied to her) in the vineyards of En-gedi (it was far away but you could perceive the scent from far away; he was the oasis of life for her).
Song 1.15 is Yehovah to Israel.
v 15…How beautiful you are, my darling, (even after all your sins-Num 23.21), how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves (loyal because doves look back to their nests and Israel looks back to Yehovah and the Messiah).
Song 1.16-17 has Israel (the kahal) responding back to Yehovah about his kind words.
v 16…How handsome you are, my beloved (it is his beauty, not ours, that is pleasant-he has pardoned her sins and dwells among her, and us), and so pleasant! Indeed, our couch (resting place and alludes to the Mishkan/Temple) is luxuriant (green, full of life).
v 17…The beams of our houses are cedars, our rafters are of cedars (this extolls the greatness of the Temple and how fragrant and strong it is; she could rest there in Yehovah’s shekinah or presence).
Leave a Reply