Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentarySong of Songs 8

As my brother. The bride seems to reminisce of the time before the obstacles to their union were removed. Not being able yet to declare her affection to him as a lover, she wished that their relationship had been that of brother and sister. Despised. That is, her family and her friends should not reproach her.

Who would instruct me. As translated, the mother is the instructor. The verb may, however, also be translated, “thou wilt instruct.” Either translation makes good sense. Mothers have sane counsel for daughters about to be married. The wise Solomon, too, could have thrilled the heart of his young bride by sharing with her his vast fund of knowledge. In return she would reciprocate by supplying suitable refreshments.

I charge you. Compare chs. 2:7; 3:5. The repetition of this refrain lends strong support to the idea of an intended unity of the song.

Who is this that cometh? Verse 5 appears to be a description of the arrival of the royal pair at the bride’s home. Raised thee up. Literally, “aroused thee.” Solomon probably means to say that they have come back to the place where he first inspired his bride with love. Thy mother. They have returned to the home where his bride was born.

Set me as a seal. The bride is speaking, as is evident in the Hebrew by the masculine form of “thee.” The Hebrew word for “seal,” chotham, means signet ring (see Ex. 28:11, 21; Job 38:14; 41:45; Jer. 22:24). The Hebrews sometimes wore the signet ring suspended upon the breast by a string. Solomon’s bride wants her husband to view her as such a precious signet ring. Coals. Heb. reshaphim, “flames,” “firebolts,” translated “hot thunderbolts” in Ps. 78:48. A most vehement flame. Literally, “a flame of Jehovah.” Probably the lightning.

Cannot quench love. Pure love is such that nothing can destroy it. It cannot be bought. The highest offer would be completely scorned. This passage, telling of the invincible might and enduring constancy of true love, stands without a parallel in literature for forcefulness of expression.

Little sister. This statement may have been made by the Shulamite’s brothers, in reminiscence of the bride’s childhood days. It appears they had been debating as to how to deal with their little sister when an offer of marriage should be made to her.

Solomon had a vineyard. This was doubtless one of Solomon’s many vineyards.

My vineyard. The bride renews her vows to her husband. She speaks of herself as the keeper of her own vineyard, but she transfers these rights and privileges to her husband.

Cause me to hear it. As the curtain falls, Solomon requests to hear once more the voice of his beloved, perhaps in a refrain he had heard her repeat in their courtship.

Make haste, my beloved. Thus the poem ends with two short verses that compress into them all that has been repeated over and over under different figures: the wooing and the wedding of two happy hearts.