Song of Solomon 4-6

SS 4

1-7 The Beloved

Beloved gives verbal desire of the Maiden

Ordered gaze

• eyes / doves’ eyes
• hair / flock of goats
• teeth / flock of shorn sheep
• lips / strand of scarlet
• cheeks / pomegranate
• neck / tower of David
• breasts / two fawns / twin gazelle

“There is no spot in you”

• מוּם (mūm) = blemish, defect, physical flaw
• usually used in the Old Testament about sacrifices

8-11 The Beloved Continues

Invitation to “come with me”

• calls her “spouse” for first time
• uses fearful places “lions’ dens, mountains of leopards”

Love

• דּוֹדִים (dodim) reappears

Speech and scent

• lips drip nectar
• fragrance imagery

12-15 Beloved praises virginity

Virginity protected

• spring shut up
• fountain sealed

Abundance imagery

• pomegranates, spices, flowing water
• echoes Eden language

Virginity as water

• a fountain of gardens
• a well of living waters

Theological undertone

• intimacy portrayed as ordered goodness
• creation imagery sanctifies desire

→ Sexual love participates in creation’s goodness

16 Maiden

• desire is reciprocal
• “Eat choice fruits” — yielding virginity

SS 5

1 – Beloved 

Beloved enters the garden

• imagery from prior sections fulfilled

Language of enjoyment

• eating and drinking
• pleasure described without shame! 

Others say to eat and drink – be drunk with love 

2-6 -Maiden’s Dream

Beloved knocks

Maiden hesitates

• concern for comfort and readiness

Beloved lets him in

• From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/song-of-solomon-5/: Some commentators and translators have wondered if the wording here presents a double entendre, cleverly describing sexual intercourse between the beloved and the maiden. The basis for this is found in the fact that on at least one occasion (Isaiah 57:8) in the Old Testament, this Hebrew word translated hand is a euphemism for the male sexual organ. In addition, the word translated latch of the door is more literally “opening” or “hole.”

Departure: beloved gone when sought

7-8 Maiden Searches for Beloved

Watchmen encounter

• Watchmen are supposed to
  • guard the city (Isaiah 62:6)
  • protect people from danger (Ezekiel 33)

BUT

• she is truck and wounded
• veil removed

Appeal to the daughters of Jerusalem: asked to find Beloved

9 Daughrers of Jerusalem

Ask what is so special about Beloved? 

10-16 – Maiden Describes Beloved

Extended description

Body / Aspect	Description
Overall appearance	White and ruddy
Status	Chief among ten thousand
Head	Like the finest gold
Hair	Wavy
Hair color	Black as a raven
Eyes	Like doves
Eyes (setting)	By rivers of waters
Eyes (quality)	Washed with milk
Eyes (placement)	Fitly set
Cheeks	Like a bed of spices
Cheeks (banks)	Banks of scented herbs
Lips	Like lilies
Lips (speech)	Dripping liquid myrrh
Hands	Rods of gold
Hands (detail)	Set with beryl
Body	Carved ivory
Body (detail)	Inlaid with sapphires
Legs	Pillars of marble
Legs (bases)	Bases of fine gold
Countenance	Like Lebanon
Presence	Excellent as the cedars
Mouth	Most sweet
Whole person	Altogether lovely

SS 6

1 -Daughters of Jerusalem 

Question : “Where has your beloved gone?”

2-3  Maiden

Beloved located in the garden

Garden details

• lilies, beds, grazing
• “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine”

4-7 Beloved

The relationship is restored, they are together again. 

Cities imagery

• Tirzah and Jerusalem
• Impressive as noble cities 

Body imagery

• “your eyes overwhelm me”
• Hair like goats
• Teeth like flock of sheep
• Temples like pomegranates 

8-10 Beloved compares his Maiden to others

Contrast with others

• queens, concubines, maidens

Singularity emphasized

• “my dove, my perfect one”, “the only one…”

Others affirmation

• others praise her
• love publicly recognized

11-12 – Maiden

Garden revisited

• imagery of growth and fruitfulness
• Nutes, vines, pomegranates

Before I was even aware,

My soul had made me

As the chariots of my noble people.

• This verse confused me…seems it confuses a lot of people. I took it to mean “suddenly…I was in love” possibly as swiftly as a chariot)

13 -Others and Maiden

Call to return

• First time using “Shulamite”. From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/song-of-solomon-6/  It may indicate someone from the Galilean village of Shunam; or the name may also simply be the feminine form of the name Solomon, indicating their close unity.
• Possibly the Maiden has left with her lover, and they call her to return to them to enjoy her goodness

Maiden responds: Why should you look upon the Shulammite,

    as upon a dance before two armies? 

• Could mean an actual dance, or two people coming together, or the Maiden is asking why do you look upon me?

Application

Song of Songs 4-6 shows us how true love is part God’s good design. These chapters show that love flourishes through attentive speech and mutual consent. Desire is also not rushed. There also seems to be some fragility with love, with possible misunderstandings and absences. We can learn what love looks like privately between the couple but also in communal spaces. Love between two people can flourish beyond just the two individuals.