Song of Solomon 2:3

THE SHULAMITE CONTRASTS HER TRUE LOVER WITH SOLOMON

"As the apple tree among the trees of the wood,

So is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight,

And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banqueting house,

And his banner over me was love.

Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples;

For I am sick from love.

His left hand is under my head,

And his right hand doth embrace me."

"So is my beloved among the sons" (Song of Solomon 2:3). Note that when a lover is meant, the word is not `love' but `beloved.' Note also that the Shulamite's true lover is "among the sons," a description that has no application whatever to Solomon.

Also, look at the past tense: "I sat down"; "his fruit was sweet"; "he brought me," etc. All the scholars admit that Solomon is wooing the maiden in this book; but she mentions loving experiences with her true lover that occurred in the past. She is rejecting the king.

"He brought me to the banqueting house" (Song of Solomon 2:4). When was Solomon's palace ever called "a banqueting house."? This is clearly a reference to some public eating place.

In the light of these considerations, we find full agreement with Balchin who wrote that these verses recall, "A meeting the maiden had with her lover."[1]

We include here a sample of the allegorical speculations with regard to the meaning of this chapter:

"This is a poetical, allegorical representation of what takes place in the Church and in the experience of believers individually. Examples of this are seen (in the case of God's people) when the Jews returned from the captivity in Babylon, or in the Incarnation of Christ; or, (in the case of individuals), at any time of great revival in the Church."[2] This writer only wishes that he could see things like that here; but, truthfully, he cannot.

Illustration: This writer once watched a skilled artist painting a picture of Bryce Canyon in Utah. He used many different colors in portraying the matchless wonder of that spectacular pageant of natural beauty. A bystander said:

"I don't see all those colors down there"! The artist looked at him sadly, and said: "Don't you wish you could"?

Similarly, this writer would welcome the power to see such wonderful teachings in these erotic verses. And make no mistake about it, these words are extremely sensuous and erotic, as a glance at the Good News Bible translation will indicate.

"Stay ye me with raisins ... I am sick from love ... his left hand is under my head ... etc." (Song of Solomon 2:5-6). What do these verses say?

The recall of events in her former meeting with her beloved were too taxing for the maiden. Memory brought an acute emotional climax. She appeals to the women of the harem to bring food (Song of Solomon 2:5). Evidently, the love-sick maiden had not eaten properly during the period of her separation (due to the king's bringing her into his harem)."[3]

This translation supports Bunn's understanding of the passage: "Restore my strength with raisins, ... I am weak from passion."[4]