1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
6 Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
1 By night H3915 on my bed H4904 I sought H1245 him whom my soul H5315 loveth: H157 I sought H1245 him, but I found H4672 him not.
2 I will rise H6965 now, and go about H5437 the city H5892 in the streets, H7784 and in the broad ways H7339 I will seek H1245 him whom my soul H5315 loveth: H157 I sought H1245 him, but I found H4672 him not.
3 The watchmen H8104 that go about H5437 the city H5892 found H4672 me: to whom I said, Saw H7200 ye him whom my soul H5315 loveth? H157
4 It was but a little H4592 that I passed H5674 from them, but I found H4672 him whom my soul H5315 loveth: H157 I held H270 him, and would not let him go, H7503 until I had brought H935 him into my mother's H517 house, H1004 and into the chamber H2315 of her that conceived H2029 me.
5 I charge H7650 you, O ye daughters H1323 of Jerusalem, H3389 by the roes, H6643 and H176 by the hinds H355 of the field, H7704 that ye stir not up, H5782 nor awake H5782 my love, H160 till he please. H2654
6 Who is this that cometh H5927 out of the wilderness H4057 like pillars H8490 of smoke, H6227 perfumed H6999 with myrrh H4753 and frankincense, H3828 with all powders H81 of the merchant? H7402
7 Behold his bed, H4296 which is Solomon's; H8010 threescore H8346 valiant H1368 men are about H5439 it, of the valiant H1368 of Israel. H3478
8 They all hold H270 swords, H2719 being expert H3925 in war: H4421 every man H376 hath his sword H2719 upon his thigh H3409 because of fear H6343 in the night. H3915
9 King H4428 Solomon H8010 made H6213 himself a chariot H668 of the wood H6086 of Lebanon. H3844
10 He made H6213 the pillars H5982 thereof of silver, H3701 the bottom H7507 thereof of gold, H2091 the covering H4817 of it of purple, H713 the midst H8432 thereof being paved H7528 with love, H160 for the daughters H1323 of Jerusalem. H3389
11 Go forth, H3318 O ye daughters H1323 of Zion, H6726 and behold H7200 king H4428 Solomon H8010 with the crown H5850 wherewith his mother H517 crowned H5849 him in the day H3117 of his espousals, H2861 and in the day H3117 of the gladness H8057 of his heart. H3820
1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 `I said', I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me; `To whom I said', Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake `my' love, Until he please.
6 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?
7 Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
8 They all handle the sword, `and' are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.
1 On my couch by night, I sought him whom my soul hath loved; I sought him, and I found him not!
2 -- Pray, let me rise, and go round the city, In the streets and in the broad places, I seek him whom my soul hath loved! -- I sought him, and I found him not.
3 The watchmen have found me, (Who are going round about the city), `Him whom my soul have loved saw ye?'
4 But a little I passed on from them, Till I found him whom my soul hath loved! I seized him, and let him not go, Till I brought him in unto the house of my mother -- And the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!
6 Who `is' this coming up from the wilderness, Like palm-trees of smoke, Perfumed `with' myrrh and frankincense, From every powder of the merchant?
7 Lo, his couch, that `is' Solomon's, Sixty mighty ones `are' around it, Of the mighty of Israel,
8 All of them holding sword, taught of battle, Each his sword by his thigh, for fear at night.
9 A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, Of the wood of Lebanon,
10 Its pillars he made of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined `with' love, By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, and look, ye daughters of Zion, On king Solomon, with the crown, With which his mother crowned him, In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the joy of his heart!
1 On my bed, in the nights, I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broadways Will I seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that go about the city found me: -- Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?
4 -- Scarcely had I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please.
6 Who is this, [she] that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? ...
7 Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.
8 They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.
9 King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.
10 Its pillars he made of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple; The midst thereof was paved [with] love By the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, daughters of Zion, And behold king Solomon With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.
1 By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.
2 I will get up now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.
3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
4 I had scarcely passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, Into the chamber of her who conceived me.
5 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires.
6 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all spices of the merchant?
7 Behold, it is Solomon's carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a carriage Of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made its pillars of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, With the crown with which his mother has crowned him, In the day of his weddings, In the day of the gladness of his heart. Lover
1 By night on my bed I was looking for him who is the love of my soul: I was looking for him, but I did not see him.
2 I will get up now and go about the town, in the streets and in the wide ways I will go after him who is the love of my soul: I went after him, but I did not see him.
3 The watchmen who go about the town came by me; to them I said, Have you seen him who is my heart's desire?
4 I was but a little way from them, when I came face to face with him who is the love of my soul. I took him by the hands, and did not let him go, till I had taken him into my mother's house, and into the room of her who gave me birth.
5 I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes of the field, let not love be moved till it is ready.
6 Who is this coming out of the waste places like pillars of smoke, perfumed with sweet spices, with all the spices of the trader?
7 See, it is the bed of Solomon; sixty men of war are about it, of the army of Israel,
8 All of them armed with swords, trained in war; every man has his sword at his side, because of fear in the night.
9 King Solomon made himself a bed of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made its pillars of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it of ebony.
11 Go out, O daughters of Jerusalem, and see King Solomon, with the crown which his mother put on his head on the day when he was married, and on the day of the joy of his heart.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Song of Solomon 3
Commentary on Song of Solomon 3 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
1 On my bed in the nights
I sought him whom my soul loveth:
I sought him, and found him not.
