The Song of Solomon Chapter 1 centers on a song, or poem, that is shared between two lovers.
The Woman’s Love for Solomon
The first chapter of Song of Solomon begins with a woman professing her love for King Solomon. She sings and wishes that he would kiss her on the mouth. The name of Solomon is like a precious ointment as it draws forth the affections of many women.
The singer of the song wishes Solomon will draw her forth and she will love him more than anything else on the earth. She continually states that Solomon will love her more than precious wine itself.
Longing to be Together
The woman tells Solomon that she was once a keeper of the vineyards where she acted mainly as a servant to her brothers. She longed now to be with Solomon and wanted to stay with him wherever he rested his flock. She did not want to be given secondary consideration after the flock.
Solomon Speaks to Her
Solomon spoke and compared the woman to the greatest horses in the chariots of the great Pharaohs. He sang that she was so beautiful that her face reminded him of the most precious jewels and metals.
The Woman Speaks Again
The woman told Solomon that she would try to make herself smell amazingly sweet and appealing to him. She said Solomon was like a small bag of myrrh that rested on her chest all night. She also compared him to the henna that is found in the great vineyards of En Gedi.
Solomon Responds Again
Solomon told his lover that she is beautiful and fair. He said she had eyes much like a gentle dove. She then responded back by saying their bed was green, alluding to the imagery that their bed was the grass of the earth itself. The beams of the house were the cedar trees and the rafters were made of fir, both of which are also references to nature.
Song of Solomon 1 (King James Version)
1 The song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.