Song of Songs 8: Conclusions

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.1-4 Speculations about how life might have been different
• v.5 She is seen with him returning from the wilderness
• v.6,7 She speaks of the strength of their love
• v.8,9 Possibly looking back there is wondering how she would grow up
• v.10-12 She declares her maturity and readiness for love
• v.13,14 The two conclude with calls to each other

v.1 If you were my brother I could kiss you with complete propriety

v.1 If only you were to me like a brother,
    who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!
Then, if I found you outside,
    I would kiss you,
    and no one would despise me.

v.2 I could take you home

v.2 I would lead you
    and bring you to my mother’s house –
    she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
    the nectar of my pomegranates.

v.3 but now he just embraces me – in private?

v.3  His left arm is under my head
    and his right arm embraces me.

v.4 again you observers, don’t expect love to blossom too fast

v.4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
    do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.

Friends

v.5 Another picture – who is this coming?  

v.5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
    leaning on her beloved?

She

v.5b here love and life continue

 Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived you,
    there she who was in labor gave you birth.

v.6 your love is like a seal on my life but burning strong that cannot be put out

v.6  Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
    its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.

v.7 true love cannot be put out, worth all the money in the world

v.7  Many waters cannot quench love;
    rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
    all the wealth of one’s house for love,
    it would be utterly scorned.

Friends

v.8 the friends worry about her when she was young

v.8  We have a little sister,
    and her breasts are not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
    on the day she is spoken for?

v.9 we will both enhance her beauty and provide protection for her

v.9 If she is a wall,
    we will build towers of silver on her.
If she is a door,
    we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

She

v.10 I am mature and I am ready for love

v.10  I am a wall,
    and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
    like one bringing contentment.

v.11,12 Solomon might have been rich and powerful but what I have is mine alone to give

v.11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
    he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
    a thousand shekels of silver.
v.12 But my own vineyard is min e to give;
    the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
    and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

He

v.13 lady of prominence let me hear you speak

v.13  You who dwell in the gardens
    with friends in attendance,
    let me hear your voice!

She

v.14 Very well, my love, let’s go together

v.14  Come away, my beloved,
    and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
    on the spice-laden mountains.

[Concluding Comment: This final chapter seems to be reflections how life might have been different: if her lover had been her brother [v.1,2] but love is now a reality [v3,4] having grown into a powerful force [v.5-7], how there had been concern for her when she was young [v.8,9] but now is able to declare her confidence in who she has become [v.10-12]. Finally there is this interaction between the two of them, he calling her close, and she, in response, calling him to take her away. Note in this chapter the third and final question, “Who is this?” [8:5] and it is clearly her.

To Conclude: From the text, and with no other guidance, the couple are unidentified and although there are brief allusions to Solomon it seems clear that the writer [presumably Solomon from 1:1] did not want to identify himself and so it is left as a simple poem about a young Jewish couple. The difficulties over specific phases simply leave the reader to speculate as to meanings, as good poetry often does.]

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: