Song of Solomon 1:9

O my love Rather, O my friend; cp. the use of amiin French between lovers. This word ra‛yâhis found only in the Song of Solomon, except once in the plural in Judges 11:37, where Jephthah's daughter says "I and my companions," and in that case there is an alternative reading. It is used in the Song indiscriminately by Solomon and by the Shulammite's true lover.

a company of horses Here the A.V. follows the Vulgate, which has equitatus; and that might be the meaning as the fem. may be a collective (cp. Ges. K. Gramm. § 122 s). Oettli, however, suggests that a favourite mare is meant, and in that case we should render to my mare in Pharaoh's chariots have I compared thee. The plural, chariots, makes a slight difficulty, but it may be meant to indicate that this favourite steed was driven in various chariots. This reference to Egyptian chariots and horses is specially Solomonic (cp. 1 Kings 10:26-29), as he first introduced the horse and chariot as a regular part of the army of Israel. To us this may seem a very unbecoming simile, but in the East women are held in lighter esteem than with us, and the horse in higher esteem. Arabic poets often use such comparisons for the women they love. But perhaps there is intended here a hint of the quality of the king's affection. Cp. Tennyson, Locksley Hall,

"He will hold thee, when his passion shall have spent its novel force,

Something better than his dog, a little dearer than his horse."