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Old Testament Notes
The Hebrew title for the Song of Solomon means the "Song of Songs".
The theme of the Song of Songs is the beauty of love between man and wife.
The scriptures see this as a reflection of God's love for His people.
Song of Songs 1:5 - the tents of Kedar (descendants of Ishmael who gave their name to a tribe and region in Arabia) were woven of dark goats' hair (Gen.25:13, Jer.49:28-29, Ps.120:5-7, Ezek.27:21).
Song of Songs 1:5-6 - The girl has had to work out in the fields rather than inside the family tent.
Song of Songs 1:9 - The Egyptians were famous for their beautiful horses and chariots. Some commentators have pointed out that the Pharaoh's chariots were drawn by stallions, not mares - so a filly among the chariots would be an added taste of sexual excitement.
Song of Songs 1:12 - Spikenard or Nard was a perfume imported from India, and was extremely expensive (see Mark 14:3, John 12:3)
Song of Songs 1:13 - Myrrh was an aromatic gum from Arabia; it was used for incense, perfumes, for embalming, and as a luxury gift (see Gen.37:25, Exod.30:23-25, Esther 2:12, Ps.45:9, Prov.7:17, Matt.2:11, John 19:38-40)
Song of Songs 1:14 - Engedi is a beautiful oasis and stream valley in the desert by the Dead Sea. It is now one of Israel's Nature Preserves, where wild goats, Ibex, and Rock Badgers may be seen, and where Date Palms and other trees are grown
Song of Songs 2:1 - "the Rose of Sharon" was probably the bright red tulip-like flower that blooms in the Plain of Sharon, the fertile lowlands between the Mediterranean Coast and the mountain spine of Israel
Song of Songs 2:15 - "the little foxes that spoil the vines" foxes, particularly baby ones, like to eat fruit as well as grubs and small animals
Song of Songs 3:6-11 - describes Solomon's wedding procession
Song of Songs 3:9, 11 - Solomon was already a king at the time of this wedding
Song of Songs 3:11 - Solomon's mother (Bathsheba) was still alive, so this was probably early in the reign of Solomon, before he started to make political marriages and accumulate concubines
Song of Songs 4:1 - Gilead was the mountainous region east of the river Jordan. which was quite fertile and well-suited to pasture
Song of Songs 4:8 - Lebanon is the country to the north of Israel, famous for Cedar trees and for the snow-capped peaks of its mountain range
Shenir was either the Amorite name for Mount Hermon, or for one of the other two peaks near Mount Hermon in northern Israel (Deut.3:9)
Mount Hermon, elevation 9,230 ft, is the highest mountain in Israel and even in the entire Levant. It is often capped with snow: the melt-waters form one of the sources of the river Jordan. At the time of the Old Testament it was much more thickly forested than now, and was home to lions, leopards, and bears
Song of Songs 6:4 - Tirzah was a city which became the capital of northern Israel during the years (roughly) 922-870 BC (see I Kings 14:17, 15:21 & 33, 16:6-23) It is now an archaeological site
Song of Songs 6:8 - At this time Solomon has 60 queens (foreign princesses, married for political reasons) and 80 concubines (girls collected for the harem). By the time his reign was coming to an end, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3)
Song of Songs 7:4 - Heshbon was a city in Moabite/Amorite territory which became one of the Levitical Cities of Refuge (see Num.21:25-31, Josh.21:1-3 & 39). The village of Hesban in Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is the probable site of Heshbon.
Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is now the capital of Syria. In Old Testament times it was under the control of King David, then from Solomon's time until the Assyrian invasion it was the capital of an Aramean kingdom. It is situated in such a way as to control several of the main trade routes in the Middle East (see II Sam.8:5-6, I Kings 11:23-25, II Kings 16:9, Isa.7:8, Acts 9:1-25).
Song of Songs 7:5 - Carmel is the mountain overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Valley of Jezreel, where Elijah triumphed over the 400 prophets of Baal employed by Queen Jezebel (see I Kings 18:17-46)
Song of Songs 7:13 - Mandrake (Mandragora officinarium), also called "Love Apple" is a medicinal plant which has a reputation as an aphrodisiac or a fertility drug (see Gen.30:14-17)
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