The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters
The 1Song of aSongs the best of songs, which is Solomon’s. 1+@Kin 4:32Some theologians believe the Song of Solomon to be a collection of songs, but it is more generally understood to be a sort of drama or lyric poem celebrating the wholesomeness of a growing love that leads to maturity in marriage. The ancient rabbis understood it as an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel, and viewed the details as symbolic.1 Kin 4:32
2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” Solomon arrives, she turns to him, saying,“For your alove is better than wine.The parenthetical headings indicate that the speakers are not from the Hebrew text nor the Septuagint, but reflect an ancient tradition which appears in some manuscripts.Song 1:4; 4:103 “The aroma of your aoils is fragrant and pleasing;Your bname is perfume poured out;Therefore the cmaidens love you.Song 4:10; John 12:3Eccl 7:1Ps 45:144 “Draw me away with you and let us run together!Let the aking bring me into his chambers.”1(The Chorus)“We will rejoice and be glad in you;We will remember and extol your blove more sweet and fragrant than wine.Rightly do they love you.”The purpose of the chorus is to echo and expand the sentiments of the bride and her bridegroom. The members of the chorus are not always known, but have been variously identified as “daughters of Jerusalem,” “daughters of Zion,” “ladies in waiting,” “friends” or “relatives” of the bride.Ps 45:14, 15Song 1:4; 4:10
(The Shulammite Bride)
5 “I am deeply tanned but alovely,O bdaughters of Jerusalem,I am dark like the ctents of the Bedouins ofdKedar,Like the beautiful curtains of Solomon.Song 2:14; 4:3; 6:4Song 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4Ps 120:5Is 60:76 “Do not gaze at me because I am deeply tanned,I have worked in the sun; it has left its mark on me.My amother’s sons were angry with me;They made me bkeeper of the vineyards,But my own vineyard (my complexion) I have not kept.”Ps 69:8Song 8:117 “Tell me, O you awhom my soul loves,Where do you bpasture yourflock,Where do you make it clie down at noon?For why should I be like one who is veiledBeside the flocks of your dcompanions?” Ps 23:1, 2Song 3:1-4Song 2:16; 6:3Is 13:20; Jer 33:12Song 8:13
Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
(The Bridegroom)
8 “If you do not know where your lover is,O you afairest among women,Run along, follow the tracks of the flock,And pasture your young goatsBy the tents of the shepherds.Song 5:9; 6:1
9 “To ame, my love, you are likeMy favoritebmare among the chariots of Pharaoh.Song 1:15; 2:2, 10, 132 Chr 1:16, 1710 “Your acheeks are lovely with ornaments,Your neck with strings of bjewels.”Song 5:13Gen 24:53; Is 61:10
(The Chorus)
11 “We will make for you chains and ornaments of gold,Studded with beads of silver.”
(The Shulammite Bride)
12 “While the king was at his table,My perfume (Solomon) sent forth hisafragrance surrounding me.Song 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:313 “My beloved is to me like a pouch of amyrrhWhich lies all night between my breasts.Ps 45:8; John 19:3914 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ahenna flowersIn the fragrant vineyards of 1bEngedi.”An oasis on the western side of the Dead Sea.Song 4:131 Sam 23:29
(The Bridegroom)
15 “Behold, ahow beautiful you are, my darling,Behold, how beautiful you are!Your beyes are dove’s eyes.”Song 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10Song 4:1; 5:12
(The Shulammite Bride)
16 “Behold, how fair and handsome you are, amy beloved;And so delightful!Our arbor is green and luxuriant.Song 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 817 “The beams of our houses are acedars,Our rafters and panels are bcypresses.1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:142 Chr 3:5
