Song of Songs 2

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).[5] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, assigned as 4Q107 (4QCant^b); 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 9-17).[6][7][8]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century).[9]

Sharon plain in Israeli Coastal Plain region

Plain of Sharon from the Tower of Ramleh. Jaffa to Jerusalem (between 1950 and 1977)

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.[11]

• "Rose of Sharon" (Hebrew: חבצלת השרון‎, ḥăḇatzeleṯ hasharon;[12] Septuagint: "ἄνθος τοῦ πεδίου";[13] Vulgate: "flos campi";[14] Wiclif: "a flower of the field"[15]): is thought to be a kind of crocus growing as a "lily among brambles" (Song 2:1-2) in the Sharon plain.[16]
• "Rose": is translated from the Hebrew word ḥăḇatzeleṯ, that occurs two times in the scriptures, beside in this verse also in Isaiah 35:1, which reads, "the desert shall bloom like the rose." The word translated as "rose" in KJV is rendered variously as "lily" (Septuagint: "κρίνον",[17] Vulgate: "lilium",[18] Wiclif: "lily"[19]), "jonquil" (Jerusalem Bible) and "crocus" (RSV).
• "Sharon": the Mediterranean coastal plain which spans south of the slopes of Mount Carmel, extending about 30 miles south to the Yarkon River north of Joppa, varying from about 8 to 12 miles in width.[16] It is mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament; the other four references are in Isaiah 33:9; 35:2; 65:10; 1 Chronicles 27:29.[20]

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.[22]

• "Thorns" (Hebrew plural: ḥoḥim; singular: ח֖וֹחַ, ḥoaḥ): the Hebrew root word is found twelve times in the Bible: aside from this verse, also in 1 Samuel 13:6; 2 Kings 14:9 (twice); 2 Chronicles 25:18 (twice); 2 Chronicles 33:11; Job 31:40; Job 40:26 [41:12 English]; Proverbs 26:9; Isaiah 34:13; Hosea 9:6).[21]
• "My love" (or "my [female] friend"; Hebrew: רעיתי, raʻyāṯî[23]) a specific term of endearment used by the man for the woman that is used nine times in the book (Song 1:9, 15; 2:2,10, 13; 4:1,7; 5:2; 6:4).[24][25] The masculine form of the same root word to call the man ("my [male] friend"; Hebrew: רעי, rēʻi[26]) is used in a parallel construction with "my beloved" (Hebrew: דודי, doḏi[26]) in Song of Songs 5:16.[24]

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.[27]

The sensual imagery of "apple tree" as a place of romance is still used in modern times in the songs such as "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree."[28]

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.[29]

• "The banqueting house" is a rendering of the phrase bet hayyayin which is only used here in the Bible, literally meaning "house of the wine".[30] Some near synonyms include "house of the drinking of wine" (bet misteh hayyayin) in Esther 7:8, and "house for drinking" (bet misteh) in Jeremiah 16:8 and Ecclesiastes 7:2.[30]

Sustain me with raisins,

refresh me with apples;

for I am faint with love.[31]

The first two lines of this verse form a 'distinctive structure', using verbs and preposition of the same ideas: "refresh (sustain) me"/"revive (refresh) me", "with raisins"/"with apples".[32] The word "apple(s)" links to the first word of verse 3, while the word "love" links to the last word of verse 4.[32]

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

By the gazelles or by the does of the field,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.[33]

• Cross references: Song of Songs 3:5; 8:4[34]
• "Charge" or "adjure"[35]

The names of God are apparently substituted with similar sounding phrases depicting 'female gazelles' (צְבָא֔וֹת, tseḇā’ōṯ) for [God of] hosts (צבאות tseḇā’ōṯ), and 'does of the field'/'wild does/female deer' (אילות השדה, ’ay-lōṯ ha-śā-ḏeh) for God Almighty (אל שדי, ’êl shaddai).[36]

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.[40]

• "Green figs": is translated from the Hebrew word paggâh, which occurs in its Aramaic form in the city name, "Bethphage".[41] The plural form paggîm are used to call unripe fruits of the early fig (Hebrew: bikkûrâh), which takes about four months to ripe, usually towards the end of June, in contrast to the late figs (Hebrew: tě’çnîm) that grow continuously on the new branches and ripen usually they ripen from August onwards in Palestine.[42]
• "My love": see notes in verse 2.

Inscription "O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock" from "Song of Solomon 2:14", "Joyous Festivals 5713" stamp of Israel - 110 mil.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.[43]

• "Dove" (as in Song 5:2, 6:9) serves as a 'metaphor for inaccessibility'.[44]

Catch the foxes for us,

the little foxes

that spoil the vineyards,

for our vineyards are in blossom.[45]

• "Foxes": or "jackals".[46] The foxes are associated with the obstacle of the blossoming romantic relationship.[47]

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.[48]

In reversed order compared to Song 6:3.[49]