Solomon’s Love for a Shulamite Girl

Commentary

Solomon frequently visited various ports of his kingdom. One day, as he visited some royal vineyards in the north, he came by surprise upon a beautiful peasant woman. Embarrassed, she ran but Solomon could not forget her. Later, disguised as a shepherd, he returned to the vineyard and won her love. Then he told her his true identity and asked her to return to Jerusalem with him. Then Solomon and his beloved are married in the palace. This love relationship begins with words of passionate devotion by this bride to be. Her bridegroom to be is greatly beloved and she yearns for his expression of love (v. 2). The pleasing smell of his perfumes makes him even more attractive. She expresses her desire to be close to him (v. 4).
Kedar was a nomadic community in Northern Arabia that was known for its tents that were woven from black goat hair. The fact that she had a suntanned appearance revealed that she worked in the fields, and she simply compared her dark skin to the tents of Kedar. She seemed to be embarrassed about her tanned complexion, but her lover really liked her dark skin. Feeling insecure as being different from the women of Jerusalem (v. 6), (who had fair, delicate skin compared to her course, dark skin) and at being alone while her lover is away (v. 7) she longs for the security of his presence. What she wanted most was his praises (v. 7). It seems that Solomon is complimenting his beloved’s beauty and comparing her favorably with the women she feared (vv. 14-17). Just as the cypress blossoms appeared more beautiful in their stark surroundings, his lover’s beauty stood out in her surroundings.

Application

What Solomon’s bride to be wanted most of all was his praises. This is something my wife has expressed to me many times and I need to be more mindful of doing this.