Song of Solomon 1:1

THE SONG OF SOLOMON

-Year from the Creation of the World, according to Archbishop Usher, 2990.

-Year from the Flood of Noah, according to the common Hebrew text, 1334.

-Year before the birth of Christ, 1010. -Year before the vulgar era of Christ's nativity, 1014.

CHAPTER I

The bride's love to her spouse, 1-5.

She confesses her unworthiness; desires to be directed to the

flock, 6, 7;

and she is directed to the shepherds' tents, 8.

The bridegroom describes his bride, and shows how he will

provide for her, and how comfortably they are accommodated,

9-17.

NOTES ON CHAP. I

Verse Song of Solomon 1:1. The song of songs] A song of peculiar excellence. See the Introduction. The rabbins consider this superior to all songs. TEN songs, says the Targum, have been sung; but this excels them all.

1. The first was sung by Adam when his sin was pardoned.

2. The second was sung by Moses and the Israelites at the Red Sea.

3. The third was sung by the Israelites when they drank of the rock in the wilderness.

4. The fourth was sung by Moses when summoned to depart from this world.

5. The fifth was sung by Joshua when the sun and moon stood still.

6. The sixth was sung by Deborah and Barak after the defeat of Sisera.

7. The seventh was sung by Hannah when the Lord promised her a son.

8. The eighth was sung by David for all the mercies given him by God.

9. The ninth is the present, sung in the spirit of prophecy by Solomon.

10. The tenth is that which shall be sung by the children of Israel when restored from their captivities. See the Targum.