Song of Solomon 1-3

“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s” שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה

• Hebrew superlative: “Song of Songs” = greatest / supreme song
• Unique within Scripture
  • No explicit religious language
  • No direct mention of God
  • Focuses on love, desire, marriage

Multiple titles: Song of Solomon, Song of Songs, Canticles

Celebrates romantic and marital love. Sexual love is celebrated. 

Best approach

• Read first as human love poetry
• Then reflect theologically

SS 1

1-4  Maiden (the Shulamite)

• Opening immediately centers desire
• “Let him kiss me…”
  • physical intimacy stated plainly (from a woman!)
  • love (דּוֹדִים, dodim or דּוֹדֶיךָ)
    • same word used throughout Song
    • Also means aunt and uncle…
• Love compared to:
  • wine
  • fragrance 
• Others see the goodness of her beloved

Daughters of Jerusalem give their comments on their love

5-7  Maiden

• “I am dark, but lovely”
  • sun-darkened means more labor, fair skin means rich enough to have others do her labor
• Social vulnerability
  • brothers’ anger
  • forced labor
  • neglect of own vineyard
• Veil reference: means prostitution or low modesty. She wanted beloved to know she was saving herself for him. 

8-11 Beloved 

• Beloved answers with where to find him
• Comparison imagery
  • mare among Pharaoh’s chariots
    • rare, prized, beautiful
• Gifts and adornment

12-14 Maiden

• Imagery of his scent staying on her after he leaves. 
• “Vineyards of En Gendi”
  • Oasis in Judea 

15 Beloved 
praises her beauty

16-17 Maiden

•Attraction to Beloved 

SS 2

1-7  Maiden and Others

• Botanical metaphors
  • “Rose of Sharon” (or “Lily of the Valley”)
  • Lily among thorns 
  • Apple tree among woods
  • Sweet fruit 
• Image of left hand under head and right hand embracing: possibly inviting him for sexual encounter
• Do not awaken love until it pleases
  • Either do not awaken her love daydream
  • OR do not awaken sexual desires early 

8-14 Maiden continues 

• Beloved approaches
  • leaping imagery of gazelles and skipping
• winter → spring
  • Sounds of birds, fig trees growing, 

 15:  “This verse is a problem. The verb form is imperative, masculine plural, but there is no indication whether the speaker is male or female. All that is clear is that ‘for us’ is plural.” (Carr)

16-17 Maiden

• Unsure of mountains of Bether 

SS 3

1-4  Maiden

• Searching for her beloved at night with urgency 
• Reunion
  • Held him and would not let go
  • Desired to bring him to family home 

5 Refrain repeated

• Same warning as 2:7

6-11  Solomon arrives for wedding

• We now shift to wedding 
• Royal imagery with Solomon, palanquin, guards
• Solomon shares his best with his betrothed
• A joyful day!

Application

Song of Songs 1-3 invites us to watch a love story unfold. We get to see desire voiced openly with mutual affection is celebrated. We are also told to not awaken love before its time. We can read these chapters learning about God’s design for love.