2 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!For your alove is 1sweeterthanwine.The speaker identifications are not from the Hebrew text nor the Septuagint, but reflect an ancient tradition which appears in some manuscripts.Lit more pleasantSong 1:4; 4:103 “Your aoils have a pleasingfragrance,Your bname is like1purifiedoil;Therefore the 2cyoungwomenlove you.Lit oil poured from one vessel to anotherOr virginsSong 4:10; John 12:3Eccl 7:1Ps 45:144 “Draw me after you and let’s runtogether!The aking has brought me into his chambers.”The Chorus“We will rejoice in you and bejoyful;We will praise your blovemorethanwine.Rightly do they love you.”Ps 45:14, 15Song 1:4; 4:10
The Bride
5 “I am black and abeautiful,You bdaughters of Jerusalem,Like the ctents of dKedar,Like the curtains of Solomon.Song 2:14; 4:3; 6:4Song 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4Ps 120:5Is 60:76 “Do not stare at me because I am 1dark,For the sun has tanned me.My amother’ssonswereangry with me;They made me bcaretaker of the vineyards,But I have not takencare of my own vineyard.Or swarthy, blackishPs 69:8Song 8:117 “Tell me, you awhom my soulloves,Where do you bpastureyourflock,Where do you have itcliedown at noon?For why should I be like one who 1veils herselfBeside the flocks of your dcompanions?”Some ancient versions wandersSong 3:1-4Song 2:16; 6:3Is 13:20; Jer 33:12Song 8:13
Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
8 “If you yourself do not know,aMost beautiful among women,Goout on the trail of the flock,And pasture your younggoatsBy the tents of the shepherds.Song 5:9; 6:1
9 “1To me, amy darling, you arelikeMy bmare among the chariots of Pharaoh.Lit I have compared you toSong 1:15; 2:2, 10, 132 Chr 1:16, 1710 “Your acheeks are delightful with jewelry,Your neck with stringsofbbeads.”Song 5:13Gen 24:53; Is 61:10
The Chorus
11 “We will make for you jewelry of goldWith beads of silver.”
The Bride
12 “While the king was at his table,My 1aperfumegave forth its fragrance.Lit nardSong 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:313 “My beloved is to me a pouch of amyrrhWhich liesallnightbetween my breasts.Ps 45:8; John 19:3914 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ahenna blossomsIn the vineyards of bEngedi.”Song 4:131 Sam 23:29
The Groom
15 “1aHowbeautiful you are, my darling,2Howbeautiful you are!Your beyes are likedoves.”Lit BeholdSong 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10Song 4:1; 5:12
The Bride
16 “1Howhandsome you are, amy beloved,Andsodelightful!Indeed, our bed is luxuriant!Lit BeholdSong 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 817 “The beams of our house are acedars,Our rafters, bjunipers.1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:142 Chr 3:5
The Young Shulammite Bride and Jerusalem’s Daughters
The 1Song of aSongs, which is Solomon’s.Or Best of the Songs1 Kin 4:32
2 “1May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!For your alove is betterthanwine.BRIDESong 1:4; 4:103 “Your aoils have a pleasingfragrance,Your bname is like1purifiedoil;Therefore the 2cmaidenslove you.Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)Or virginsSong 4:10; John 12:3Eccl 7:1Ps 45:144 “Draw me after you and let us runtogether!The aking has brought me into his chambers.”“1We will rejoice in you and be glad;We will 2extol your blovemorethanwine.Rightly do they love you.”CHORUSLit mention with praisePs 45:14, 15Song 1:4; 4:10
5 “1I am black but alovely,O bdaughters of Jerusalem,Like the ctents of dKedar,Like the curtains of Solomon.BRIDESong 2:14; 4:3; 6:4Song 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4Ps 120:5Is 60:76 “Do not stare at me because I am 1swarthy,For the sun has burned me.My amother’ssons were angry with me;They made me bcaretaker of the vineyards,But I have not takencare of my own vineyard.Or blackPs 69:8Song 8:117 “Tell me, O you awhom my soulloves,Where do you bpastureyourflock,Where do you make itcliedown at noon?For why should I be like one who 1veils herselfBeside the flocks of your dcompanions?”Some versions read wandersSong 3:1-4Song 2:16; 6:3Is 13:20; Jer 33:12Song 8:13
