Song of Solomon 7:1-10

TEXT 7:1-10

Solomon; Song of Solomon 7:1-9 (Song of Solomon 7:1-5 may be remarks of women attendants)

Shulammite (interrupting the King); Song of Solomon 7:9 b - Song of Solomon 7:10 (Her final avowal of fidelity to her beloved.)

1.

How beautiful are thy feet in sandals,

O prince's daughter!

Thy rounded thighs are like jewels,
The work of the hands of a skillful workman.

2.

Thy body is like a round goblet

Wherein no mingled wine is wanting.

Thy waist is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies.

3.

Thy two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a roe.

4.

Thy neck is like the tower of ivory;

Thine eyes are the pools in Heshbon,
By the gates of Bathrabbim;

Thy nose is like the tower of Labanon which looketh toward Damascus.

5.

Thy head upon thee is like carmel, and the hair of thy head like purple;

The King is held captive in the tresses thereof.

6.

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

7.

This thy stature is like to a palm tree, And thy breasts to its clusters.

8.

I said, I will climb up into the palm tree,

I will take hold of the branches thereof;
Let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine,
And the smell of thy breath like apples,

9.

And thy mouth like the best wine,

That goeth down smoothly for my beloved,
Gliding through the lips of those that are asleep.

10.

I am my beloved'S; and his desire is toward me.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:1-10

172.

If verses one through five are the words of women attendants to the maiden what could be their purpose?

173.

Why use the term prince's daughter?

174.

In what way can rounded thighs be compared to jewels and the work of skillful artists?

175.

Her body is like a goblet full of unmixed wine. Is this the meaning of Song of Solomon 7:2 a?

176.

It seems strange to compare her waist to a heap of wheatset about with lilieswhat can this mean?

177.

Breasts are compared to fawns before (Cf. Song of Solomon 4:5). This seems to be a favorite comparison. What is involved?

178.

The neck like an ivory tower was also used in Song of Solomon 4:4or was it? Discuss.

179.

Her head compared to Carmelthe city? the mountain? or what? How?

180.

Purple hair?? Explain.

181.

What is meant by saying her eyes were like pools in Heshbon?

182.

It would hardly be a compliment today to point out a very prominent nose. What is meant by Song of Solomon 7:4 b?

183.

The king is held captive. How? for what?

184.

This maid was fair and pleasantbut for what purpose? (Cf. verse six)

185.

The king is surely getting bold in verse seven. It would seem that his figure of speech breaks down in Song of Solomon 7:8 a. Explain.

186.

If her breasts were fruit of the vine, what would be their purpose?

187.

Solomon is about to act upon his wordsthen there seems to be a break in Song of Solomon 7:9 b. Explain.

188.

The Shulammite surely endangers herself in putting off the passionate advances of the king. What prompted her remark of verse ten?

PARAPHRASE 7:1-10

Solomon or Women Attendants:

1.

How stately is thy walk in sandals, O noble lady!

Thy rounded hips are like ornaments
Fashioned by a skillful craftsman.

2.

Thy bosom is as a well-shaped goblet

That lacks not blended wine.
Thy body is like a heap of wheat
Set about with anemones.

3.

Thy two breasts are like two fawns,

Twins of a gazelle.

4.

Thy neck is like an ivory tower.

Thine eyes as the clear pools at Heshbon.
By the Bath-rabbin gate.
Thy nose (face?) is like the tower of Lebanon.
Which looks towards Damascus.

5.

Thy head is set upon thee like Carmel,

And thy tresses have a purple sheen.
A king is enmeshed in their ringlets.

6.

How fair and how pleasing art thou, O Love,

Among delightful things!

Solomon:

7.

This form of thine is like a palm tree,

And thy breasts like date clusters,

8.

I said (to myself), I will climb the palm tree

By taking hold of the frond stumps.
Let thy breasts be like clusters of grapes,
The fragrance of thy breath like citrons,

9.

And thy palate (mouth?) like the best wine.

Shulammite (interrupting):

That rightly goes down only for my beloved.

Solomon (concluding):

Causing slumbering lips to speak.

10.

