the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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THE MESSAGE
Song of Solomon 8:9
The Chorus
Who is this I see coming up from the country, arm in arm with her lover?The Man
I found you under the apricot tree, and woke you up to love. Your mother went into labor under that tree, and under that very tree she bore you.The Woman
Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold— it's not to be found in the marketplace. My brothers used to worry about me: "Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her? She's a virgin and vulnerable, and we'll protect her. If they think she's a wall, we'll top it with barbed wire. If they think she's a door, we'll barricade it."Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
If she is a wall,we will build a silver barricade on her.If she is a door,we will enclose her with cedar planks.
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
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.
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
"If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
If she is a wall, we will put silver towers on her. If she is a door, we will protect her with cedar boards.
"If she is a wall (discreet, womanly), We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver; But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious), We will enclose her with planks of cedar."
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
If shee be a wall, we will builde vpon her a siluer palace: and if she be a doore, we wil keepe her in with bordes of cedar.
If she is a wall,We will build on her a battlement of silver;But if she is a door,We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver to protect her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
She isn't a wall that we can defend behind a silver shield. Neither is she a room that we can protect behind a wooden door.
If she is a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she were a wall, we would put silver trim around her. If she were a door, we would put a cedar board around her.
If she be a wall, we will build upon her an upper chamber of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will build her a silver tower. But if she is a gate, we will protect her with panels of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will adorn her with a turret of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will build a turret of silver on her. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
Yf she be a wall, we shal buylde a syluer bollworke there vpon: Yf she be a tower, we shal festen her with bordes of Cedre tre.
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver; and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she be a wall, we will build vpon her a palace of siluer: and if she bee a dore, we will inclose her with boards of Cedar.
If she be a wall, we shall builde a siluer bulwarke thervpon: yf she be a doore, we shall fasten her with boordes of Cedar tree.
If she is a wall, let us build upon her silver bulwarks; and if she is a door, let us carve for her cedar panels.
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If it is a wal, bilde we theronne siluerne touris; if it is a dore, ioyne we it togidere with tablis of cedre.
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver: And if she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she [is] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she [is] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar.
If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar.
If she is a wall, we should build on her a tower of silver. But if she is a door, we should cover her with strong pieces of cedar wood."
If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If, a wall, she is, we will build upon it a battlement of silver, - but if, a door, she is, we will close it up with a plank of cedar.
If she be a wall: let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she is a wall, we build by her a palace of silver. And if she is a door, We fashion by her board-work of cedar.
"If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar."
Contextual Overview
The Chorus
Who is this I see coming up from the country, arm in arm with her lover?The Man
I found you under the apricot tree, and woke you up to love. Your mother went into labor under that tree, and under that very tree she bore you.The Woman
Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it. Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold— it's not to be found in the marketplace. My brothers used to worry about me: "Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her? She's a virgin and vulnerable, and we'll protect her. If they think she's a wall, we'll top it with barbed wire. If they think she's a door, we'll barricade it." 10 Dear brothers, I'm a walled-in virgin still, but my breasts are full— And when my lover sees me, he knows he'll soon be satisfied. 11The Man King Solomon may have vast vineyards in lush, fertile country, Where he hires others to work the ground. People pay anything to get in on that bounty. But my vineyard is all mine, and I'm keeping it to myself. You can have your vast vineyards, Solomon, you and your greedy guests!Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
a wall: Song of Solomon 2:9, Revelation 21:12-19
we will: Isaiah 58:12, Isaiah 60:17, Isaiah 61:4, Zechariah 6:12-15, Matthew 16:18, Acts 15:16, 1 Corinthians 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:20-22
a door: Acts 14:27
Reciprocal: Psalms 144:12 - the similitude Song of Solomon 1:11 - General Song of Solomon 1:17 - beams Song of Solomon 8:10 - a wall Ezekiel 16:61 - when
Cross-References
I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."
