Song Of Songs 4

CHAPTER 4

Solomon Praises His Bride on Their Wedding Night (4:1–16)

1–15 Solomon and his bride are now in the bridal chamber. In the beginning she is veiled (verse 1). As Solomon takes in her beauty, he praises each part of her body, using metaphors typical of the ancient Middle East. We should note that there is nothing wrong with freely enjoying the body of one’s spouse. It is lust that is wrong, the desire for sexual enjoyment outside marriage. It is even possible for a husband to lust for his wife—especially when he treats her without tenderness and consideration, as if she were a sex object designed only for his pleasure. Solomon, however, is clearly demonstrating true love for his bride. And he anticipates a night of lovemaking: he will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense—that is, to the beautiful body that awaits him (verse 6).

In verse 8, Solomon says to his bride: Come with me;¹¹ be mine. Don’t think of your homeland and its mountains; give yourself totally to me. He then goes on to describe how she has stolen his heart (verse 9); she totally delights him (verse 10). Your lips drop sweetness . . . milk and honey are under your tongue (verse 11)—the “milk and honey” of the promised land (Exodus 3:8), the “land”of her body.

Finally, in verses 12–15, Solomon describes his bride as a garden locked up, a sealed fountain (verse 12). These expressions refer to her virginity, and to the exclusiveness of their love:she will open her garden only to him; only he may drink from her fountain. All the exotic fruit and spices of her garden—all her charms and attributes—are available to Solomon, and to him alone.

16 After listening to her lover’s words of love, the bride yields herself to him. She invites him to come into his garden; it now belongs to him. She figuratively asks the north and south winds to blow on the garden, so that its fragrance will be all the more enticing.