Song of Solomon 8
Summary for Song 8:1-4: 8:1-4 a The woman expresses her desire to be with the man and in his embrace. 8:1 b If he were her brother she could kiss him publicly; romantic kisses were not appropriate in public, but kisses between blood relatives were acceptable.Summary for Song 8:2-3: 8:2-3 c bring you to my childhood home (literally to my mother’s house): Cp. 3:4 d.
8:4 e Promise me: For the third time, the woman encourages the young women of Jerusalem to retain their virginity (see 2:7 f; 3:5 g). The virtue of virginity is confirmed in 8:8-9 h.
8:5 i I aroused you under the apple tree: The apple tree is a symbol of fertility because it is fruit-bearing (see 2:3 j, 5 k; 7:8 l).
• where your mother gave you birth: Mentioning his mother may be a subtle way of suggesting procreation as a fruit of sexual love (cp. 8:2 m).
8:6 n seal over your heart ... on your arm: In ancient Israel a seal was used for identification or to show ownership by pressing the face of a ring into soft wax. The wife wants her husband to mark her with his identity, privately upon her heart, and publicly upon her arm as well.
• love is as strong as death: Though death is inevitable, the bond of love is resolute, unshakable, and broken only in death.
• The energy of jealousy moves to protect an exclusive relationship such as that of husband and wife or between God and his people (Nah 1:2 o; Zech 1:14-17 p).
• as the grave: Hebrew as Sheol. In the Old Testament, Sheol is the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily associated with punishment.
Summary for Song 8:8-10: 8:8-10 q In the midst of a passionate exchange of romantic compliments and commitments, here again is strong praise for sexual abstinence until marriage. 8:8 r We have a little sister: The wife’s brothers express concern for their sister’s chastity. According to ancient Near Eastern custom, they are the protectors of their sister’s sexuality until her marriage.
8:9 s wall: There appear to be two metaphorical meanings for this term: (1) The prepubescent girl’s chest is like a wall (see 8:10 t); and (2) until she is married, she should be abstinent, impenetrable like a wall.
• protect her with a silver tower: Towers were used as lookouts for protecting the city; a silver one would be more prominent and impregnable. If the woman is already a wall, having kept her virginity, they will honor and reinforce her resolve.
• On the other hand, a swinging door indicates promiscuity. The brothers will force her to restrain herself.
8:10 u I was a virgin, like a wall: The woman affirms that she was chaste in preparation for marriage.
• now ... like towers: The woman describes herself in the language of desirability (cp. 4:4 v; 7:4 w, 8 x) and challenges her brothers’ perception of her as immature.
Summary for Song 8:11-14: 8:11-14 y In the dramatic view, the wife’s dilemma concerning the vineyard of 1:6 z is finally resolved: She has managed to bring in the lease money from her vineyard in Baal-hamon, so she can pay Solomon and her hired harvesters.
• If the passage is purely poetic, its main message is that love may not be bought, even by a powerful king like Solomon. 8:11 aa Baal-hamon is not otherwise mentioned in the Bible. However “Balamon” occurs in later literature as a place in northern Israel; it may be the same place.
• a thousand pieces of silver (Hebrew 1,000 [shekels] of silver): There are different denominations of shekels in the Old Testament, so the exact price cannot be determined, but the vineyard was a large one.
8:13 ab The scene has changed from that of the lease payment to the more familiar and pleasant gardens.
• your companions: It appears that the wife may be talking with her friends. Her man is gently jealous and wants her to himself.
8:14 ac Come away, my love! She invites him to follow her, and he chases her with all the robust and exhilarating speed of a gazelle (see 2:8-10 ad).
• mountains of spices: Cp. 4:6 ae.
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