Song 6 Commentary
Once in a while, the holy pages give away their identity. At times, it’s the timing of the script that is exposed unintentionally.
The mention of Tirzah and Jerusalem in the same thought may give us an estimation of the time when the Book was written. It wasn’t definitely written during the reign of Solomon. Tirzah wasn’t in the picture until the time of King Baasha of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Typical of drama, the book takes on different shapes drawn from the nation’s long history. It’s a poor picture of Eden, but you can still feel it. It also captures the culture of a fallen people. It pictures a love story within a warped environment.
Solomon and his many “queens” and concubines are also pictured. The scripture hasn’t commented on his perversions. That’s for other pages of scripture. But there is an important note. A man is drawn to one woman above countless virgins, “sixty queens” and “eighty concubines”.
The countless virgins, the sixty queens, and the eighty concubines reveal a cycle of unending search for love. Only time and physical strength saved this man from a continuous search – his punishment only cut short by death.
Yes, a search, but also a poor mind’s thought that sixty plus eighty plus countless virgins equal incredible pleasure – only limited by the figures achieved. But it’s punishment, a chase after the wind.
This chapter carries a confession that, “My dove, my perfect one, is the only one.” Verse 9. Interestingly, even the queens and concubines know it. Verses 8-9.
Of course, you wonder what the sixty queens and the eighty concubines are doing. Especially when “My dove” is perfect! But that’s where vanity comes in. That’s the space for deception. “What you have isn’t enough!”
Chapter 6 starts with the bride’s community joining the search team. They must find the groom for the beautiful bride. Marriage is always a community situation. The Hollywood version of marriage where fake love is exclusively traded between two sinners isn’t at all scriptural.
Then the woman speaks up. She actually knows where her man is. The point here is that while the search is now a community function, the woman, and she alone, knows and should define her wants. She knows the size, shape, and color of her groom
And now the groom speaks. He is around after all! He declares his love for the bride – comparing his bride to both Tirzah and Jerusalem.
Samaria (Tirzah) and Jerusalem would be called out for adultery by several prophets, notably Ezekiel.
The Bible is one long story about the LORD God and His people. In some places, the LORD God is the Shepherd while His people are the sheep. In this Book, and particularly in the Book of Ezekiel, the LORD God is the groom while Israel is the bride.
There is a time when the bride is described in glowing terms. This is the time before Genesis 3. There is also a time when the bride is described as lowly, sinful, stupid, down, and out. The saint can look at his life as the bride and check the Groom’s description against his or her name.
Back to the human groom. He must explain his absence. He had gone out without realizing that his desire for other things kept him away from the bride. “The little foxes that ruin the vines”
Men must watch out for things that can possibly keep them away from the joys of marriage, including work. Verses 11 and 12.
The chapter closes with an envious groom protecting his bride from the piercing eyes of the community, needlessly!
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