Song of Songs 7 Study Notes

7:7-8 The fruit of the palm tree transforms from “stalks of dates” (lit “fruit” in v. 8) to clusters of grapes, demonstrating first a view from a distance and then the object of Solomon’s caresses. “At a distance her breasts seem like clusters of dates on the palm tree. But held close, they are like supple, juicy clusters of grapes” (Craig Glickman).

7:9 The last phrase in this verse could be translated “past the lips of sleepers” (Hb yeshenim). This section begins with Shulamith sleeping alone (Hb yeshenah, 5:2) and ends with the couple sleeping together (see outline in the Introduction) just as the section in chiastic balance with this does as well (3:1-4). So their kisses—hers as fragrant as apricots and both of theirs as intoxicating as wine—lingered on as they drifted peacefully off to sleep.

7:10 This verse repeats the similar refrain where Shulamith affirmed their exclusive bond (see note at 2:16). Desire in his desire is for me is used only twice elsewhere in the OT: at Gn 3:16, in God’s words to Eve describing the consequences of disobedience (“Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you”) and in God’s words to Cain describing sin personified as a lion crouching at the door (“Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it,” Gn 4:7). So desire may connote the desire to rule. This verse has been interpreted in at least three ways: (1) Now Solomon has a desire (to love or to rule) equal to the desire of Shulamith; (2) now Solomon has a desire to love, but not to dominate; and (3) now Solomon, and not Shulamith, has a desire to “rule” in a benevolent sense, perhaps as the sun and moon “rule” (or “govern”) the day and night, providing guiding light (Gn 1:18) or as God’s “rule” provides loving care for his people (see Ps 22:28; 59:13; 66:7; 89:9). In any case, after a wonderful reconciliation and time of intimacy, Shulamith affirmed her complete security in Solomon’s love.

7:11-8:4 This section is in chiastic balance with 2:6-17 (see note there).

7:11-13 This section contains Shulamith’s invitation to enjoy spring. It balances Solomon’s earlier invitation to do the same (2:8-14). His invitation concluded with a request to hear her voice (2:14); hers concluded with a request to make love (7:12-13). The Song will conclude on precisely these themes: Solomon’s request to hear her voice (8:13) and her request to make love (8:14)—artistically portraying unending seasons of spring in their love.

7:11 The phrase let’s spend the night among the henna blossoms uses language from 1:13-14 where Shulamith compared Solomon to henna blossoms in En-gedi after comparing him to a pouch of myrrh which spent the night between her breasts. During courtship her thoughts were of him who was like henna blossoms who would “spend the night” with her; now she asked to spend the night with him “among the henna blossoms.”

7:12-13 These verses contemplate a new season of spring in their experience. Caresses (Hb doday) is a wordplay on mandrakes (Hb duda’iym), an appropriate name for these plants associated with love and fertility. Delicacy is the same word twice rendered “choicest fruits,” referring to erotic delicacies of the wedding night (4:13,16). New and old refer literally to fresh fruit from the harvest and dried fruits from the past. This refers figuratively to lovemaking “delicacies” that were in part fresh and new and in part familiar and constant. Old (Hb yeshanim) plays on “of the ones sleeping” (Hb yeshenim, v. 9). Since this is the peaceful sleep after lovemaking (see note at v. 9), the poet associates the familiar lovemaking with security and comfort.

The location of delicacies at our doors (Hb pethachenu) is a play on has opened (Hb pittach, of blossoms in v. 12), both words derived from the same root. The poet’s intention to create the wordplay is underscored by his rejection of a different word for “doors” that he could have used (Hb chomah, used in 8:9) without creating the wordplay. Our “doors” is thus a very erotic play on has opened. Her openings and openness are like the opening of flower blossoms.