Song of Solomon 8:1-4

TEXT 7:118:4

Shulammite:

Invitation to the Shepherd, Song of Solomon 7:11 to Song of Solomon 8:2

Aside to Court Ladies, Song of Solomon 8:3

Adjuration to Court Ladies, Song of Solomon 8:4 (final)

11.

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field;

Let us lodge in the villages.

12.

Let us get up early to the vineyards;

Let us see whether the vine hath budded,
And its blossom is open,
And the pomegranates are in flower;
There will I give thee my love.

13.

The mandrakes give forth fragrance;

And at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old,
Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

8:1

O that thou wert as my brother,

That sucked the breasts of my mother!
When I should find thee without,
I would kiss thee;
Yea, and none would despise me.

2.

I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house,

Who would instruct me;
I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine,
Of the juice of my pomegranate.

3.

His left hand should be under my head,

And his right hand should embrace me.

4.

I adjure you O daughters of Jerusalem,

That ye stir up, nor awake my love,
Until he please.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:118:4

189.

How is it now possible for the maiden to give such an invitation since she is confined to the palace of Solomon?

190.

What time of the year is suggested by the reference to the vines and the pomegranate tree?

191.

Why offer her love in the vineyard?

192.

Mandrakes are a particular type of fruitCf. Genesis 30:14-18what is intended by her reference to them here?

193.

The last half of Song of Solomon 7:13 is a poetic way of promising something. What was it?

194.

Does the maid want her lover to become or pretend he is her brother? What is meant?

195.

It would seem from Song of Solomon 8:1 b that no physical expression of love had passed between the maid and the shepherd. If this is true, how shall we understand some of the earlier expressions? Discuss.

196.

Why take her beloved into her mother's house? What type of instruction would be given?

197.

Was she promising a real drink of wine or was this a poetic expression?

198.

Verse three was repeated earlier. What is meant?

199.

Verse four is an oft-repeated refrainit is given at very appropriate times. Show how this is true here.

PARAPHRASE 7:118:4

Shulammite's Soliloquy

11.

Come, my beloved, let us go into the open country;

Let us lodge in the villages.

12.

We will rise early and go into the vineyards.

We will see if the vines have budded;
Whether the blossom is opening,
And the pomegranates are in flower.
There will I give thee my caresses.

13.

The mandrakes are giving forth their fragrance,

At our doors are all kinds of luscious fruits,
New and old, all reserved for thee, my beloved.

Song of Solomon 8:1

Oh, that thou hadst been as my brother,

One nursed in the bosom of my own mother!
Then had I met thee in the open, I would have kissed thee,
And no one would have despised me.

2.

I would have led thee to my mother's house;

Where she would have instructed me.
I would have made thee drink spiced wine
Made from the juice of my own pomegranates.

Aside to Court Ladies

3.

His left hand would have been under my head,

And his right hand supporting me.

4.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

Why should ye arouse or stir up love
Until itself is pleased to awaken?

COMMENT 7:118:4

Exegesis Song of Solomon 7:11 to Song of Solomon 8:4

The bridegroom has come for his bride. Whether this is literal or figurative, we could not say. Does this only happen in the dreams of the maiden or has Solomon capitulated? If Solomon has given her leave to go back to her home in Shunem, then perhaps a message has been sent to her shepherd and he actually is present to respond to the words of his beloved. We shall comment separately upon each of these six verses.

Song of Solomon 7:11. It must have been with a good deal of poignancy that the maiden thought of the open fields of Galilee. She no doubt thought of friends or relatives in some of the villages who would welcome she and her new husband as overnight visitors. All the associations of many years back rushed in upon her and her heart is full of yearnings to be back again amid familiar faces and places. She is tired of the oppressive atmosphere of the king's harem.

Song of Solomon 7:12. It is still the spring of the year. It was spring when she was snatched away from her garden. Unless we conclude an entire year has gone by, her sojourn at court was only a few weeks. After a pleasant conversation with friends at the house in the village they would retire for the night. She is already anticipating their marriage and what is here proposed amounts in our terms to a honeymoon. How fresh and new is the atmosphere in the early morning! A stroll through the vineyard could be so beautiful! Holding hands, we could stoop down and check together the development of the blossoms. We could pause to drink deeply of the fragrance from the flowers of the pomegranate trees. There in the seclusion and privacy of His hanidwork I will give you my love. Away from the eyes of anyone but her beloved she would express her deep feelings for him.

Song of Solomon 7:13. We are back in the village of Shunem. In the garden near the house the fragrance of the mandrakes is filling the air. At the doors of our house we have kept from past seasons dired fruitwe will also have fresh produce from our garden. Ever since I met you I have planned and laid up these gifts for the day when we could share them together. Besides the literal meaning we have given to her words, we seem to catch another meaning! Mandrakes had long been associated with love (Cf. Genesis 30:14-18). Perhaps these words are but a veiled promise of her expressions of love to be given to him in their house.

