1 I am coming into my garden (this is the shepherds suitable reply to her brief invitation), my sister, my betrothed: I am gathering my myrrh with my spice; I am eating my honeycomb with my honey; I am drinking my wine with my milk: (Shows not only the love for His elect, but also for whomsoever will. Foods of a wedding procession, but also foods of a prophet and a King after the order of Melchizedek.)
eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. (The words of the court-ladies encouraging the Shulamite and her beloved)
D N1 5:2-6:3. Her colloquies with the court-ladies. N2 6:4-8:4. Her colloquies with Solomon.
N1 O1 5:2-8. The Shulamite tells the court-ladies a dream she once had about her beloved [shepherd].
P1 5:9. The court-ladies, astonished at her love, ask, "What is there in you beloved more
than any other?"
O2 5:10-16. The Shulamite describes him to them, and ends, "Such is my beloved".
P2 6:1. The court-ladies wish to see such a one; and ask, "Where is he, that we may see him?"
O3 6:2,3. The Shulamite evades their question, suspecting their motives.
2 I was asleep (or sleepy, she's dreaming), but my heart (mind) kept awake: it was the voice of my beloved he is knocking, saying, "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. (This is how our Father wants us to love Him. He expects us much as He gave His Son on the cross for us, that we should care for Him with this depth - lovesick)
3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I soil them?" (He traveled some distance)
4 My beloved withdrew his hand by the hole of the door, and my heart was disquieted within me for him.
5 I (immediately) arose to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. (He came with gift that would stick with her)
6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: I failed when he was speaking of it: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (She was anxious to find him. You always have the Holy Spirit)
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me (i.e. the patrol. She is still in Jerusalem and away from her country home), they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. (This was a gross insult to an Eastern woman. When you follow Christ there will be those who mock you. So what!)
8 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him, that I am lovesick.
9 What is your beloved more than another beloved (the court-ladies speaking replying to the conclusions of her dream), O you fairest among women? what is your beloved more than another beloved, that you have adjured us? (They are telling her to find someone else. You cannot, it would be false.)
10 My beloved is white and ruddy (Heb. adam, ruddy, to show blood in the face), distinguished (or conspicuous. Heb. "signalized as by a banner") above thousand. (The Shulamite further describes him.)
11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy (flowing, waving, or curled), and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the channels (or gorges) of waters (dance upon, with reflection of light), bathed (i.e. the doves) with milk, and set as gems in a ring.
13 His cheeks are as a raised bed of balsam, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, distilling liquid myrrh.
14 His hands are like golden cylinders adorned with gems of Tarshish (alluding to the nails, of which great care was taken): his belly is as polished ivory overlaid with sapphires. (White wedding garment.)
15 His legs are as pillars of white marble, set upon bases of fine gold: his aspect is as Lebanon (symbolic of our people), choice as the cedars.
16 His voice is most sweet: yes, he is fervently cherished (or desired). Such is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (As you make choices in life, choose rightly, choose this one, Christ.)