Song 10 depicts the Bride expressing her joy in the companionship of the Bridegroom. She invites him to walk with her in the fields and vineyards, where she has laid up fruits for him. She longs for his affectionate embrace. Songs 11-12 conclude the collection, with the couple speaking of their unquenchable love that cannot be overcome even by death. They discuss responsibilities in family and inheritance matters. The Bride makes a final prayer acknowledging the supremacy of their love.

1. The Song of Solomon5 Studies Study 5, Songs 10 – 12 & Conclusion 15thDecember 2010

2. Study 4, Songs 7 - 9 Song 7: His First Advent And Love’s Awakening The physical effects of separation, seen in the lovesick Bride The token of the Bridegroom’s sacrifice seen, but he had “withdrawn” The Bridegroom’s head to toe perfection, “chiefest among ten thousand” Song 8: Awaiting His Coming Israel (“the vine”) the indicator of the nearness of Christ’s return “the chariots of Amminadib... Shulamite” – royal connections “the company of two armies” – the united Jew and Gentile host Song 9: The Radiant Beauty Of The Bride The Bride’s toe to head perfection, the “prince’s daughter” “palm tree... clusters of grapes” – the evidence of fruitfulness “causing the lips of those... asleep to speak” – life to the spiritually dead Last time’s study on a single slide

4. The 12 Songs – our suggested split Song 1ch. 1v1-8 [8 verses] Song 2 ch. 1v9-2v7 [16 verses] Song 3ch. 2v8-17 [10 verses] Song 4ch. 3v1-5 [5 verses] Song 5ch. 3v6-4v7 [13 verses] Song 6ch. 4v8-5v1 [10 verses] Song 7ch. 5v2-6v10 [25 verses] Song 8 ch. 6v11-13 [3 verses] Song 9ch. 7v1-9 [9 verses] Song 10ch. 7v10-8v4 [8 verses] Song 11ch. 8v5-7 [3 verses] Song 12ch. 8v8-14 [7 verses] Song 10ch. 7v10-8v4 [8 verses] Song 11ch. 8v5-7 [3 verses] Song 12ch. 8v8-14 [7 verses] = total 117 verses

5. Our script

6. SONG 10 – chapter 7 v 10 – 8 v 4

8. 8 verses dialogue

9. Bride (8 verses)7 v. 10-13 The Bride’s invitation to her beloved 8 v. 1-2 The purity of her love 8 v. 3-4 Her longing for his companionship

10. Song 10 (chapter 7v10 to chapter 8v4) – Her Joy In His Companionship 10I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. 8v1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. 2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. 3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

11. Song 10 (chapter 7v10 to chapter 8v4) – Her Joy In His Companionship 10I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. 8v1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. 2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. 3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. “loves” plural, the multitudinous Bride is seen “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me” – Bride’s confidence following Bridegroom’s words in the 2nd half of previous song (‘How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!’ ch. 7 v 6) “The mandrakes give a smell” – Heb. duwday = Strong: ‘an aphrodisiac’; BDB: ‘a love-apple’; TWOT: makes link between this word and the root ‘beloved’ (Heb. dowd). The only other appearance of mandrakes is in Genesis 30 v 14-16, describing Leah’s conception of Issachar “pleasant fruits, new and old” – only other appearance in scripture of phrase “new and old” is Matthew 13 v 52: ‘Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.’ [Contrast the sharing of fruits in this garden with those eaten in the garden of Eden, here fruits convey obedience]

12. Song 10 (chapter 7v10 to chapter 8v4) – Her Joy In His Companionship 10I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. 8v1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. 2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. 3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. “O that thou wert as my brother” – the Bride feels inadequate before the royal Bridegroom and wishes that she and he were of common parentage/ancestry. Also, in Eastern culture, public displays of romantic affection are “despised” whereas shows of affection between family members are considered acceptable. The Bride, in actual fact, is considered by the Bridegroom to be a sister-spouse (e.g. ch 4 v 9) “spiced wine” – Heb. reqach = Strong: ‘perfumery’; is a Biblical ‘oncer’ coming from the Heb. raqach which is used in Exodus 30 and 37 to describe the compounding of incense “His left hand...” – tense is unclear. Some translations suggest that an expression of longing e.g. RSV: ‘O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me!’ Cp. Us

