Bible Commentaries
Song of Solomon 6

Verse 1

SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 6

QUEST FOR THE SHEPHERD

WHERE IS THE BELOVED SHEPHERD?

Verse 1 poses a further question by the Jerusalem women, inquiring where the absent beloved had gone and indicating they desired to help her seek him.

Verses 2-3

THE SHULAMITE’S ANSWER

Verse 2 answers the women, stating that he has gone down into his garden. This suggests that she has become aware of his whereabouts since her frantic search described in Song of Solomon 5:6-8.

Verse 3 repeats Song of Solomon 2:16, reaffirming the mutual commitment of the two lovers to each other.

Verses 4-10

THE SHEPHERD REAFFIRMS HIS LOVE

Despite the temporary lapse described in Song of Solomon 5:3, the shepherd reaffirms his love and admiration of the Shulamite in verses 4-10.

Verse 4 likens her beauty to that .of Tirzah, an ancient city of great beauty, also to Jerusalem described in La 2:15 as "The perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth" and as awe-inspiring as an army with banners splendid to look upon.

Verses 5-7 repeat much of Song of Solomon 4:1-3, praising the beauty of her eyes, hair, and teeth.

Verses 8-9 is a contrast by the shepherd of the unique beauty of the Shulamite with that of numbers of queens, concubines, and unmarried maidens. She is without equal; women regarded as exceptional commend her. The young women saw and commended her beauty. The queens and concubines also praised her.

Verse 10 for emphasis asks the question: who is this so fair, so awe-inspiring as an army with banners (a repeat of Vs. 4c)? The implied answer is the beautiful Shulamite.

Verses 11-13

A STRANGE EXPERIENCE

Verse 11 affirms that the Shulamite followed her beloved to the garden mentioned in Song of Solomon 6:2, where she experienced a strange feeling not made clear by the words of Verse 12, or elsewhere in the song.

Verse 12 is not understood.

Verse 13 of chapter 6 is the first verse of chapter 7 in the Hebrew text. It reveals the call of an unnamed group of guests for the Shulamite to perform a dance known as "the dance of the two groups", a dance indicative of a happy woman.

The occasion is a joyous celebration following the wedding of the Shulamite and her beloved shepherd. The guests want to observe the beauty of the Shulamite, who modestly asks, what will you see in the Shulamite when two groups (such is the meaning of "company of two armies") are dancing.