Solomon, the Lover, Speaks
8 “1If you yourself do not know,aMost beautiful among women,Goforth on the trail of the flockAnd pasture your younggoatsBy the tents of the shepherds.BRIDEGROOMSong 5:9; 6:1
9 “1To me, amy darling, you are likeMy bmare among the chariots of Pharaoh.Lit I have compared you toSong 1:15; 2:2, 10, 132 Chr 1:16, 1710 “Your acheeks are lovely with ornaments,Your neck with strings of bbeads.”Song 5:13Gen 24:53; Is 61:10
11 “1We will make for you ornaments of goldWith beads of silver.”CHORUS
12 “1While the king was at his 2table,My 3aperfumegave forth its fragrance.BRIDEOr couchLit nardSong 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:313 “My beloved is to me a pouch of amyrrhWhich lies all nightbetween my breasts.Ps 45:8; John 19:3914 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ahenna blossomsIn the vineyards of bEngedi.”Song 4:131 Sam 23:29
15 “12aHowbeautiful you are, my darling,3Howbeautiful you are!Your beyes are likedoves.”BRIDEGROOMLit BeholdSong 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10Song 4:1; 5:12
16 “12Howhandsome you are, amy beloved,Andsopleasant!Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!BRIDELit BeholdSong 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 817 “The beams of our houses are acedars,Our rafters, 1bcypresses.Or junipers1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:142 Chr 3:5
The 1Song of aSongs, which is Solomon’s.Or Best of the Songs1 Kin 4:32
2 “1May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!For your alove is betterthanwine.BRIDESong 1:4; 4:103 “Your aoils have a pleasingfragrance,Your bname is like1purifiedoil;Therefore the 2cmaidenslove you.Lit oil which is emptied (from one vessel to another)Or virginsSong 4:10; John 12:3Eccl 7:1Ps 45:144 “Draw me after you and let us runtogether!The aking has brought me into his chambers.”“1We will rejoice in you and beglad;We will 2extol your blovemorethanwine.Rightly do they love you.”CHORUSLit make remembrance ofPs 45:14, 15Song 1:4; 4:10
5 “1I am black but alovely,O bdaughters of Jerusalem,Like the ctents of dKedar,Like the curtains of Solomon.BRIDESong 2:14; 4:3; 6:4Song 2:7; 3:5, 10; 5:8, 16; 8:4Ps 120:5Is 60:76 “Do not look at me because I am 1swarthy,For the sun has burned me.My amother’ssonswereangry with me;They made me bcaretaker of the vineyards,But I have not takencare of my own vineyard.Or blackPs 69:8Song 8:117 “Tell me, O you awhom my soulloves,Where do you bshepherdyourflock,Where do you make itcliedown at noon?For why should I be like one who 1veils herselfBeside the flocks of your dcompanions?”Some versions wandersSong 3:1-4Song 2:16; 6:3Is 13:20; Jer 33:12Song 8:13
Solomon and His Bride Extol Each Other
8 “1If you yourself do not know,aMost beautiful among women,Goforth on the trail of the flockAnd pasture your younggoatsBy the dwellings of the shepherds.BRIDEGROOMSong 5:9; 6:1
9 “To a amare of mine among the chariots of PharaohI compare you, O bmy darling.2 Chr 1:16, 17Song 1:15; 2:2, 10, 1310 “Your acheeks are lovely with ornaments,Your neck with stringsof1bbeads.”Or shellsSong 5:13Gen 24:53; Is 61:10
11 “1We will make for you ornaments of goldWith beads of silver.”CHORUS
12 “1While the king was at his 2banquetingtable,My 3aperfumegave forth its fragrance.BRIDEOr couchLit nardSong 4:14; Mark 14:3; John 12:313 “My beloved is to me a pouch of amyrrhWhich liesallnightbetween my breasts.Ps 45:8; John 19:3914 “My beloved is to me a cluster of ahenna blossomsIn the vineyards of bEngedi.”Song 4:131 Sam 23:29
15 “1aBehold, you are beautiful, my darling,Behold, you are beautiful!Your beyes are likedoves.”BRIDEGROOMSong 1:16; 2:10, 13; 4:1, 7; 6:4, 10Song 4:1; 5:12
16 “1Behold, you are handsome, amy beloved,Indeed, sopleasant!Indeed, our couch is luxuriant!BRIDESong 2:3, 9, 17; 5:2, 5, 6, 817 “The beams of our houses are acedars,Our rafters, 1bcypresses.Or junipers1 Kin 6:9, 10; Jer 22:142 Chr 3:5