My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. Song of Solomon 2:11, 12
Winter and Darkness Almost Gone
2:4 the banqueting house: The literal meaning of the phrase is “the house of wine,” used because of the role that wine plays not only in feasting, but especially in weddings in biblical cultures. In the Bible, wine is a symbol of joy and the drinking of wine is associated with joyful occasions. his banner: This may be the same terms as used in Num. 1:52 meaning “standard” or “flag.” Even today, Jewish weddings take place under a “banner” or covering. Love: This is the first use in the book of the common noun for love related to the verb in v. 3. This noun corresponds somewhat to the well-known Greek noun agape, which refers to a self-sacrificial love for others (1 Cor. 13).
4 The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love
2:11-13 the winter is past: By this Solomon means that the time of joy has come; it is the summer of their love. Solomon may have come at a time of great beauty in the fields and forests where the young woman lived; he uses the beauty of creation to describe the ripeness of time and for their love.
11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!
2:14 Solomon’s great find in this young woman is occasioned in part by her shy charm. In the clefts: Solomon speaks of the Shulamite using a figure of speech describing her isolated home in the mountains.
14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” 15 Her Brothers Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
2 1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. 2 The Beloved Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.
3 The Shulamite Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. 5 Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick. 6 His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. 7 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.
8 The Shulamite The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills. 9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice. 10 My beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. 11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!
14 “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” 15 Her Brothers Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. 16 The Shulamite My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. 17 (To Her Beloved) Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.
