DAWN

     Explanation: In the Song of Solomon 1 a woman (Abishag) and her beloved (Solomon) exchange poetic words of love, with comments by others (the Chorus). Possibly Solomon married Abishag the Shunammite (called The Shulamite in 6:13) to secure his throne (1 Kings 2), and because of their great love for one another, which I believe is celebrated in this book. . Today's painting reflects the opening words of the chapter. "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Song of Solomon 2. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Song Of Solomon 1. ]

     The title of the book is "The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's." The lead narrator of the book is The Shulamite (6:9), whom I believe to be identical with Abishag the Shunammite (1 Kings 1 - 2). The words are formed from the same root. (1).
     As the chapter opens, Abishag wants to be kissed by Solomon because his love is better than wine (2). The smell of anointing oil is upon him; and the virgins love him (3). She asks him to draw her, and she and the virgins will run after him (4a).
     The virgins reply that they will rejoice and be glad in him; they will remember his love more than wine. The upright love him (4b)      Abishag then says that she is black but lovely, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon (5). She asks others not to stare at her because she is darkened (tanned deeply) by the sun. She states that her mother's sons were angry with her, because they made her keeper of the vineyards, but she did not keep her own vineyard (6). She asks Solomon where he pastures his flocks and makes them lie down at noon. She does not want to be like a harlot who visits his herdsmen (7).
     Solomon tells her to follow the flock and to pasture her goats beside his shepherd's tents (8). He compares her to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots (9). Her cheeks are lovely with ornaments, and her neck with strings of jewels (10).
     Her chorus of virgins reply that they will further beautify her by making ornaments of gold for her, studded with silver (11).
     Abishag said that while the king was on his couch, her perfume gave forth its fragrance (12). Solomon himself was like a sachet of myrrh to her (13). And he was like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi (14).
     Solomon tells her that she is beautiful, and her eyes were like doves (15).
     Abishag likewise tells her that she is beautiful, beloved, and truly delightful. Their couch is green (16). The beams of their house are cedar; their rafters are pine (17).

¹ The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

Abishag

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth:
for thy love is better than wine.
³ Because of the savour of thy good ointments
thy name is as ointment poured forth,
therefore [because of this] do the virgins love thee.
⁴ Draw me, we will run after thee:
the king hath brought me into his chambers:

Chorus

we will be glad and rejoice in thee,
we will remember thy love more than wine:
the upright love thee.

Abishag

⁵ I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
⁶ Look not upon me, because I am black,
because the sun hath looked upon me:
my mother's children were angry with me;
they made me the keeper of [this] the vineyards;
but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
⁷ Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,
where thou feedest,
where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon:
for why should I be as one that turneth aside
by the flocks of thy companions?

Solomon

⁸ If thou know not, O thou fairest among women,
go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock,
and feed [this] thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.
⁹ I have compared thee, O my love,
to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.
¹⁰ Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels,
thy neck with chains of gold.

Abishag

¹¹ We will make thee borders of gold
with studs of silver.
¹² While [this] the king sitteth at his table,
my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
¹³ A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me;
he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
¹⁴ My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire
in the vineyards of Engedi.

Solomon

¹⁵ Behold, thou art fair, my love;
behold, thou art fair;
thou hast doves' eyes.

Abishag

¹⁶ Behold, thou art fair, my beloved,
yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
¹⁷ The beams of our house are cedar,
and our rafters of fir.