I am my beloved'S, and his desire is for me myself.

COMMENT 7:1-10

Exegesis Song of Solomon 7:1-10

There is an interesting explanation of these verses in An Exposition of the Bible by Walter F. AdeneyHe does not attribute these verses to Solomon but to the women of the court, he says:

The Shulammite now seems to be attempting a retreat, and the ladies of the court bid her return; they would see the performance of a favourite dance, known as -The Dance of Mahanaim.-' Thereupon we have a description of the performer, as she was seen during the convolutions of the dance, dressed in a transparent garment of red gauzeperhaps such as is represented in Pompeian frescoes,so that her person could be compared to pale wheat surrounded by crimson anemones. It is quite against the tenor of her conduct to suppose that the modest country girl would degrade herself by ministering to the amusement of a corrupt court in this shameless manner. It is more reasonable to conclude that the entertainment was given by a professional dancer from among the women of the harem. We have a hint that this is the case in the title applied to the performer, in addressing whom Solomon exclaims, O prince's daughter, an expression never used for the poor Shulammite, and one from which we should gather that she was a captive princess who had been trained as a court dancer. The glimpse of the manners of the palace helps to strengthen the contrast of the innocent, simple country life in which the Shulammite delights.
It has been suggested, with some degree of probability, that the Shulammite is supposed to make her escape while the attention of the king and his court is diverted by this entrancing spectacle. It is to be observed, at all events, that from this point onwards to the end of the poem, neither Solomon nor the daughters of Jerusalem take any part in the dialogue, while the scene appears to be shifted to the Shulammite's home in the country, where she and the shepherd are now seen together in happy companionship. (p. 534, 535.)
We much prefer this explanation to the labored efforts of the commentators to apply this to the Shulammite. No doubt the women of the harem could imagine (with Solomon) that if this maid were to dance she would meet the description here given.

There are ten features of the female form:

(1)

How beautiful are your feetas you walk in your sandals, you have the grace of a princess.

(2)

Your thighs are a work of artlike the carved jewels of a master artist.

(3)

Your navel is like a lovely goblet in which the best of wine can always be found.

(4)

Your waist is like a heap of wheat encircled with anemones.

(5)

Your two breasts are as soft as two fawnsperfect twins of a roe.

(6)

Your neck is like an ivory tower.

(7)

Your eyes have the depth of the pools of Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbin.

(8)

Your face (or nose) has the grandeur and serenity of the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus.

(9)

Your head is like the beautiful Mount Carmel.

(10)

Your hair, as it shines in the sunlight, is the royal color of purplea king would be held captive in its ringlets.

Marriage Song of Solomon 7:1-10

One's wife should be physically attractive to her husband. She should know it. It would not be at all offensive if you were to make your own personal paraphrase of these verses and give them to your wife as a love letter from her husband. Better yet, you could read them to her. Perhaps the metaphors and similes you use could have a more contemporary motif. Your wife would not be at all flattered if you told her that her nose was like the tower of Lebanon. If you do not tell your wife of her physical attraction to you she could be willing to listen to someone else who is ready to describe her charms.

Communion Song of Solomon 7:1-10

We believe most of this section is a flattering attempt on the part of Solomon or the women of his court to seduce the Shulammite. No doubt the description fits the maidenbut the purpose behind telling it is surely open to censure. Flattery is such a subtle tool of Satan. So many Christians are very susceptible to flattery. Why? Because no one has convinced them of their true worth. We are almost ready to believe anyone who can see a value in us, even if it is only for their own advantage. We need to read again and again the love letters of our Father and His Son who tell us over and over again how valuable we are to them and the world in which we live.

FACT QUESTIONS 7:1-10

214.

When we attribute these verses to the women of the court of Solomon we are introduced to a dance routine. Explain and discuss.

215.

What did the Shulammite do while the dance was in progress?

216.

How does the description given here relate to the maiden?

217.

Do the ten features of the female form describe the Shulammite or the dancer or both? Discuss.

218.

Read verses six through ten and explain them in your own words.

219.

Discuss the application of these verses to marriage.

220.

What is the antidote for flattery? Discuss.