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Structure of the Song of SongsThe Song of Songs has a chiastic structure [1], meaning the first topic is also the last topic of the book, the second topic is also the second to last topic of the book, and so forth. The center of the book, then is highlighted as the climax of the structure. This structure, as applied to the Song of Songs, is highlighted below:
The Bride's Country Roots (1:1-17)The book opens with the young Shulammite woman in the king's palace (1:4), reminiscing about how her lover found her in the countryside as the daughter of a vinedresser (1:6b). As she looks at all the beautiful women in court, she becomes self-conscious of her appearance, for she is dark and tan from working in the fields (1:6a). The king assures her that she is “most beautiful among women,” (1:8) and that he is struck by how beautiful she is having been taken out of her peasant garb and adorned with ornaments and necklaces (1:10). Love Grows (2:1-17)The bride is overwhelmed by the love of her beloved. She sees him as a “fruit tree” amongst the forest whose fruit is sweet. He has brought her to his banqueting table, where she might enjoy this fruit. She longs for his embrace (2:6). But she must wait patiently for the wedding before she can realize the consummation of her desire (2:7). She is rewarded for her patience as her lover arrives and protects her “in the clefts of the rock” (2:14). The Bride's Troubled Dream (3:1-5)That evening, the bride has a dream where she cannot find her lover (3:1). She goes throughout the city, asking the night watchmen if they had seen him (3:3). In her dream she finds her lover and bring him home (3:4). But again, she must wait patiently for the wedding before she can consummate her desire (3:5). The Wedding and the Wedding Night (3:6-5:1)The Wedding (3:5-11)Finally, there is the wedding day. King Solomon comes to the wedding in a sedan chair made of cedar (3:9-10), accompanied by soldiers and guards (3:7-8). He is wearing his crown and is a sight for all to behold on this is wedding day (3:11). The Wedding Night (4:1-5:1)Here we get a glimpse into the bridal chamber on the wedding night. Solomon begins by describing the beauty of his wife (4:1-6), concluding that she is “altogether beautiful… and there is no blemish in you” (4:7). As he delights in the beauty of his bride, he is aroused: “you have made my heart beat faster” (4:9). His bride has saved herself for this moment, waiting patiently (2:7, 3:5), keeping her “garden locked” (4:12). But now, the garden is unlocked, and the groom is invited into his garden (4:16) and he enjoys the pleasure of the garden (5:1a). Then, the narrator calls out with approval, “eat friends; drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers” (5:1b). This suggests that enjoying this moment is a gift from God which should be savored and enjoyed by the lovers. The Bride's Troubled Dream (5:2-9)The bride is asleep, but dreaming (5:2). In her dream, she hears her lover knocking on the door. She hesitates to let him in as she is already wearing her nightgown (5:3). But she changes her mind, gets up and goes to let him in (5:4), but he is gone (5:6). The same fearful dream before the wedding has returned, that her lover has given up on her and left her. She runs out into the city and finds the watchmen again (5:7), only this time, the watchman assault her (5:7). Love Grows (5:10-7:9)The bride remembers the strength and beauty of her husband (5:10-16). But doubt still remains. With all the beautiful women in Jerusalem, her dream reveals her concern that her husband might leave her for another (6:2). But Solomon reminds her that to him, she is more beautiful than any other woman, and more beautiful than “60 queens and 80 concubines” (6:8-9). This passage presents us with some difficulties. We know that Solomon had numerous wives and concubines. Was this woman just one more of his wives? Was she just number 61? That, indeed, seems to be the bride's concern and worry. Yet Solomon's response is that she is more beautiful than any of the other queens and concubines. Had he finally found true love? If so, it seems to contradict the message of the book, which calls on at least the bride to wait until marriage. Or is the book promoting a double standard when it comes to virginity. There are two primary interpretations of this passage:
While the first option is more comfortable to our modern day sensibilities, the second storyline seems to be a more consistent storyline and better explains the troubled dreams of the new bride. The bride remembers her country roots (7:10-8:14)The king describes her beauty to her again (7:1-9), and desires to enjoy her once more (7:8). However, the bride suggests that before they make love again, that they go on a couple's retreat to the countryside (7:10-13), and then she will “give you my love” (7:12). While in the countryside, their love is rekindled and they embrace (8:1-3). But the bride is asking for Solomon to reaffirm his commitment to her, in the midst of her doubts (8:6-7): "Put me like a seal over your heart, In other words, enough flattery, and enough of the gifts. She is asking Solomon to commit to her. She had saved herself for him (8:8-10). The least he could do is commit to her. She is willing to give her “vineyard” to him (8:11-12). But she does ask him to care for her family as they protected her honor until they married (8:12). Solomon responds to her. He wants to hear what she has to say (8:13) and agrees to her call. In response, she invites him to make love to her again (8:14). Footnotes
BibliographyKinlaw, Dennis F. “Song of Songs.” Expositor's Bible Commentary . Frank E. Gaebelein, ed. Grand Rapids MI : Zondervan, 1998. Curtis, Donald E. “The Song of Songs.” Creation to the Cross . Available on-line at http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1634 . S. Craig Glickman. A Song for Lovers. Downers Grove IL : Inter Varsity Press. Rick Taylor. Lecture notes from the Grace Institute, Grace Community Fellowship. |