She does not mean to say that she sought him beside herself on her couch; for how could that be of the modest one, whose home-bringing is first described in the next act - she could and might miss him there neither waking nor sleeping. The commencement is like Job 33:15. She was at night on her couch, when a painful longing seized her: the beloved of her soul appeared to have forsaken her, to have withdrawn from her; she had lost the feeling of his nearness, and was not able to recover it. לילות is neither here nor at Song of Solomon 3:8 necessarily the categ. plur. The meaning may also be, that this pain, arising from a sense of being forgotten, always returned upon her for several nights through: she became distrustful of his fidelity; but the more she apprehended that she was no longer loved, the more ardent became her longing, and she arose to seek for him who had disappeared.
2 So I will arise, then, and go about the city,
The markets, and the streets;
I will seek him whom my soul loveth! -
I sought him, and found him not.
How could this night-search, with all the strength of love, be consistent with the modesty of a maiden? It is thus a dream which she relates. And if the beloved of her soul were a shepherd, would she seek him in the city, and not rather without, in the field or in some village? No; the beloved of her soul is Solomon; and in the dream, Jerusalem, his city is transported close to the mountains of her native home. The resolution expressed by “I will arise, then,” is not introduced by “then I said,” or any similar phrase: the scene consists of a monologue which dramatically represents that which is experienced. Regarding the second Chatef-Pathach of ואס , vid ., Baer's Genesis , p. 7. שׁוקים is the plur of שׁוּק (= shavḳ ), as שׁורים of שׁוּר (= shavr ); the root-word שוק (Arab. shaḳ ) signifies to press on, to follow after continuously; (Arab.) suwaḳ designates perhaps, originally, the place to which one drives cattle for sale, as in the desert; (Arab.) sawaḳ designates the place to which one drives cattle for drink (Wetzst.). The form אבקשׁה is without the Daghesh , as are all the forms of this verb except the imper.; the semi-guttural nature of the Koph has something opposing the simple Sheva .
Shulamith now relates what she further experienced when, impelled by love-sorrow, she wandered through the city:
3 The watchmen who go about in the city found me:
“Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?”
Here also (as in Song of Solomon 3:2) there is wanting before the question such a phrase as, “and I asked them, saying:” the monologue relates dramatically. If she described an outward experience, then the question would be a foolish one; for how could she suppose that the watchmen, who make their rounds in the city (Epstein, against Grהtz, points for the antiquity of the order to Psalms 127:1; Isaiah 62:6; cf. Isaiah 21:11), could have any knowledge of her beloved! But if she relates a dream, it is to be remembered that feeling and imagination rise higher than reflection. It is in the very nature of a dream, also, that things thus quickly follow one another without fixed lineaments. This also, that having gone out by night, she found in the streets him whom she sought, is a happy combination of circumstances formed in the dreaming soul; an occurrence without probable external reality, although not without deep inner truth:
4 Scarcely had I passed from them,
When I found him whom my soul loveth.
I seized him, and did not let him go
Until I brought him into the house of my mother,
And into the chamber of her that gave me birth.
כּמעט = paululum , here standing for a sentence: it was as a little that I passed, etc. Without שׁ , it would be paululum transii ; with it, paululum fuit quod transii , without any other distinction than that in the latter case the paululum is more emphatic. Since Shulamith relates something experienced earlier, אחזתּי is not fitly rendered by teneo , but by tenui ; and ארפּנּוּ dna ;iune לאו , not by et non dimittam eum , but, as the neg. of וארפנו , et dimisi eum , - not merely et non dimittebam eum , but et non dimisi eum . In Genesis 32:27 [26], we read the cogn. שׁלּח , which signifies, to let go (“let me go”), as הרפּה , to let loose, to let free. It is all the same whether we translate, with the subjective colouring, donec introduxerim , or, with the objective, donec introduxi ; in either case the meaning is that she held him fast till she brought him, by gentle violence, into her mother's house. With בּית there is the more definite parallel חדר lellar , which properly signifies ( vid ., under Song of Solomon 1:4), recessus , penetrale ; with אמּי , the seldom occurring (only, besides, at Hosea 2:7) הורה , part.f. Kal of הרה fo la , to conceive, be pregnant, which poetically, with the accus., may mean parturire or parere . In Jacob's blessing, Genesis 49:26, as the text lies before us, his parents are called הורי ; just as in Arab. ummâni , properly “my two mothers,” may be used for “my parents;” in the Lat. also, parentes means father and mother zeugmatically taken together.
The closing words of the monologue are addressed to the daughters of Jerusalem.
5 I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or the hinds of the field,
That ye awake not and disturb not love
Till she pleases.
We are thus obliged apparently to think of the daughters of Jerusalem as being present during the relation of the dream. But since Shulamith in the following Act is for the first time represented as brought from her home to Jerusalem, it is more probable that she represented her experience to herself in secret, without any auditors, and feasting on the visions of the dream, which brought her beloved so near, that she had him by herself alone and exclusively, that she fell into such a love-ecstasy as Song of Solomon 2:7; and pointing to the distant Jerusalem, deprecates all disturbance of this ecstasy, which in itself is like a slumber pervaded by pleasant dreams. In two monologues dramatically constructed, the poet has presented to us a view of the thoughts and feelings by which the inner life of the maiden was moved in the near prospect of becoming a bride and being married. Whoever reads the Song in the sense in which it is incorporated with the canon, and that, too, in the historical sense fulfilled in the N.T., will not be able to read the two scenes from Shulamith's experience without finding therein a mirror of the intercourse of the soul with God in Christ, and cherishing thoughts such, e.g. , as are expressed in the ancient hymn:
Quando tandem venies, meus amor?
Propera de Libano, dulcis amor!
Clamat, amat sponsula: Veni, Jesu,
Dulcis veni Jesu !