Song of Solomon 8.

¹Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me. ²I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. ³His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me. ⁴I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. Friends ⁵Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you. ⁶Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh. ⁷Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. Friends ⁸We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for? ⁹If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved ¹⁰I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace. ¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. ¹²My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover ¹³You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Beloved ¹⁴Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

Commentary (3)

Adam Clarke

The love of the bride to her spouse, and the nature of that love, Sol 8:1-7. The younger sister, Sol 8:8-10. Solomon's vineyard, Sol 8:11, Sol 8:12. The confidence of the bride and bridegroom in each other, Sol 8:13, Sol 8:14.

John Gill

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 8

This chapter begins with an ardent wish of the church for a free and intimate converse with Christ; declaring what she would do to him, and for him, should she have such an interview with him, Sol 8:1; what familiarity should be between them, Sol 8:3; charging the daughters of Jerusalem not to give him any disturbance, Sol 8:4. Upon which they inquire who she was that was in such a posture they saw her in, Sol 8:5; when the church, instead of giving them an answer, says some things concerning her beloved, on whom they saw her leaning; and makes some requests to him for more nearness to him, and manifestations of his love to her; urged from the strength her love and affections to him, which was invincible, Sol 8:6. Next follows a speech of the church about her little sister; expressing a concern for her, and what she would do to her and with her, Sol 8:8; and the answer of the little sister, declaring what she, was, and what she enjoyed, Sol 8:10; then the words of the church again, concerning her husband's vineyard; the place, keepers, and profit of it, Sol 8:11. And the chapter, and with it the Song, is concluded with a request of Christ to the church, that he might hear her voice, Sol 8:13; and with a petition of hers to him, that he would come quickly to her, Sol 8:14.

JFB

He had been a brother already. Why, then, this prayer here? It refers to the time after His resurrection, when the previous outward intimacy with Him was no longer allowed, but it was implied it should be renewed at the second coming (Joh 20:17). For this the Church here prays; meanwhile she enjoys inward spiritual communion with Him. The last who ever "kissed" Jesus Christ on earth was the traitor Judas. The bride's return with the King to her mother's house answers to Act 8:25, after the mission to Samaria. The rest spoken of (Sol 8:4) answers to Act 9:31.

that sucked . . . mother--a brother born of the same mother; the closest tie.

Cross-references (78)

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