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4
Man:
1 How beautiful you look, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair flows down like a flock of goats* Goats were usually black in color so presumably corresponding to the woman's hair. descending Mount Gilead. 2 Your teeth are as white as a flock of sheep that are just shorn and washed. None of them are missing—they are all perfectly matched.† In other words, each upper tooth is matched by a lower tooth. 3 Your lips are as red as scarlet thread. Your mouth is gorgeous. Your cheeks‡ Or “temples.” One of the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q Canta) can be read as “chin.” are the blushing color of pomegranates behind your veil. 4 Your neck is as tall and shapely as David's tower, with your necklaces like the hanging shields of a thousand warriors. 5 Your breasts are like two fawns, two gazelles feeding among the lilies.
6 Before the morning breezes blow and the shadows disappear, I must hurry to those mountains of myrrh§ See 1:13. and frankincense. 7 You are incredibly beautiful, my darling—you are absolutely flawless!
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come from Lebanon.* It is thought that Lebanon is used symbolically here (together with the other locations mentioned) as remote and inaccessible. Come down from the peak of Amana, from the peaks of Senir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains where leopards live. 9 You have stolen my heart, my sister,† “My sister”: this is a term of endearment and not to be taken literally. Some commentators believe this also applies to the term “bride” which is only used in this section of the book. my bride. With just one look you stole my heart, with just one sparkle from a single one of your necklaces. 10 How wonderful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is sweeter than wine. The way you smell from your perfumed oils is better than any spice. 11 Nectar drips from your lips; milk and honey are under your tongue. The smell of your clothes is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
12 My sister, my bride, is a locked garden, a spring of water that is closed, a fountain that is sealed. 13 Your channel‡ Continuing the metaphor of a spring and fountain. is a paradise of pomegranates, full of the best fruits, with henna and nard,§ “Henna and nard”: two exotic perfumes. 14 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all kinds of trees producing frankincense, myrrh, aloes, and the finest spices. 15 You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, a flowing stream from Lebanon.* Some commentators believe that in contrast to the images of verse 12 that speak of a sealed fountain that what was once locked is now open. Others believe that this is now the words of the woman and should begin with “I am…” (No verb is supplied in the Hebrew.)
Woman:
16 Wake up, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow on my garden so its scent may be carried on the breeze. Let my love come to his garden and eat its best fruits.

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*4:1 Goats were usually black in color so presumably corresponding to the woman's hair.

†4:2 In other words, each upper tooth is matched by a lower tooth.

‡4:3 Or “temples.” One of the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q Canta) can be read as “chin.”

§4:6 See 1:13.

*4:8 It is thought that Lebanon is used symbolically here (together with the other locations mentioned) as remote and inaccessible.

†4:9 “My sister”: this is a term of endearment and not to be taken literally. Some commentators believe this also applies to the term “bride” which is only used in this section of the book.

‡4:13 Continuing the metaphor of a spring and fountain.

§4:13 “Henna and nard”: two exotic perfumes.

*4:15 Some commentators believe that in contrast to the images of verse 12 that speak of a sealed fountain that what was once locked is now open. Others believe that this is now the words of the woman and should begin with “I am…” (No verb is supplied in the Hebrew.)

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher