A Comprehensive Commentary of The Song of Solomon together with references for further study from the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and other doctrinal texts by General Authorities of the Church Written and compiled by Paul Nolan Hyde Parrish Press Orem, Utah
Copyright 2014; 2015 by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. All rights reserved. First Electronic Edition Copyright 2015 Parrish Press, Orem, Utah 1842 South 50 East Orem, Utah 84058 2
Preface This project began as an attempt to provide my children and grandchildren something of their ancestor s love and understanding of the scriptures. I began producing volumes many years ago which I was pleased to call Paraphrastic studies. I wrote one of these studies for each of the four Gospels and the letters of Paul. Eventually, however, I began to sense that there was much that I knew about the New Testament that my translations could not communicate. I therefore thought to write a comprehensive commentary on the entire New Testament, beginning with Matthew and concluding with the book of Revelation. As I published each of the nine volumes, I included the paraphrastic studies, where I had them, in conjunction with the commentary for each book in the New Testament. I began this project in 2005 and completed the final volume in 2010. The whole effort was a delight to my soul. A year before I retired from the Church Educational System, in 2003, I thought to produce an 1830 formatting of the Book of Mormon using the present text of the 1981 edition. This was a relatively easy task, given the technology available to me. I distributed these to my colleagues at the Orem Institute of Religion, members of my family, and a few other interested parties for the cost of printing and binding them. Sometime in the early spring of 2007, I was impressed to begin a verse by verse commentary on the Book of Mormon, a task that I had not presumed to attempt, inasmuch as there are no translation difficulties that abound in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, there were instances of nineteenth-century word usage and syntactic issues that I thought a commentary might help to clarify. As I began, however, I discovered that there was much more that I could communicate to my children of my understanding of the ancient record of the Nephites, material that I had gleaned as I taught the scriptures during my thirty-five year career with CES. This labor eventually produced five volumes of moderate size. As I published each segment of the commentary, I enclosed the 1830 formatting of each book in the Book of Mormon that I had devise several years before. The last volume also appeared in late 2010. By the time that I was fully engaged with writing commentaries on both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, I had become infatuated with the idea that I might be able to expand the commentaries to include the other volumes of scripture as well. Thus, in the winter of 2010 I began writing commentaries on the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Once I finished with the Pearl of Great Price, I began to move ahead with the book of Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament. In the late fall of 2014 I finished the last of the commentaries on the Old Testament, for a total of thirty-three printed and bound volumes. With these volumes and the others produced over the past ten years, I have completed commentary on every verse of the Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My procedure for writing the Commentary was similar to that used in creating the original paraphrastic studies. The same reference texts were employed. For difficult words in Greek, Hebrew, 3
and English I resorted to the works of James Strong and other lexicographers for linguistic insight. I consider the contributions made by conservative Protestant scholarship (as recorded in the New International Version) and conservative Catholic scholarship (as related in the New Jerusalem Bible). I resorted to the considered thought of Adam Clarke, one of the most prominent and prolific commentators on the sacred manuscripts available at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and who, I believe, was a man of great faith. I consulted with the Joseph Smith Translation at appropriate times (including in another column an indication that a JST change had been made for any given verse), and frequently to the writings of the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, as I contemplated the possible meanings of each word and phrase. From time to time I resorted to Smith s Bible Dictionary and Discovering the World of the Bible by LaMar Berrett for some of the more arcane information that I thought would illuminate the text. I have attempted to maintain a steady course throughout my commentaries, treating each verse as unique, and where appropriate, duplicate notes and the text rather than use cross-references within the volume. Some may find this a waste of paper and ink, but I frankly dislike having to rifle through pages or volumes trying to find the first instance of the note or commentary. The duplications are easily ignored; fumbling through pages cannot be. It is in the best interests of the reader, however, to contemplate the reasons why such duplications exist in the biblical text in the first place. They are purposeful and I have attempted to point out their purpose as I have