Song of Songs 6: Summary and Commentary

Verse 1

6:1-3 The conversation that ends this poem indicates that it is not an actual event. The dream ends as the young women of Jerusalem ask the woman where her man has gone. The woman tells them not to concern themselves with finding him—he is back in bed with her, enjoying his garden with its spice beds and lilies, a description of sexual intimacy.

Verse 4

6:4-10 The man again describes the physical beauty of the woman. He repeats parts of the description from ch 4 almost verbatim, showing the same high regard for his wife.

6:4 Tirzah was a city-state as early as Joshua’s time; it eventually became great enough to be the capital of the northern kingdom (Josh 12:24; 1 Kgs 15:33). The town’s name means “pleasant.” • Jerusalem was the capital of David’s and Solomon’s united kingdom and after that, the most important city of Judah.

Verse 8

6:8-9 If the Song were an allegory of the Lord’s love for his people, it would provide a very weak parallel, since Solomon’s excesses in marrying do a poor job of picturing God’s love and faithfulness (see 1 Kgs 11:1-13). • sixty queens: Many of Solomon’s wives were obtained by marrying into international treaties (see 1 Kgs 11:1-3, 8). • Concubines were wives who had secondary status, lower than a wife but higher than a slave. Concubines were acquired by war, debt repayment, or purchase. • In the anthology view, the reference to queens and concubines simply means that the woman herself is more desirable than all other women.

Verse 9

6:9 sing her praises: Literally called her blessed. If the Song is a drama, the woman has left Solomon’s harem, and the singing took place in the past, when the woman was still there.

Verse 10

6:10 The poem ends as it began in 6:4: The woman’s majesty, like an army with billowing banners in full display, makes the knees knock and the heart flutter.

Verse 11

6:11 I went down: There is ambiguity over who is speaking here. The NLT presents it as the beginning of the young woman’s speech, though it could just as plausibly be a continuation of the young man’s. The trip to the walnut grove is a poetic way of expressing desire for a romantic meeting.

Verse 12

6:12 to the chariot of a noble man: Desire leads to the union of the man and the woman. There may be support here for Solomon being the husband, though this description could be a metaphor for the joys of romance (cp. 1:16-17).

Verse 13

6:13–7:9 An interaction between the young women of Jerusalem and the man introduces his last major description of the woman’s beauty and his desire to hold her (see study note on 4:1–5:1).

6:13 Return: Or turn around. • Shulam: The place is not known, though some have identified it with Shunem (1 Kgs 1:3; 2 Kgs 4:11-12). Maid of Shulam (Hebrew shulammith) might be a wordplay on the name Solomon (Hebrew shelomoh). It would then be equivalent to saying “Solomon’s maiden.” • as she moves so gracefully between two lines of dancers? The man praises the woman’s grace and beauty to everyone.