Laulujen lauluLuku 2

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I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.[^1] [^1]: The Hebrew flower names are uncertain; the first may be a crocus or meadow flower, the second a lotus or lily.

Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.

Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the field: do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

The voice of my beloved! Look, here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

My beloved spoke and said to me: Rise up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away.

For see, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

The blossoms appear in the land, the season of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.[^1] [^1]: The Hebrew word may mean either "singing" or "pruning".

The fig tree ripens its early fruit, and the blossoming vines give off their fragrance. Rise up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away.

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.

My beloved is mine and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.

Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the cleft mountains.

Haku

Yhteenveto2

Luku 2

Main Theme: The chapter celebrates the love between the bride and the groom through rich natural imagery and mutual longing.

Content: The bride and groom praise each other with poetic comparisons—she is a lily among thorns, he is like an apple tree among trees. The groom invites the bride to come out because winter has passed and spring has arrived with flowers and birdsong. The bride expresses her devotion: "My beloved is mine, and I am his," and warns the daughters of Jerusalem not to stir up love until it so desires.

Key Words/Images:

Lily and Apple Tree (vv. 1–3): Images of the lovers' beauty and value to one another.
Spring (vv. 11–13): Symbolizes the blossoming and renewal of love.
Gazelle/Hart (vv. 8–9, 17): The groom's swiftness and grace as he comes to his beloved.
The Little Foxes (v. 15): A warning to protect love from destructive threats.

Historiallinen konteksti

Historical and Cultural Context for Song of Solomon 2

Places

The Plain of Sharon (הַשָּׁרוֹן, v. 1) was a fertile coastal plain stretching along the Mediterranean Sea from Jaffa to Mount Carmel. In biblical times, this area was known for its lush vegetation and abundant flowers. Isaiah 35:2 mentions "the glory of Sharon" as a symbol of beauty and abundance. Archaeological studies show that in ancient times the region had plenty of wildflowers in spring, making the reference to "the flower of Sharon" (traditionally called "the rose of Sharon", possibly a crocus or narcissus) natural.

The Mountains of Beter (הָרֵי בָתֶר, v. 17) are disputed. Some scholars identify this with Beter (Bittir), a village southwest of Jerusalem that later became known as the last stronghold of the Bar Kokhba revolt (135 CE). Others interpret "bater" as "cleft mountains" – that is, mountains with deep valleys, which fits the imagery of the gazelle.

Key Terms

Chavatzelet (חֲבַצֶּלֶת, v. 1) is uncertainly identified. The Septuagint translates it as "flower" (ἄνθος), while modern botanists suggest crocus, narcissus, or tulip. This word appears only here and in Isaiah 35:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

The Winehouse (בֵּית הַיַּיִן, v. 4) likely refers to a banquet hall where wine was served. In the ancient Near East, such gatherings were important social occasions, often associated with celebration and love. The phrase "his banner over me is love" (וְדִגְלוֹ עָלַי אַהֲבָה) may allude to military banners that marked belonging and protection.

Raisin Cakes (אֲשִׁישׁוֹת, v. 5) were pressed, dried grapes shaped into cakes. They were a delicacy in ancient Israel and used both as food and in cultic contexts (cf. Hosea 3:1). Combined with apples, they were considered strengthening food.

Events and Customs

An Oath by the Gazelles and Does (v. 7) is an unusual oath formula repeated three times in Song of Solomon. In Israelite culture, oaths were sacred and binding. Swearing by wild animals rather than by God is unique in biblical literature and may reflect the distinctive sphere of love poetry – separate from the strictly religious. Gazelles and does were associated with grace and love throughout the ancient Near East.

Signs of Spring (vv. 11–13) are described with precision, reflecting the Israelite agricultural year: winter rains end in March–April, flowers bloom, the turtledove arrives as a migratory bird, fig trees ripen their early fruit (פַגֶּיהָ), and grapevines blossom. This was the time for weddings and celebration in agrarian communities.

Chapter-Specific Insights

The use of dove imagery (v. 14) has been illuminated by archaeological discoveries of rock-cut tombs and natural caves in Judea's mountainous terrain. Doves nested in such rock crevices, making the description "my dove in the clefts of the rock" a naturalistic observation. The dove was also a symbol of love and faithfulness throughout Near Eastern culture, and dove figurines have been found in many archaeological contexts from the Bronze Age.

Henkilöt

Tässä luvussa ei ole tunnettuja henkilöitä.

Avainsanat7

Solomon — King Solomon of Israel, who is believed to be the author of Song of Songs and regarded as a wise man in the Bible.
Bride — The woman mentioned in Song of Songs, loved by the bridegroom. In an allegorical interpretation, the bride often represents God's people or the church.
Bridegroom — The man who expresses his love for the bride in Song of Songs. In an allegorical interpretation, he often represents God or Jesus Christ.
Love — A deep devotion, passion, and tenderness between two people. The love between the bride and the bridegroom in Song of Songs often symbolizes God's love for His people.
Garden — A place where the bride and bridegroom meet and share their love. The garden can also symbolize paradise and harmony between God and humanity.
Spring — A time of year when nature awakens to life again after winter. Spring often symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and a new beginning.
Gazelle — A swift and graceful animal frequently mentioned in Song of Songs. The gazelle symbolizes beauty, grace, and freedom.