progressed through each volume. My numbering system for the notes used in the body of the commentary was adapted from historical linguistic texts with which I am familiar and which I had found quite useful. The pattern used is Chapter.verse.word; thus note 3.4.5 would contain material referring to the fifth word in the book of Hosea 3:4, for example. I make no comprehensive promises regarding the preciseness of my word count in any particular verse, but it will be close enough to eliminate any distressing confusion. Inasmuch as I began this series with the Gospel of Matthew, there will be times when I will make reference to my own work in that first volume. Sometimes there will be no more than a reference, MT-C 23.4.5 ; other times I may quote directly from the original text. In either case my sole motivation will be to facilitate the flow of ideas rather than to multiply words. There are enough words already. References to the Commentaries on other books of the New Testament are abbreviated as follows: Matthew MT-C Mark MK-C Luke LK-C John JN-C Acts AC-C Romans RM-C 1 Corinthians 1 CO-C 2 Corinthians 2 CO-C Galatians GA-C Ephesians EP-C Philippians PP-C Colossians CL-C 1 Thessalonians 1 TH-C 2 Thessalonians 2 TH-C 1 Timothy 1 TM-C 2 Timothy 2 TM-C Titus TT-C Philemon PL-C Hebrews HB-C 1 Peter 1 PE-C 2 Peter 2 PE-C 1 John 1 JN-C 2 John 2 JN-C 3 John 3 JN-C Revelation RV-C 4
References to the Commentaries in the books of the Old Testament are as follows: Genesis GE-C Exodus EX-C Leviticus LV-C Numbers NM-C Deuteronomy DT-C Joshua JO-C Judges JD-C Ruth RU-C 1 Samuel 1 SM-C 2 Samuel 2 SM-C 1 Kings 1 KG-C 2 Kings 2 KG-C 1 Chronicles 1 CR-C 2 Chronicles 2 CR-C Ezra ER-C Nehemiah NE-C Esther ES-C Job JB-C Psalms PS-C Proverbs PV-C Ecclesiastes ES-C Song of Solomon SS-C Isaiah IS-C Jeremiah JR-C Lamentations LM-C Ezekiel EZ-C Daniel DA-C Hosiah HS-C Joel JL-C Amos AM-C Obadiah OB-C Jonah JH-C Micah MH-C Nahum NA-C Habakkuk HB-C Zephaniah ZP-C Haggai HG-C Zechariah ZE-C Malachi ML-C I have also made reference to the other standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The references to the Book of Mormon are articulated in bold and italics lettering using the following abbreviations: 1 Nephi 1 NE-C 2 Nephi 2 NE-C Jacob JA-C Enos EN-C Jarom JM-C Omni OM-C Words of Mormon WM-C Mosiah MS-C Alma AL-C Helaman HE-C 3 Nephi 3 NE-C 4 Nephi 4 NE-C Mormon MM-C Ether ET-C Moroni MR-C The abbreviation TPW-C refers to the material found on the Title Page of the Book of Mormon and in the Testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The references to Sections that are in the Doctrine and Covenants are indicated as DC-C followed by the section number and verse (OD1-C and OD2-C are self-explanatory); The Pearl of Great Price references contained herein use the following abbreviations: MO-C, AB-C, SM-C, SH-C, and AF-C. In some cases I have taken on what some would consider controversial material. I make no apologies for so doing. I have found that my children are best served when an issue is approached head on, the differing points of view presented, and the rationale given as to why one school of thought ought to be preferred over another. Sometimes the decisions are logically founded; others the result of doctrinal points that are unique to theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In most cases I have not argued authorities, even though I could have inserted multiple references to the writings of scholars with whom I am familiar. I have chosen to have my sources on any particular issue to remain anonymous in the text of the commentary for several reasons. First and foremost, this work is my commentary, what I believe and hold to be true. In the end, that is what my children wish to know. Secondly, I did not wish to have my children accept or dismiss a particular view merely because of who had been the author of it. Many wonderful insights have been made by scholars both inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wherein I have found one view to be preferable over another has not been a partisan matter, but rather a matter of the mind, heart, and spirit cooperating together in an attempt to understand what must be the truth. Thirdly, I have been quite clear who my authorities have been. It is my fondest 5
desire that my children would become as familiar with their writings as I have. Were I to cite all of my sources with extensive quotes from each, there would be no need for them to open any of the books that I have come to love. That, in part, is why I included the third column containing crossreferences to the various doctrinal works in the Commentaries. Exceptions to this practice should be noted as being of extreme importance. In addition to the text of the Standard Works, together with my own commentary, I inserted a column of references for further study. The citations are taken from three major sources: the Conference Reports of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from April 1980 to November 2002 (abbreviated as CR followed by the year, month and page number); the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (four volumes, abbreviated EM followed by the volume and page number); and A Scripture Index (a compilation of scripture references cited in various texts published by General Authorities of the Church). For those not familiar with the abbreviations used in A Scripture Index. I include them below: