Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Song of Songs-Chapter 2

Song 2.1 tells us how the Shulamite (Israel/kahal) describes herself.

v 1…I am the rose of Sharon (an excellent place for cattle and flocks), the lily (“shoshanah” is a red, thorny flower shaped like a trumpet, simple and plain-Psa 45) of the valleys (moist area, well-watered).

Song 2.2 has Yehovah’s response to the Shulamite.

v 2…Like a lily (shoshanah) among the thorns (her beauty surpasses the weeds/tares around her), so is my darling among the maidens (nations).

Song 2.3-6 has the Shulamite (Israel/kahal) responding.

v 3…Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest (fruitless trees); so is my beloved (Yehovah/Messiah) among the young men (pagan gods and nations). In his shade (“shadow” as at Sinai-Psa 91.1; Hos 14.7) I took great delight and sat down (like the twelve months at Sinai), and his fruit (the Torah-Prov 8.19; Song 7.13; Psa 119.103) was sweet to my taste.

v 4…He has brought me to his banquet hall (literally “house of wine” meaning the time at Sinai when the Torah was given and the Mishkan. The word for wine is “yayin” and it has the numerical value of 70, and at Sinai there were 70 nations represented and the Torah was given in 70 “voices” or tongues-“Authorized Daily Prayer Book” by Rabbi Joseph Hertz, p 791. Wine is symbolic of the Torah and covenant-Luke 22.20), and his banner (under which the tribes were gathered-Num 2.2) over me is love (an act of love, openly expressed at Sinai).

v 5…Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples (these were brought to the sick and they spiritually symbolize the Torah); because I am lovesick (in separation).

v 6…Let his left hand (supported by justice) be under my head and his right hand (supported by mercy) embrace me (even in chastisement Yehovah will support her head to prevent destruction. When she repents, the right hand completes the embrace. Later Yehovah withdrew his right hand in Lam 2.3-4 because they were unworthy).

Song 2.7-9 tells us that the Shulamite turns to the daughters of Jerusalem (nations).

v 7…I adjure you (charge), O daughters of Jerusalem (heathen nations-1.5) by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field (creatures pleasant to one another), that you will not arouse (provoke hatred) or awaken (disturb love) until it (the appointed time) pleases (with the pre-ordained time for the Second Redemption).

v 8…Listen (literally “the sound!”) My beloved (his voice)! Behold, he is coming (to redeem me), climbing on the mountains, leaping on the hills (coming with intense desire and vigor).

v 9…My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag (swift, nimble and quick to redeem), behold, he is standing behind our wall (close by, he never failed her though she thought she was alone, supervising her welfare), he is looking (observing) through the windows (of heaven-Psa 14.2; Gen 7.11; Isa 60.8, 33.13), he is peering through the lattice (to see where she is).

Song 2.10-17 tells us how she remembers the past (the deliverance from Egypt spiritually).

v 10…My beloved (Yehovah/Messiah) responded (lifted his voice) and said to me, “Arise my love, my beautiful one (Israel/kahal), and come along (for your own good).

v 11…For behold, the winter is past (of bondage, travel is no longer a problem), the rain is over and gone (the deluge of suffering and slavery is over).

v 12…The flowers have appeared in the land (Moses and Aaron), the time has arrived for singing (Psa 126) and the voice of the turtledoves has been heard in the land (Moses and the other guides “cooing” that the time for the redemption and deliverance has come)

v 13…The fig tree (Israel and the tree of the righteous-Job 14.7-9) has ripened its figs (ready to bear fruit in the harvest to bring to Yehovah-Isa 18.5; Hos 9.10; Matt 24.32), and the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance (ready to harvest grapes for wine libations). Arise, my love, my beautiful one (there is an extra “yod” in “my love” here and that is the number “10” in Hebrew alluding to judgment) and come along (for your own benefit).

v 14…O my love, in the cleft of the steep pathway (steps, alluding to the ladder in Gen 28 and John 1, meaning the Messiah) let me see your form (face); let me hear your voice (in prayer) for your voice is sweet, and your form (face) is comely (lovely).

v 15…Catch (seize) the foxes (things that ruin a relationship) for us (Israel/kahal), the little foxes (stop them at the beginning) that are ruining the vineyards (Israel/kahal-Isa 5; Jer 12.10) while our vineyards are in blossom (easily spoiled).

v 16…My beloved (Yehovah/Messiah) is mine and I am his; he pastures (feeds) among the lilies (Israel/kahal).

v 17…Until the cool of the day (evening) when the shadows flee away (and your work is completed). Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle (hurry) or a young stag (full of vigor) on the mountain of Bether (meaning “cutting” and alludes to the covenant between the pieces in Gen 15.1-18, and carried on in the Temple).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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