1.
O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.
Royal rank and splendor are grown wearisome. The king once called her “sister” and “sister-bride.” Would he were indeed as a “brother,” her mother’s own child whom she might meet, embrace, and welcome everywhere without restraint or shame. Her love for him is simple, sacred, pure, free from the unrest and the stains of mere earthly passion.
2.
I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
Who would instruct me - Or, thou shouldest teach me Isaiah 54:13. Some allegorists make the whole passage Song of Solomon 7:11-2 a prayer of the synagogue for the Incarnation of the Word, like Song of Solomon 1:2 (see note). Others, a prayer of the Church under both covenants for that complete union with the Incarnate Godhead which is still future.
3.
His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
The bride now turns to and addresses the chorus as before (marginal reference).
4.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.
That ye stir not up - literally, as in the margin. For “my love” read as before love. The omission of “the roes and hinds” here is noticeable. Hebrew scholars regard this charge here and elsewhere Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 3:5 as an admonition to Israel not to attempt obtaining a possession of, or restoration to, the promised land, and union or reunion there with the Holy One, before being inwardly prepared for it by the trials of the wilderness and the exile. This interpretation comes very near to what appears to be the genuine literal meaning (see Song of Solomon 2:7 note). They suppose the words here to be addressed by Messiah to Israel in “the wilderness of the people” Ezekiel 20:35, in the latter day, and the former words Song of Solomon 3:5 by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai.
5.
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.
The scene changes from Jerusalem to the birthplace of the bride, where she is seen coming up toward her mother’s house, leaning on the arm of the great king her beloved.
Who is this - Compare and contrast with Song of Solomon 3:6. In the former scene all was splendor and exaltation, but here condescension, humility, and loving charm.
I raised thee up ... - Beneath this apple-tree I wakened thee. The king calls the bride’s attention to a fruit-tree, which they pass, the trysting-spot of earliest vows in this her home and birthplace. The Masoretic pointing of the Hebrew text (the most ancient traditional interpretation) assigns these words to the bride, but the majority of Christian fathers to the king. The whole passage gains in clearness and dramatic expression by the latter arrangement.
6.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
8.
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9.
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10.
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
11.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12.
My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
13.
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
14.
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.