13. SONG 11 – chapter 8 v 5 - 7

15. 3 verses dialogue

16. Bridegroom (1½ verses)

17. Bride (1 verse)

18. Virgins (½ verse)8 v. 5Reminiscing on the courtship 8 v. 6-7 Their unquenchable love

19. Song 11 (chapter 8v5-7) – They Speak Of Their Unquenchable Love 5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. 6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

20. Song 11 (chapter 8v5-7) – They Speak Of Their Unquenchable Love 5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. 6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. “cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved” – same imagery as used in ch. 3 v 6. Here the united Bride and Bridegroom come together from Sinai, following the resurrection / judgement (as in Deuteronomy 33v2) “a seal” – Heb. chowtham = Strong: ‘a signature-ring’ (a most personal item, see case of Judah/Tamar in Genesis 38 v 18). Seal is to be on “heart” (mind) and “arm” (strength) Verses 6 and 7 describe the supremacy of love, it is all-surpassing: “strong as death” – it was love that led the Bridegroom to give up his own life “many waters cannot quench” – the Bridegroom continues the imagery of the “flame” mentioned by the Bride, explaining that it cannot be put out “if a man would give all the substance of his house” – love cannot be purchased with money, but it must nevertheless be bought (see Isaiah 55 v 1-2 ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat...’)

21. SONG 12 – chapter 8 v 8 - 14

23. 7 verses dialogue

24. Bride (5 verses)

25. Bridegroom (2 verses)8 v. 8-10 Responsibility in family matters 8 v. 11-12 Responsibility in the inheritance 8 v. 13 His final request 8 v. 14 Her final prayer

26. Song 12 (chapter 8v8-14) – The Fruit Of The Marriage 8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. 13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. 14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

27. Song 12 (chapter 8v8-14) – The Fruit Of The Marriage 8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. 13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. 14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. “We have a little sister... no breasts” – a state of spiritual immaturity. Describes those in Millennium who need to come to a full understanding of the truth, being taught by Bridegroom/Bride. In particular this will apply to God’s people Israel (hence “we have... sister”) , who will have the eyes of their understanding opened “I am a wall... my breasts like towers” – a state of full spiritual maturity. The Bride is therefore ideally placed to teach the subjects of the Kingdom, as Daniel 12 v 3 (from Amplified Bible): “And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever. [Matt 13:43.]” “we will build... palace of silver” – silver linked with redemption (Exodus 30 v 12-13), promised redemption of little sister; cedar linked with incorruptibility/immortality, again future hope offered

28. Song 12 (chapter 8v8-14) – The Fruit Of The Marriage 8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. 13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. 14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. “Baal-hamon” – Heb. Strong: ‘possessor of a multitude’. The letter h was added to the names of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17, indicating future fruitfulness/seed. Also features in Ezekiel 39 v 11 “bury Gog and all his multitude... call it The valley of Hamon-gog.” The redeemed “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7 v 9) “vineyard” – used to describe God’s nation (Isaiah 5 v 1-7, Matthew 21 v 33-41) “thousand pieces of silver” – link with the 1,000 years in the Millennium(?) See also Isaiah 7 v 23 “make haste, my beloved” – compare with the penultimate verse of Revelation: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (ch 22 v 20) How do we feel about this? Is there an urgency in our prayerful request, as with the importunate widow (Luke 18 v 1-8)?

29. Final conclusions (1) As individuals we decide the outcome of this love story* The Bridegroom’s identity certain– the Lord Jesus Christ The Bride’s identity still being decided – will we be a part? * By God’s grace and mercy

30. Final conclusions (2) We must learn the lessons of this most excellent Song: The Bride has a true / unspoilt royal beauty Others see the Bride as separate and distinct The Bride understands the Bridegroom’s sacrifice of himself The Bridegroom is not to be found in the world The Bridegroom’s long absence is endured LOVE Underpinning all of this...