Song of Solomon 8:8-10

Solomon's new WIFE speaking on behalf of her family and looking to Solomon's wisdom (verse 2).

“We have a little sister, And she has no breasts, What shall we do for our sister, In the day when she shall be spoken for?”

Her BELOVED gives his judgment as a new member of the family.

“If she be a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver, And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like its towers, Then was I in his eyes as one who found peace.”

These verses have to be carefully divided up in order to determine who is speaking. In our view it varies between the young wife and her beloved, as she comes to his wisdom to learn from him in accordance with verse 2. (Others see the ‘we' as indicating the brothers, although they are nowhere mentioned in the context. However, regardless of whom we see as the speakers the basic message is the same).

Initially the young wife asks her wise beloved for advice on behalf of her family,  “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister, in the day when she shall be spoken for?”  Speaking as a new member of the family, and as one with them, her beloved replies on their behalf,  “If she be a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver, and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.”  His young wife then replies,  “I am a wall, and my breasts like its towers.”  Then we have her final comment resulting from this which contains a play on words,  “Then was I in his eyes (the eyes of Shelomoh) as one who found peace (shalom).”

The questions are asked and the words are spoken in order to emphasize the importance of love, and to bring out how the new wife's exalted position has altered everything. Here is an example of one who has not yet loved, for her breasts have not yet been formed. She is too young for love. In contrast with her sister (Song of Solomon 1:6), how can she be protected so as to ensure that her love is kept true for the one who will be her husband once she has been spoken for?

The decision is given. If she is assessed as being like a wall, strong and sturdy, and resistant to the appeal of impurity, then they can build on her a tower of silver (a symbol of strength and purity). She is totally trustworthy. But if she is assessed from her behavior as being like a door that opens itself to all who call, then she must be protected from herself and ‘enclosed in boards of cedar' (kept under lock and key), ensuring that no one can take advantage of her. (She thus cannot be trusted under the cedars as the elder sister was in Song of Solomon 1:17). This would fit in well with the idea that she represents ‘the subject nations'.

As a result the new wife then assures her beloved that in her case her love has been true, for she is a wall with her breasts fully fortified against attack. She then sees that as having finally settled any doubt that might have been in his heart. In the eyes of Shelomoh she had found ‘shalom' (peace, wellbeing, spiritual prosperity). He is fully satisfied and should know that he can trust her utterly.

The general lesson that comes from this story is that for true love to be preserved the necessary remedial action must be taken. Temptation must be dealt with in whatever way is appropriate in order that purity may be preserved. This applies not only to the young girl, but also to all Israel, and to His church. All have to ensure that their love is protected and maintained. But we also have to consider whether Solomon had in mind the surrounding subject nations in their response to Israel's God. Sexual impropriety was a mark of the nations, but the exaltation of Israel is to lead on to blessing for the nations (Genesis 12:3).

However, the final stress resulting from this is that the young wife of the beloved can assure him that in her case her purity has been preserved totally for him. It is made clear that her life has been pure from the start, confirming that he can safely set her as a seal on his heart.

In the same way was Israel supposed to maintain its purity for God, although the prophet's made quite clear that she had failed. She had not used the boards of cedar. Christ's church are similarly to preserve their purity for Him by also taking suitable precautions against sin. Then they will be to Him as those who have found peace and well being in His eyes.