Verse one of the eighth chapter. The shepherd had addressed her as his sister, she now reciprocates with the thought that if he were her brother she would rush into his arms and kiss him at any time and any place. We like the words of Adeney here: This singular mode of courtship between two lovers who are so passionately devoted to one another that we might call them the Hebrew Romeo and Juliet, is not without significance. Its recurrence, now on the lips of the bride, helps to sharpen still more the contrast between what passes for love in the royal harem, and the true emotion experienced by a pair of innocent young people, unsullied by the corruptions of the courtillustrating, as it does at once, its sweet intimacy and its perfect purity. (ibid., p. 535.)

Verse two. Why go to her mother's house? This would be after their marriage for instruction from the mother in the art of lovemaking. No mention is made of her fatherperhaps her mother is a widow. Such a simple home-like atmosphere is in strong contrast to the oppressive magnificence of Solomon's palace. She has some wonderful home-made country beverages for himspiced wine and pomegranate juice. Perhaps what is here called -spiced wine-' is especially prepared juice from the pomegranate.

Verses three and four. We have treated these verses earlier in our comments on Song of Solomon 2:6-7. The fourth verse is repeated twice: in Song of Solomon 2:7 and Song of Solomon 3:5. Please see our comments upon these verses. This would seem to be the final word to Solomon and the women of the court. She is saying in essence: I am committed to the shepherd as my husbandI can already feel his strong arms around me. Do not, as I have said twice before, attempt to arouse any love on my part for Solomonlove will take its spontaneous courseand in my case it is for my shepherd.!

Marriage Song of Solomon 7:11 to Song of Solomon 8:4

If the Shulammite represents the bride of Christ, then these words can become a pattern for the love the church should have for her Lord. This has always been a parallel for the love the husband should have for his wife and the wife for her husband. Where is the bride who will express her love with the same, intensity and fidelity as the Shulammite? We believe there are many who would if they were married to a man like the shepherd. But is this the criteria for such a response? Many a husband knows he is far from the ideal here described but his wife loves him none-the-less. This is surely the fulfillment (in reverse order) of how Christ loved the church. Even when this is true can we not read into these words the longing of the dear girl we married? She does want to find anew the fresh fields and the secluded spotshe still wants your exclusive interest in herto share with her the little thingsthe beautiful things of very ordinary life. Just a cup of teaa simple flowereven an orange eaten with love is worth more than the many expensive things for which we spend so much time away from her. If somehow her husband could be her brother she could then get on the inside of his thoughts and could establish a rapport shared in a happy family. Anything to be one with the one she loves more than life.

Communion Song of Solomon 7:11 to Song of Solomon 8:4

What a tremendous example this passage is of the kind of love we, as the bride, should give to our living Lord. Christ is a living Person. He loves you with a personal love, and He looks everyday for your personal response to His love. Look into His face with trust till His love really shines into your heart (Romans 5:5). Make his heart glad by telling Him you love Him. (author unknown) Converse with your heavenly Husbandsay to Him, Come, my beloved, let's go to workor let's wash the dishes. He is aliveHe does want to participate in all you are and do. He also sleeps with you at night. How delightful to begin the day with Him. We have found so much good in the little booklet Manna In The Morning published by Moody Press. We wish to say a word of recommendation hereif you are not meeting Him in the morningor even if you areget it and read it. Oh, how we need to plan ahead for a continual love affair with our Lord. There is all manner of precious fruit from our experiences and from His wordboth new and old which we can share with Him. This will never happen if we do not plan it. Communion with our Lord through the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Colossians 2:1 ff) is a joint participationa partnership that includes all of life. Do we take Him into our mother's house? i.e., into the relationship and fellowship of the family conversation? or of the TV programs and the exchange of the usual subjects? If we did, perhaps our family would be so impressed with His presence that instruction would have an entirely different meaning.

FACT QUESTIONS 7:118:4

221.

The bridegroom has come for the brideis this to be understood as an actual visit from the shepherd? Discuss.

222.

With whom would the newly-weds stay in the villages?

223.

The maiden is homesickshe feels oppressed. Why?

224.

We conclude the whole Song discusses a time of only a few weeks in May or late April. How is this conclusion reached?

225.

It would seem the young couple are on their honeymoon. What gives us this thought?

226.

Do you agree that there is a possible double-meaning in Song of Solomon 7:13? Discuss.

227.

How can we compare this couple to Romeo and Juliet?

228.

Is there anyone anywhere in the United States like the two persons described here? Discuss.

229.

Why go to her mother's house? Where is her father?

230.

What were her final words for the women of the harem and Solomon?

231.

Where is the wife like the Shulammite? Discuss.

232.

Are there men like the shepherd? (What about the rest of us?)

233.

What is really important with our wife?

234.

Why would any wife want a brother-sister relationship with her husband? or is this what is meant? Discuss.

235.

What a tremendous example this passage is of the kind of love we as the bride should give to our living Lord. Please discuss the very practical application of this text to your own personal relationship to your Lord.