Song of Solomon 8
14 verses
The maiden laments that her beloved were her brother so she could kiss him publicly without reproach; she brings him to her mother's house where he would teach her, and she would give him spiced wine and pomegranate juice. She adjures others not to awaken love until it pleases. The narrative reaches its climax as the maiden and beloved appear together, with her leaning upon him. The beloved invites her beneath the apple tree where they were conceived and born; she declares her love belongs to him. He summons her to make haste like a gazelle or young stag upon the mountains of spices. The final passage affirms love's profound power: 'Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods sweep it away. If one offered all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.' The beloved speaks of a little sister without breasts, and wonders what will be done when suitors come; if she is a wall, they will build upon it; if a door, they will enclose it with cedars. The maiden declares herself complete and fruitful, her peace passing beyond price. This final chapter resolves the Song's central narrative with affirmations of love's supremacy and the beloved's consummation. The maiden's wish to publicly claim her beloved suggests that true love desires recognition and integration within community. The reference to the apple tree and their conception/birth there suggests cyclical return and deepened understanding. Theologically, the Song concludes by exalting love above all other goods—wealth, status, even life itself—suggesting that covenant love, whether between humans or between God and creation, represents the ultimate good and the fulfillment of human longing. The little sister image and the maiden's affirmation of her own completeness suggest that love involves protection, growth, and the full flourishing of the beloved's person.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
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2
I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
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3
His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
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God is faithful in every circumstance.. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. I lov...
4
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
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5
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
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6
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
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7
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
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8
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
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9
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
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10
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
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11
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal–hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
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12
My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
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13
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
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14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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