Song 8.1-2 continues Israel’s response to Yehovah/Messiah/groom.
v 1…Oh that you were like a brother to me (intimate and familiar with me) who nursed at my mother’s breast (came from the same womb and ancestral connection), when I find you outdoors, I would kiss you (openly express my affection); no one would despise me either (without fearing a scandal because such affections were done among persons related).
v 2…I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother (the Temple to show there was nothing secretive about their love) who used to instruct me (the priests and Levites-Ezek 44.23); I would give you spiced wine to drink (rejoicing) from the juice of my pomegranates (my proper obedience to the Torah precepts, true worship).
Song 8.3-4 is addressed to the nations.
v3…His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me (know that even though I complain, Yehovah/Messiah/groom holds me and supports me even in affliction).”
v 4…I want you to swear (adjure), O daughters of Jerusalem (non-Jewish nations), do not arouse (provoke) or awaken (disturb) love until it pleases (when the appointed time for the redemption arrives).
Song 8.5 has the daughters of Jerusalem (the nations) responding.
v 5…Who is this coming up from the wilderness (Isa 63.1-6; Hab 3.3-15) clinging to her beloved (Messiah-alludes to Sinai and after the birth-pains when Yeshua comes from the wilderness with the believers to Jerusalem to stand on the Mount of Olives on Yom Kippur), beneath the apple tree (under his shadow) I awakened you (at Sinai and when Yeshua returns-Deut 33.1-5); there your mother (the Shekinah through Israel) was in labor (Chevlai Shell Mashiach or “Birth-pains of the Messiah” when people are born into the Messiah-Matt 24.8; Rev 12.2; Isa 66.7-9), there she was in labor (in the birth-pains) and gave you birth (into the Messiah).
Song 8.6 is Israel/kahal/bride to Yehovah/Messiah/groom.
v 6…Put me like a seal over your heart (do not forget me), like a seal on your arm (always love me). For love is as strong as death (inflexible is her love), jealousy is as severe as Sheol (or “the grave/death” and refers to her jealous love for Yehovah/Messiah/groom which tortures her and was her weakness); its flashes (coals) are flashes (coals) of fire (heated), the very flame of Yehovah (not to be quenched, vehement, started by Yehovah himself like the coals on the fire on the altar).
v 7…Many waters (a flood of nations-Isa 17.12-13) cannot quench (extinguish) love (that Israel/kahal/bride has for Yehovah/Messiah/groom), nor will rivers (the leaders and kings) overflow (drown) it. If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love (for her love), it would be utterly despised (for reducing her love to an object to be bought).
Song 8.8-9 is Yehovah/Messiah/groom reflecting on Israel/kahal/bride.
v 8…We (is plural here referring to the triune Godhead) have a little sister (descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ancestral merit) and she has no breasts (immature, not marriageable yet, not ready for the redemption). What shall we do for our sister (no earthly help to prepare her for the redemption and marriage to the king) on the day she was spoken for (betrothal-Jer 2.2).
v 9…If she is a wall (has faith, stands firm, believes), we shall build on her a battlement (a fortified city, enlarged-Jer 1.18) of silver (the metal of redemption); but if she is a door (revolving on hinges and open to anyone, wavering, double-minded, a weak point in a wall), we (Yehovah) shall barricade her with planks of cedar (to keep the door from opening or turning to protect her-Jude 24-25; Col 1.17; Phil 2.13; Zeph 3.11-13).
Song 8.10-11 gives us her reply and she reminisces.
v 10…I was a wall (I had faith), and my breasts (dispensers of the pure milk of the word) were like towers (nurturing and strong in wisdom); then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace (in her husband’s home).
v 11…Solomon (Shlomo means to whom peace belongs, meaning Yehovah/Messiah/groom) had a vineyard (Israel/kahal/bride) at Baal-Hamon (master or husband of the multitude meaning Jerusalem); he entrusted the vineyard to caretakers (teachers, priests, Levites to plant, water, prune and correct false doctrine-Matt 20.1-16), each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver (each was to bring forth the same amount of fruit, from the lowest to the highest).
Song 8.12 is Yehovah/Messiah/groom speaking to Israel/kahal/bride.
v 12…My very own vineyard is at my disposal (mine, even though I gave it to caretakers); (the nations reply that) the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon (Yehovah/Messiah/groom will receive what is due), and two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit (the nurturers of the fruit will receive their reward-1 Tim 5.17-18).
Song 8.13 has Yehovah/Messiah/groom responding.
v 13…O you who sit in the gardens (he is issuing an invitation), my companions (Israel/kahal/bride), let me hear it (her voice in prayer and praise, speaking and studying of him).
Song 8.14 is Israel/kahal/bride responding.
v 14…Hurry (make haste) my beloved (to save us) and be like a gazelle or a young stag (hasten the redemption-Isa 60.22; Isa 2.1-4; Mic 4.1-4) on the mountains of spices (“Moriah” is related to the spice “myrrh” and one of the spices used in the incense offering of the people in the Temple on Mount Moriah in Gen 22.2, and symbolic of prayer. Israel/kahal/bride wants Yehovah/Messiah/groom to remove the obstacles to redemption and wants him to rest among his people on the fragrant Mount Moriah where the Temple stood).
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