"What's that we see in the distance, a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky? It's ships from the distant islands, the famous Tarshish ships Returning your children from faraway places, loaded with riches, with silver and gold, And backed by the name of your God , The Holy of Israel, showering you with splendor. Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship. When I was angry I hit you hard. It's my desire now to be tender. Your Jerusalem gates will always be open —open house day and night!— Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations, and their kings, the delivery boys! Any nation or kingdom that doesn't deliver will perish; those nations will be totally wasted. The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered —all that cypress and oak and pine— To give a splendid elegance to my Sanctuary, as I make my footstool glorious. The descendants of your oppressor will come bowing and scraping to you. All who looked down at you in contempt will lick your boots. They'll confer a title on you: City of God , Zion of The Holy of Israel. Not long ago you were despised refuse— out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored. But now I've put you on your feet, towering and grand forever, a joy to look at! When you suck the milk of nations and the breasts of royalty, You'll know that I, God , am your Savior, your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob. I'll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs! Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron, bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones. I'll install Peace to run your country, make Righteousness your boss. There'll be no more stories of crime in your land, no more robberies, no more vandalism. You'll name your main street Salvation Way, and install Praise Park at the center of town. You'll have no more need of the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night. God will be your eternal light, your God will bathe you in splendor. Your sun will never go down, your moon will never fade. I will be your eternal light. Your days of grieving are over. All your people will live right and well, in permanent possession of the land. They're the green shoot that I planted, planted with my own hands to display my glory. The runt will become a great tribe, the weakling become a strong nation. I am God . At the right time I'll make it happen."
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
If she [be] a wall,.... Built upon a sure foundation; and firmly established in her faith on Christ, and love to him; and is constant therein, and stands as a wall against the attacks of enemies b;
we will build upon her a palace of silver; though at first but as a side wall, yet should become a complete habitation, even a palace for Christ, the King of kings, and, being designed for so illustrious an inhabitant, should be a "silver" one, denoting its worth, value, and splendour; the builders of it are the church and her ministers; though Christ is the principal builder, Zechariah 6:12. Or, "a tower of silver" c, signifying, that she should be well fortified, and be put into a posture of defence against her enemies: the Gentile church at first had but a very small appearance of a building, a foundation just laid, a side wall erected; but, in a short time, a noble structure, a stately tower, a silver palace, were built for God;
and if she [be] a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar; if the door of the Gospel was opened among the Gentiles, it should be succeeded to the building a holy temple to the Lord; which should be not only ornamented, but so well fenced, that it should not be in the power of their enemies to deface and demolish it: or if the door of their hearts was opened, to receive Christ, and his glorious train of grace, they should be adorned and beautified with a larger measure of them; or if being come into a church state, and the door of it was set open to receive good men, and exclude bad men, this would be to their honour comfort and safety: or this phrase is expressive of the finishing of the building, the gate or door being set up; though it rather seems to intend the low and mean estate of the Gentile church at first, when there was but little appearance of a building, only a door set up; which afterwards grew up into a stately and magnificent palace, like that of Solomon's, built of cedar boards of the wood of Lebanon; which may denote her fragrancy, perpetuity, and incorruptibleness.
b So Ajax is called the wall of the Grecians, Homer. Iliad. 6. v. 5. 7. v. 211. c טירת כסף "propugnaculum argenteum", Tigurine version "arcem argenteam", Mercerus; "castellum argenti", Michaelis.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
A brief dialogue commencing with a question and answer probably made by brothers of the bride concerning a younger sister who will soon be old enough to be asked in marriage. The answer is given in the form of a parable: “If she be a wall,” i. e., stedfast in chastity and virtue, one on whom no light advances can be made, then let us honor and reward her. This fortress-wall shall be crowned as it were with a tower or battlement of silver. But “if she be a door,” light-minded and accessible to seduction Proverbs 7:11-12, then let us provide against assailants the protection of a cedar bar or panel.
Song of Solomon 8:10
The bride herself replies with the pride of innocence and virtue already crowned. She has shown herself to be such a fortress-wall as her brothers have alluded to, and her reward has been the royal favor.
Song of Solomon 8:11, Song of Solomon 8:12
She next turns to the king, and commends her brothers to his favorable regard by means of another parable. Solomon owns a vineyard in Baal-hamon (possibly Baalbak, or identical with Amana (Conder)), situated in the warm and fertile plains of Coele-Syria, overshadowed by the heights of Lebanon Song of Solomon 4:8. This vineyard he has let out to tenants etc.
The bride also has a vineyard of her own Song of Solomon 1:6, her beauty and virtue faithfully guarded by these same brothers in time past. This vineyard now belongs to Solomon. Let him have “the thousand” which is his due - she is indeed herself henceforth entirely his - but let the faithful keepers have their meed as well. At least two hundred silverlings should be theirs - a double tithe of royal praise and honor.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. If she be a wall — All these expressions, says Calmet, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young sister. For a woman without a husband is like a wall without towers, and without defense; is like a gate or door without bar or lock; and like a city without walls. They must therefore provide for their sister a rich, powerful, and illustrious man; qualities here figured by towers or palaces of silver, and doors of cedar. As it is customary to build towers upon a wall, and to put bolts and bars upon a door in order to secure it, so the expressions may point out the defense, protection, and guardianship which they imagined this young woman to require.
