Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentarySong of Songs 6

Francis D. Nichol (ed.) and contributors

Song of Songs 6:1

Whither. The daughters of Jerusalem now address the bride to see what more she has to say.

Song of Songs 6:2

Down into his garden. The anxiety concerning the loss of her beloved is gone. She knows that he is engaged elsewhere. Nothing has really come in to mar their felicity.

Song of Songs 6:4

As Tirzah. In vs. 4–10 Solomon pours forth lavish praise of his bride. Tirzah is probably to be identified with Tell el–Fâr‘ah, some 7 mi. (11.2 km.) northeast of Shechem, in the territory of Manasseh. It was doubtless noted for its beauty. Comely as Jerusalem. Solomon takes his own capital city in southern Palestine to illustrate the outstanding attractiveness of his bride. Jerusalem was noted for its beauty (see Ps. 48:2; 50:2; Lam. 2:15).

Song of Songs 6:8

Threescore queens. This is presumably a reference to Solomon’s harem. The number of wives is far less than that given in 1 Kings 11:3. Evidently this song is written early in the reign of Solomon.

Song of Songs 6:10

Terrible as an army. Beauty and strength are here combined in a description that has appropriately been applied to the church (see PK 725; AA 91). Some think that the question of this verse is raised by the ladies of the court when they first catch a glimpse of the Shulamite.

Ellen G. White

(Song of Solomon 6:10; Isaiah 1:16-19.) A Hope of Reform—The church must and will shine forth “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” God’s servants must, by laboring together with Christ, roll away the curse that has made the church so lukewarm. [Revelation 3:15-19 quoted.] The chastening reveals a hope of reform [vs. 20, 21 quoted] (Letter 130, 1902).

Song of Songs 6:11

I went down. This statement is obviously by the bride.

Song of Songs 6:12

Amminadib. The meaning of this expression is obscure. Literally translated it means, “My people, the noble.” The bride imagines herself being lifted up and placed in a chariot, no doubt with Solomon.

Song of Songs 6:13

Return, O Shulamite. Perhaps this statement is by the members of the cortége, who express a desire to look further on the now-acknowledged queen. What will ye see? A charming display of modesty. The company. Literally, “the dance.” Some have suggested that this has reference to the choir of the bride’s maids and the choir of the of the bridegroom’s best men. Others think that the reference is to some local custom that we do not now understand. Still others prefer to transliterate the words as “two armies” (Mahanaim), and see an allusion to the “dance” of the angel host at Mahanaim upon Jacob’s return to Canaan (see Gen. 32:1–3). If this be so, the Shulamite, at this juncture, gives a performance of the “dance of Mahanaim.”