---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Song of Solomon 1:1. The song of songs — A song of peculiar excellence. See the Introduction. The rabbins consider this superior to all songs. TEN s"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1"
---

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:1](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/1). ***The song of songs*** — A song of peculiar excellence. See the *Introduction*. The rabbins consider this superior to all songs. TEN *songs*, says the *Targum*, have been sung; but this excels them all.
1. The *first* was sung by *Adam* when his sin was pardoned.
2. The *second* was sung by Moses and the *Israelites* at the *Red Sea*.
3. The *third* was sung by the *Israelites* when they drank of the *rock* in the wilderness.
4. The *fourth* was sung by *Moses* when summoned to *depart* from this *world*.
5. The *fifth* was sung by *Joshua* when the *sun* and *moon stood still*.
6. The *sixth* was sung by *Deborah* and *Barak* after the defeat of *Sisera*.
7. The *seventh* was sung by *Hannah* when the Lord promised her a *son*.
8. The *eighth* was sung by *David* for all the *mercies* given him by God.
9. The *ninth* is the present, sung in the spirit of prophecy by *Solomon*.
10. The *tenth* is that which shall be sung by the *children of Israel* when restored from their *captivities*. See the *Targum*.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:2](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/2). ***Let him kiss me, c.*** — She speaks of the bridegroom in the *third* person, to testify her own *modesty*, and to show him the greater *respect*.
***Thy love*****is*****better than wine.*** — The *versions* in general translate דדיך *dodeyca*, thy *breasts* and they are said to represent, spiritually, the *Old* and *New Testaments*.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:3](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/3). ***Thy name*****is as*****ointment poured forth*** — Ointments and perfumes were, and still are, in great request among the Asiatics. They occur constantly in their entertainments. Thy *name* is as refreshing to my heart, as the best perfumes diffused through a chamber are to the senses of the guests.
***Therefore do the virgins love thee.*** — She means *herself*; but uses this *periphrasis* through modesty.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:4](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/4). ***Draw me*** — Let me have the full assurance of thy affection.
***We will run after thee*** — Speaking in the plural through modesty, while still *herself* is meant.
***The king hath brought me*** — My spouse is a *potentate*, a mighty *king*, no ordinary person.
***Into his chambers*** — He has favoured me with his utmost confidence.
***The upright love thee.*** — The most perfect and accomplished find thee worthy of their highest esteem.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:5](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/5). ***I*****am*****black, but comely*** — This is literally true of many of the Asiatic women; though *black* or *brown*, they are exquisitely beautiful. Many of the Egyptian women are still fine; but their *complexion* is much inferior to that of the Palestine females. Though black or swarthy in my complexion, yet am I *comely*- well proportioned in every part.
***As the tents of Kedar*** — I am *tawny*, like the *tents* of the *Arabians*, and like the pavilions of Solomon, probably covered by a kind of *tanned cloth*. The *daughters of Jerusalem* are said to represent the *synagogue*; the *bride*, the *Church of Christ*. It is easy to find spiritual meanings: *every creed* will furnish them.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:6](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/6). ***Because the sun hath looked upon me*** — The bride gives here certain reasons why she was *dark complexioned*. "The sun hath looked upon me." I am sunburnt, tanned by the sun; being obliged, perhaps, through some domestic jealously or uneasiness, to keep much without: "My mother's children were angry; they made me keeper of the vineyards." Here the *brown complexion* of the Egyptians is attributed to the influence of the *sun* or *climate*.
***My mother's children were angry with me*** — Acted *severely*. The bringing of a *foreigner* to the throne would no doubt excite jealousy among the Jewish females; who, from their own superior complexion, national and religious advantages, might well suppose that Solomon should not have gone to *Egypt* for a wife and queen, while *Judea* could have furnished him with every kind of superior excellence.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:7](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/7). ***Tell me - where thou feedest*** — This is spoken as if the parties were shepherds, or employed in the pastoral life. But how this would apply either to *Solomon*, or the *princes of Egypt*, is not easy to ascertain. Probably in the marriage festival there was something like our *masks*, in which persons of quality assumed rural characters and their employments. See that fine one composed by *Milton*, called COMUS.
***To rest at noon*** — In hot countries the shepherds and their flocks are obliged to retire to shelter during the burning heats of the noon-day sun. This is common in all countries, in the summer heats, where *shelter* can be had.
***One that turneth aside*** — As a *wanderer*; one who, not knowing where to find her companions, wanders fruitlessly in seeking them. It was customary for shepherds to *drive their flocks together* for the purpose of *conversing, playing on the pipe*, or having *trials* *of skill* in *poetry* or *music*. So VIRGIL: -
Forte sub arguta consederat ilice Daphnis
*Compulerantque greges* Corydon et Thyrsis in unum:
Thyrsis oves, Corydon distentas lacte capellas;
Ambo florentes aetatibus, Arcades ambo,
Et cantare pares, et respondere parati.
ECL,. vii. v. 1.

"Beneath a holm repair'd two jolly swains:
Their sheep and goats together grazed the plains;
Both young Arcadians, both alike inspired
To sing and answer as the song required."
DRYDEN.

This does not express the sense of the original: from the different pastures in which they had been accustomed to feed their flocks, *they drove their sheep and goats together* for the purpose mentioned in the pastoral; and, in course, returned to their respective pasturages, when their business was over.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:8](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/8). ***If thou know not*** — This appears to be the reply of the *virgins*. They know not exactly; and therefore direct the bride to the *shepherds*, who would give information.

Verse 9. ***I have compared thee - to a company of horses*** — This may be translated, more literally, "I have compared thee *lesusathi*, to *my mare*, in the chariots or courses of Pharaoh;" and so the *versions* understood it. *Mares*, in preference to *horses,* were used both for riding and for chariots in the East. They are much *swifter*, endure more *hardship*, and will go longer *without* *food*, than either the *stallion* or the *gelding*. There is perhaps no brute creature in the world so beautiful as a fine well-bred horse or mare; and the finest woman in the universe, *Helen*, has been compared to a *horse* in a *Thessalian chariot*, by *Theocritus*. Idyl. xviii. ver. 28: -
This passage amply justifies the Hebrew bard, in the simile before us. See [Jeremiah 6:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/2).

Verse 10. ***Thy cheeks are comely*** — *D'Arvieux* has remarked that "the Arabian ladies wear a great many *pearls* about their *necks* and *caps*. They have *golds chains* about their *necks* which hang down upon their *bosoms* with strings of coloured gauze; the gauze itself *bordered* with *zechins* and other pieces of *gold coin*, which hang upon their *foreheads* and both *cheeks*. The ordinary women wear *small silver coins*, with which they cover their *forehead-piece* like *fish scales*, as this is one of the principal ornaments of their faces." I have seen their *essence bottles* ornamented with festoons of *aspers*, and small pieces of silver *pearls, beads*, &c. One of these is now before me.

Verse 11. ***Borders of gold*** — I have observed several of the *handkerchiefs*, shawls, and head attire of the Eastern women, curiously and expensively worked in the *borders* with *gold* and *silver*, and variously coloured silk, which has a splendid effect.

Verse 12. ***While the king*****sitteth*****at his table*** — במסבו *bimsibbo,* in his *circle*, probably meaning the circle of his friends at the marriage festivals, or a *round table*.

Verse 13. ***He shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.*** — Mr. *Harmer* contends that it is the *bundle of myrrh* which the bride says shall *lie all night betwixt her breasts*, to which she compares the bridegroom, his name being as pleasing and refreshing to her mind, as the myrrh or *stacte* was to her senses, by its continual fragrance.

Verse 14. ***A cluster of camphire*** — Mr. *Hasselquist* supposes this to mean a *bunch of the Cyprus grape*; but this is supposed to mean a *shrub* so called, not any production of the isle of *Cypress*; the best kinds of which were found at *En-gedi*. This place belonged to the tribe of Judah.
Perhaps the poet alludes to the dark colour of the *hair*, which by the Greeks was not unfrequently compared to the *bunches of* *grapes*; by no means an unfit similitude for thick black clustering curls. The following lines represent the same idea: -
[Persian]
[Persian]

"The dark black locks that ornament her neck
Hang thick and clustering like the branchy palm."

Verse 15. ***Thou*****hast*****doves' eyes*** — The large and beautiful dove of Syria is supposed to be here referred to, the eyes of which are remarkably fine.

Verse 16. ***Also our bed*****is*****green.*** — ערס *eres*, from its use in several places of the Hebrew Bible, generally signifies a *mattress*; and here probably a *green bank* is meant, on which they sat down, being now on a walk in the country. Or it may mean a *bower* in a *garden*, or the nuptial bed.

Verse [Song of Solomon 1:17](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/17). ***The beams of our house*****are*****cedar*** — Perhaps it was under a *cedar tree*, whose vast limbs were interwoven with the ברות *beroth*, a tree of the *cypress* kind, where they now sat. And this natural bower recommended itself to the poet's attention by its strength, loftiness, and its affording them a *shady* cover and *cool* *retreat*. How natural to break out into the praise of a *bower*, by whose *branches* and *foliage* we are shielded from the intense heat of the sun! Even the *shelter of a great rock to a weary land* is celebrated by the pen of the first of *prophets* and greatest of *poets*, [Isaiah 32:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/2).
With this chapter the *first* day of the marriage ceremonies is supposed to end.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary -  Song of Solomon 1"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1","name":"Clarke's Commentary -  Song of Solomon 1","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Verse Song of Solomon 1:1. The song of songs — A song of peculiar excellence. See the Introduction. The rabbins consider this superior to all songs. TEN s","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary","name":"Clarke's Commentary"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon","name":"Song of Solomon"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/song-of-solomon/1","name":"1"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```