1
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
2
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
3
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
4
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5
I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
6
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
7
The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
9
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
10
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
12
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
13
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
14
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
15
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Solomon 5 Study & Commentary
Overview & Chapter Summary
The Beloved knocks at the door, but the Shulamite hesitates. When she finally opens, he is gone. She is mistreated by the watchmen while searching for him. The chapter ends with her "Song of the Beloved," describing his transcendent beauty from "head to foot."
Theological Context & Insights
THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
1. The Divine Knock: Echoes Revelation 3:20. It is a call to renewed intimacy that requires a "rising" and "putting on of garments."
2. The Withdrawal of the Bridegroom: Unlike chapter 3, this withdrawal is a discipline for slothfulness. The soul learns the cost of indifference.
3. Chiefest Among Ten Thousand: A Christological title. Christ is "Altogether Lovely" (v. 16), surpassing all created beauty and competing loyalties.
Practical Lessons & Daily Application
PRACTICAL LESSONS
1. Responsiveness: Obeying the "knock" of the Spirit immediately, before the opportunity for intimacy passes.
2. Christ-Centered Testimony: When the world (the daughters of Jerusalem) asks "What is thy beloved?", our answer must be a detailed exaltation of Christ’s character.
