Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart. Song of Solomon 3:11
For the One My Soul Loves
3:1 on my bed: This is a dream that took place before they were married. The young woman was becoming concerned about what she would be getting into in this royal marriage.
1 The Shulamite By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.
3:2, 3 Her frantic search for her beloved is initially unsuccessful. Twice in these verses she describes him as the one I love. In each case, the wording is “the one whom my soul (or my inner being) loves.”
2 “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?”
3:4 At last she finds him, using the same phrasing (the one I love) of vv. 2, 3. In her dream she takes him to her mother’s house. That is, the worry of his absence is intolerable to her; she wants him to move back with her to her familiar house and lifestyle.
4 Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.
3:5 Do not stire up: Again there is a strong warning against premarital sex. People should not allow sexual passion to stire before they have gotten to know each other in other ways, until they have worked out the problems of their relationship (the “little foxes,” see 2:15-17), and until they have counted the costs of marriage (3:1-4).
5 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.
3:6 Who is this coming: Contrast the bold, royal journey here with the earlier, playful approach in 2:8. Pillars of smoke: This is language reminiscent of a divine visitation (see Ex. 19:18). Perfumed: The precious ointments here are marks of luxury and royalty: later, on the woman, these elements would be symbols of love (4:6).
6 The Shulamite Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders?
3:7, 8 The couch was a sedan chair with poles projecting from the front and back so that a person could be carried by several bearers. The Shulamite was being carried to the wedding and to her groom on Solomon’s own couch. Valiant men: The term describes war heroes, as v. 8 explains. Fear: That is, these warriors were prepared for any threat.
7 Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. 8 They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night.
3:9, 10 Apparently Solomon had ordered this couch to be designed and built especially for the wedding. The Shulamite, the couch’s rich ornamentation of silver and gold is less significant than the fact that the couch represents Solomon’s love and care for her (2:4).
9 Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: 10 He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem. 11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.
3:11 Oh daughters of Zion: These are the Daughters of Jerusalem. And see: For a wedding to be recognized in ancient Israel, it had to be a public event. Such a day has always been regarded as a day of gladness. The crown: Solomon’s royal symbol was appropriately worn at this wedding.
11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.
31 The Shulamite By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. 2 “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?” 4 Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. 5 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. 6 The Shulamite Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders? 7 Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. 8 They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh Because of fear in the night. 9 Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King Made himself a palanquin: 10 He made its pillars of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple, Its interior paved with love By the daughters of Jerusalem. 11 Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And see King Solomon with the crown With which his mother crowned him On the day of his wedding, The day of the gladness of his heart.