TPJS Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith GD Gospel Doctrine MA Mediation and Atonement FWR Far West Record DHC History of the Church (7 vols.) TSWK Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball MF Miracle of Forgiveness FPM Faith Precedes the Miracle MD Mormon Doctrine PM Promised Messiah MM Mortal Messiah (4 vols.) MLM Millennial Messiah DNTC Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (3 vols.) JC Jesus the Christ AF Articles of Faith DS Doctrines of Salvation (3 vols.) AGQ Answers to Gospel Questions (5 vols.) As with each of the volumes previously published, I include two lists. The first, bound in front of the Commentary, is a listing of all of the words and phrases upon which I have made extensive remarks, a kind of sequential table of contents. I have also arranged this list alphabetically and have placed it at the end of the Commentary as a kind of index. A comprehensive alphabetical index for the entire volume appears as the last section of this book. Needless to say that all of the errors in the material submitted herein to the reader are the product of my own limitations as a scholar; all of the brilliance which may appear here is the product of minds and hearts filled with the fire of the Spirit of God, from whom all truth and beauty ultimately derive. A Note on the Electronic Edition Not only did my children and other family members receive bound copies of commentaries, but there were a number of friends and neighbors who had expressed an interest in them. There were requests from others who desired copies of what I had done, but I was not in a position to provide them with hard copies. Inasmuch as I had all of the volumes in computer files, I thought to compile each of the commentaries in some format that could be read on a smart device. I opted to use the Adobe Acrobat, turning all of the work into PDF files. I have used these on my tablet for many years and have found them useful and far easier to cart about with me. In the early spring of 2015, my neighbor David Dollahite arranged for a meeting with Jack Welch and Marny Parkin regarding the possibility of BYU providing a dedicated web site so that there would be greater public access to my 6
work. Thus began the present enterprise of editing and standardizing all that had done during the last ten years. My commentary on the Gospel of Mark is the second of these electronic volumes. Within a year or so I hope to have all of the books available in the same format. PNH Orem, Utah November 2015 7
Sequence of Specifically Noted Words and Phrases in Song of Solomon 1.1.7 Solomon s 1.5.10 Jerusalem 1.5.15 Kedar 1.5.20 Solomon 1.9.14 Pharaoh s 1.12.9 spikenard 1.13.4 myrrh 1.14.10 camphire 1.14.15 Engedi 2.1.6 Sharon 2.7.8 Jerusalem 2.7.11 roes 2.7.15 hinds 2.9.6 roe 2.9.10 hart 2.9.18 roe 2.9.22 hart 2.17.27 Bether 3.5.8 Jerusalem 3.5.11 roes 3.5.15 hinds 3.6.16 myrrh 3.6.18 frankincense 3.7.6 Solomon s 3.7.17 Israel 3.9.2 Solomon 3.9.11 Lebanon 3.10.18 purple 3.10.30 Jerusalem 3.11.7 Zion 3.11.11 Solomon 4.4.8 David 4.4.18 bucklers 4.5.8 roes 4.6.18 myrrh 4.6.24 frankincense 4.8.5 Lebanon 4.8.17 Amana 4.8.22 Shenir 4.8.24 Hermon 4.11.28 Lebanon 4.13.11 camphire 4.13.13 spikenard 4.14.1 spikenard 4.14.3 saffron 4.14.4 calamus 4.14.6 cinnamon 4.14.11 frankincense 4.14.12 myrrh 4.14.14 aloes 4.15.13 Lebanon 5.5.14 myrrh 5.8.7 Jerusalem 5.13.19 myrrh 5.14.10 beryl 5.15.18 Lebanon 5.16.23 Jerusalem 6.4.8 Tirzah 6.4.11 Jerusalem 6.5.23 Gilead 6.12.14 Amminadib 6.13.4 Shulamite 7.3.8 roes 7.4.15 Heshbon 7.4.20 Bathrabbin 7.4.28 Lebanon 7.4.32 Damascus 7.5.7 Carmel 7.5.15 purple 7.13.2 mandrakes 8
A Commentary on the Scriptures by Paul Nolan Hyde, Ph.D. Song of Solomon 0.0 The Song of Solomon is considered part of a larger section of the Old Testament usually referred to as the Wisdom Books that includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The books of Wisdom and Sirach from the Apocrypha are also grouped with the first five in other versions of the Bible. The Song of Solomon has often been referred to as the Song of Songs and the Canticles. Song. JST AF 243 EM 2:765, 766 0.1 The general consensus among the scholars is that the book Song of Solomon was largely composed by Solomon the son of David, the third king of United Israel. While the book may very well have been written by Solomon, it certainly was not written in his old age. The text itself declares that the author had only sixty wives and eighty concubines at the time of the composition (see 6.8). Solomon in his dotage had 300 wives and 700 concubines. 0.2 Many learned men have opined that the Song of Solomon was written at a time when the object of the odes was being brought into the king s harem. Some have suggested that Pharaoh s daughter is the subject of the poem. This latter conclusion seems unlikely inasmuch as Solomon s marriage to the Egyptian took place quite early in his life, about 2,885 years after Adam and Eve departed from the Garden of Eden, or when Solomon was about nineteen years of age. He most certainly did not have 140 consorts by that time. 0.3 Many ancient scholars had serious reservations about the scriptural value of the Song of Solomon. The Jews of the first century of the Christian era decided to include the poem in the Mazoretic text, notwithstanding their misgivings, primarily because it had been associated with the Hebrew corpus of sacred writing for an extraordinary length of time. The doubts originally were founded on the rather graphic descriptions of the participants association with one another. Having accepted the text as sacred, it was then incumbent upon these same men to explain the significance of the Song. Initially the Jews concluded that it was a description of the relationship between Jehovah as the Bridegroom and House of Israel as the Bride. When Christians adopted the Old Testament canon, many of the scholars followed in the same vein, suggesting that the Son of God was the Bridegroom and the Church or the immortal soul was the Bride. 