Song of Songs 5: Missed Opportunity
Preliminary Comments: Please ensure you have read the notes in the Introduction. Very well, to begin with, the study which simply seeks to help the reader absorb the text more easily:
Possible breakdown:
- v.1 An enigmatic reference to their coming together at what could be the wedding
- v.2-8 A lost opportunity when he comes to find her
- v.9-16 She extensively extols his handsomeness when challenged by the chorus
He
v.1. I have come to my bride and enjoyed her fully
v.1 I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Friends
v.1b celebrate this love
Eat, friends, and drink;
drink your fill of love.
She
v.2 we slept in adjoining bedrooms [?], he came knocking in the night but I am damp from the warm night
v.2 I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My beloved is knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.’
v.3 I hesitated, must I change again for him?
v.3 I have taken off my robe –
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet –
must I soil them again?
v.4 he reached to open the door and my heart beats strongly
v.4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
v.5 I prepared myself with spices
v.5 I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
v.6 but when I eventually opened the door he had gone
v.6 I opened for my beloved,
but my beloved had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
v.7 I went out to look for him but the watchmen beat me for being out in the middle of the night
v.7 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!
v.8 Oh you watchers, if you see him just tell him I love him
v.8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you –
if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint with love.
Friends
v.9 so tell us, prove to us you love him so
v.9 How is your beloved better than others,
most beautiful of women?
How is your beloved better than others,
that you so charge us?
She
v.10 well, to start with he stands out above all others
v.10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
outstanding among ten thousand.
v.11 such a noble head with exquisite wavy hair
v.11 His head is purest gold;
his hair is wavy
and black as a raven.
v.12 his eyes tell he is humble and pure
v.12 His eyes are like doves
by the water streams,
washed in milk,
mounted like jewels.
v.13 everything about his looks is wonderful
v.13 His cheeks are like beds of spice
yielding perfume.
His lips are like lilies
dripping with myrrh.
v.14,15 with such strong arms and the body of an idol
v.14 His arms are rods of gold
set with topaz.
His body is like polished ivory
decorated with lapis lazuli.
v.15 His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice as its cedars.
v.16 he speaks only good and he’s wonderful – and he’s my friend!
v.16 His mouth is sweetness itself;
he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, this is my friend,
daughters of Jerusalem
[Concluding Comment: The first half of this chapter 5 [v.1-8] is about how she was more concerned to look good, when he came to her, but missed her chance to be with him. The chorus challenge her to say just what it is about him she loves [v.9] and the remainder of the chapter is her describing him in glowing terms [v.10-16]. Again there is no reference to Solomon or identification of the couple. Again her descriptions could apply to any young man.]
For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: