1.
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
The division of the chapters is unfortunate; Song of Solomon 2 ought to have begun at Song of Solomon 1:15, or Song of Solomon 1 to have been continued to Song of Solomon 2:7. The bride replies, “And I am like a lovely wild flower springing at the root of the stately forest-trees.” The majority of Christian fathers assigned this verse to the King (Christ). Hebrew commentators generally assign it to the bride. It is quite uncertain what flower is meant by the word rendered (here and Isaiah 35:1) “rose.” The etymology is in favor of its being a bulbous plant (the white narcissus, Conder). “Sharon” is usually the proper name of the celebrated plain from Joppa to Caesarea, between the hill-country and the sea, and travelers have remarked the abundance of flowers with which this plain is still carpeted in spring. But in the time of Eusebius and Jerome there was a smaller plain of Sharon (Saron) situated between Mount Tabor and the sea of Tiberias, which would be very near the bride’s native home if that were Shunem.
2.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
The king resumes, taking up the bride’s comparison: “As the lily excels in beauty the thorny shrubs among which it grows, so my friend excels her companions.”
3.
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.
4.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7.
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8.
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
9.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.
10.
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11.
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13.
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14.
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
15.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16.
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
17.
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.