0.4 The great problem with most of the allegorical interpretations of the Song of Solomon is the fact that none of the Apostles or the Lord Jesus Christ ever quoted from the work, even though many other books of the Old Testament are cited by them. Another aspect of this fault is that nowhere within the text is the name of God ever mentioned or alluded to. The fact of the matter is that most scholars have painted themselves into a corner by accepting its canonicity without being able to adequately explain how each element of the poem should be understood. Finally, the sexual language is so graphic as to be distracting to the humble disciple of Jesus Christ, even when attempting to read the text with the allegorical interpretation in mind. 0.5 While others may argue the poetic and theological merits of the Song of Solomon, we have no need to trouble ourselves with the text at all, except in 9
an ancillary way. As the prophet Joseph Smith was nearing the end of his three year translation of the Bible, he inserted a note at the heading of the Song of Solomon: The Songs of Solomon are not Inspired writings. Solomon may have been the author, but the poems have no claim upon our faith. Therefore, little will be done by way of commentary except to identify some proper names and to suggest reasons why some passages have appeared in discourses and manuals within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In all fairness, there are only eight references to be found in the far right-hand column. In other word, the whole commentary will be quite thin when compared to other volumes. 0.6 James E. Talmage mentions Song of Solomon in passing in the Articles of Faith as part of his description of the Old Testament. The references in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism appear as part of an article on the production of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Chapter 1 1.1 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.1.7 Solomon s The youngest son of David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel (sometimes Eliam). At the death of Absalom, David granted Bathsheba s wish that her young son Solomon would be David s political heir. Solomon would ascend to the throne of Israel before his father s death as a response to the machinations of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. Solomon would extend the boundaries of the kingdom of Israel and expand the infrastructure of the nation considerably, including the building of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Later in life, Solomon engaged in excesses that would endanger his salvation. 1.2 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.3 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.4 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.5 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.5.10 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences including mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to take Isaac as an offering unto the Most High God, and mount Zion. The Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives lie immediately to the east. The traditional sites of Calvary and the Garden Tomb lie immediately to the north. 1. The song of songs, which is Solomon s. 2. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. 3. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 10
The king at the time of the initial entry into the land of promise was Adonizedek. 1.5.15 Kedar Purportedly the father of the Cedreans, a tribe that formed part of the Saracen peoples. 1.5.20 Solomon The youngest son of David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel (sometimes Eliam). At the death of Absalom, David granted Bathsheba s wish that her young son Solomon would be David s political heir. Solomon would ascend to the throne of Israel before his father s death as a response to the machinations of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. Solomon would extend the boundaries of the kingdom of Israel and expand the infrastructure of the nation considerably, including the building of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Later in life, Solomon engaged in excesses that would endanger his salvation. 1.6 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.7 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.8 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.9 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.9.14 Pharaoh s From the very beginning of the establishment of the Egyptian people, the king of the Egypt was called Pharaoh, perhaps in honor of the first king whose given name was such. This practice continued until the Greek conquest of Egypt after which the kings were called Ptolemy, in honor of the Greek conqueror himself. 