Troublesome Topic: Biblical Masculinity Part 1 Song of Solomon ch 2 & ch 5

1

A gazelle is a picture of speed, grace, and beauty.

2

A stag is similar in its imagery to that of a gazelle, but with more emphasis on the male characteristics of strength and vigor.

3

A wall, be that of a city or of a house, was obviously for the purpose of protection.

4

Windows were used to let fresh air into a house that would otherwise be stifling with heat. Houses in those days were dark and the people were more concerned with making the house cool than making it bright.

5

Latticework was used to keep out the sunlight, but let in the air. A window with latticework had a refreshing effect for those in the house.

The act of peering through the latticework of the window means he is standing inside the house looking out, not standing outside looking in. During the day it was bright outside and dark in the houses, allowing one to see out, but others could not see in. When he peers through the lattice he is looking out, watching for danger.

6

Cheeks are associated with protection because they cover the teeth, which are an animal’s primary protective weapons.

7: “garden terraces of balsam”

Although “bed” is a viable option for translating this word, it brings to the mind of the English reader either the bed we sleep on, or a flower bed. Neither one is the correct mental image. A Garden terrace does bring to mind the correct mental image and is therefore the better translation, not for any fault of the Hebrew, but because of our modern uses of the word “bed.” The image used here is not just one small sample of balsam, or even one tree of balsam but of an entire terrace set aside for the purpose of growing balsam.

Although the word for balsam is sometimes translated “spices,” it has a specific meaning, that being “balsam.” Balsam is not one specific plant but refers to the resin extracted from a plant of choice. However, in the Bible, balsam is often associated with the “balm of Gilead,” although it may have been the resin from any number of trees. It appears that Balsam and the Balm of Gilead were used for skin conditions, for wounds and for pain relief.  The resin called balsam was very valuable, prized by Queen Esther, the queen of Sheba, and King Hezekiah. The Balm of Gilead had a fame all its own.

The image used here is not just one small sample of balsam, or even one tree for extracting balsam, but of an entire terrace set aside for the purpose of producing balsam.

The name Basemath, which I believe refers to the youngest daughter or Solomon and the Shulammite, occurs again in this word, but it is disguised because it lacks the feminine ending.

8: “mound”

The word used here can be, and often is translated “tower.” It can mean “tower, elevated stage, or raised bed.”

9

The Hebrew word I (and others) have translated “flowing” usually means “to pass over, pass through or pass beyond.” It conveys movement.

The importance of “flowing” for this imagery is that it must have a sufficient and constant supply in order for something to flow.

The name Taphath comes from this verb; it is the name of the girl that I suppose to be the oldest daughter of Solomon and the Shulammite. This is the only instance in the Song in which both girl’s names are found in close proximity.

10

This word is usually translated “hand,” although on rare occasions it can refer to the arm.

11: "hinges”

The word used here means something that “turns or folds.” It is used elsewhere of the hinge of a door that turns. One could call it a “ring,” but that would bring to mind something we wear on our finger, which is not the right idea. It is more than a “hinge,” but “hinge” may be the best option for us in English.

12

Chrysolite, like other jewels, was a sign of wealth, class and style.

13: "internal organs"

This word refers to one’s “middle,” usually the “internal organs” of one’s midsection.

Re: the imagery: The ancients thought of this as the seat of one’s emotions because of how our stomachs tighten up when we are afraid or nervous.

14

Ivory was hard to come by.

15

Sapphires were also a sign of wealth and class.

16

This phrase uses two Hebrew words for gold. The first one means “gold” but it also can be used as an adjective meaning “finest or most.” The second word for gold means “pure, or pure gold.” This is a purposeful doubling of the word gold, we could say “gold-like gold.” The first one serves as an adjective to describe the second word for gold, but the fact that two words for gold were chosen would not have gone unnoticed by the people of Solomon’s day. It is a powerful way to emphasize purity, which is at the core of the second word for gold. You will notice that the paraphrase column struggles to adequately communicate the power of this phrase and must use a long explanation to do so; even then, the full impact of the phrase is not achieved.

17

“Wavy”—think curly. Many Jews have curly hair; this is common.

18

Black hair is also common among Jews.

19

There is nothing special about a raven. It is a scavenger, feeding on seeds and bugs, but also on carrion, thus it was probably unclean for the Jews. God later used it to feed Elijah, so it could not have been seen by them as entirely bad, rather as ordinary. There is layering here using four images, hair, curly, black and ravens, that all communicate the same thing—he is ordinary. So first she says he is special, one in a million, then she says he is ordinary. It means that “he lets his special characteristics demonstrate themselves to be special, and he is happy to let the ordinary things about him remain ordinary. He is not playing games. What you see is what you get.” Even though Solomon had wealth and power, according to the meaning of the symbolism used here, he knew how to be a normal guy; he did not let his wealth and power go to his head. Maybe that is why he fell in love with a beautiful, yet ordinary girl from the working class or the peasant class. In his youth he may have grown tired of all the games the rich girls had played in trying to impress him. Now as the king, his other wives were either political trophies or economic status symbols; everyone had something to prove, yet he was tired of playing that game and wanted to just be himself. For that reason he found refreshing his relationship with the one he called the “Peaceful One.”