About the Author

Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba, born in Jerusalem. Though not David’s firstborn, he was divinely chosen and named by God through the prophet Nathan as “Jedidiah,” meaning “beloved of the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:24 to 25). Solomon ascended to the throne after David’s death, following a period of political intrigue involving his half brother Adonijah.

Early in his reign, Solomon famously asked God for wisdom to govern his people rather than wealth or long life, and God granted him extraordinary wisdom, riches, and honor (1 Kings 3:5 to 14). He built the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, expanded Israel’s borders through diplomacy and trade, and became internationally renowned, as illustrated by the visit of the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10).

However, Solomon’s later years were marked by spiritual decline. He married many foreign wives for political alliances, and Scripture records that his heart was turned away from the Lord toward idolatry (1 Kings 11:1 to 8). This mixture of extraordinary wisdom and personal failure characterizes the complexity of his legacy.

Song of Solomon is a poetic celebration of romantic and marital love, written using vivid imagery drawn from nature, agriculture, and the royal court of ancient Israel. Scholars debate whether the book describes Solomon’s own courtship, presents an idealized love story, or was composed by Solomon about another couple. What is not debated is that the book stands unique in Scripture as a sustained, lyrical exploration of love between husband and wife, celebrating the goodness of marital intimacy as part of God’s created order.

Introduction

Song of Solomon 1 opens with the woman’s longing for her beloved, expressing deep desire and affection through vivid poetic imagery. She speaks of his love being better than wine and describes herself with humility, acknowledging that she has been darkened by the sun from laboring in her brothers’ vineyards, showing her humble background.

The daughters of Jerusalem serve as a kind of chorus throughout the book, engaging in dialogue with the woman as she describes her longing to find her beloved. She compares herself to the tents of Kedar and the curtains of Solomon, using pastoral and royal imagery side by side.

The beloved responds with admiration, praising her beauty and comparing her to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots, an image reflecting elegance and value in the ancient Near Eastern context. He continues with poetic descriptions of her cheeks and neck adorned with jewels, symbolic of her attractiveness and worth.

The woman responds in kind, expressing delight in her beloved’s presence, comparing him to a cluster of henna blossoms and describing their shared intimacy in a garden setting. The chapter closes with mutual affirmations of love and beauty, setting the stage for the unfolding romance throughout the book.

The historical context places this within Solomon’s reign, a period of prosperity, and the poetry reflects Ancient Near Eastern love song conventions, using agricultural, floral, and royal imagery common to the era.

Chapter 1

Important Verses

• Song of Solomon 1:2 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.” This verse establishes the intensity and priority of romantic love in the poem.
• Song of Solomon 1:5-6 The woman’s honest description of herself reflects vulnerability and self awareness within a loving relationship.
• Song of Solomon 1:15 “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.” This shows the beloved’s admiration and affirming words toward the woman.
• Song of Solomon 1:16 “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant.” The woman’s response demonstrates the mutuality of their affection.