1.10 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.11 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.12 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. This verse is cited in Jesus the Christ because of its reference to spikenard. 1.12.9 spikenard The Hebrew word which his here translated as spikenard derives from roots which mean genuine, unadulterated, trustworthy, or liquid nard. Nard itself was probably made from the aromatic roots of an East Indian tree, Nardostachys jatamansi, although 6. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. 7. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? 8. If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents. 9. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh s chariots. 10. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. 11. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. 12. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. Song. 1:12 JC 523 11
there are opposing views 1.13 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.13.4 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 1.14 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.14.10 camphire A variant spelling for the English word camphor. 1.14.15 Engedi A city located in the wilderness portions of the possessions of Judah. The spring and accompanying oasis are located about one-third of the way down the western shore of the Dead Sea. 1.15 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.16 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1.17 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 13. A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 14. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. 15. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves eyes. 16. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 17. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir. Chapter 2 2.1 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.1.6 Sharon An expanse of grazing land that lay due west of the city of Shechem, extending from Aphek on the south to Megiddo on the north. 2.2 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.3 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.4 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.5 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.6 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.7 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.7.8 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the 1. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. 7. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he 12
Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences including mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to take Isaac as an offering unto the Most High God, and mount Zion. The Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives lie immediately to the east. The traditional sites of Calvary and the Garden Tomb lie immediately to the north. The king at the time of the initial entry into the land of promise was Adonizedek. 2.7.11 roes Most scholars think of the roe as the Arabian gazelle or the antelope. 2.7.15 hinds In reference to female deer. 2.8 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.9 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.9.6 roe Most scholars think of the roe as the Arabian gazelle or the antelope. 2.9.10 hart Generally thought of the male deer that inhabited the mountains of the land of Canaan at the time. 2.10 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.11 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.12 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.13 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.14 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.15 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.16 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 2.17 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. please. 8. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 9. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. 10. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 11. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 12. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 13. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 14. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. 17. Until the day break, and the 13
2.9.18 roe Most scholars think of the roe as the Arabian gazelle or the antelope. 2.9.22 hart Generally thought of the male deer that inhabited the mountains of the land of Canaan at the time. 2.17.27 Bether An otherwise unidentified range of mountains. This is the only place where this place name appears in sacred writ. shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Chapter 3 3.1 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.2 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.3 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.4 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.5 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.5.8 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences including mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to take Isaac as an offering unto the Most High God, and mount Zion. The Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives lie immediately to the east. The traditional sites of Calvary and the Garden Tomb lie immediately to the north. The king at the time of the initial entry into the land of promise was Adonizedek. 3.5.11 roes Most scholars think of the roe as the Arabian gazelle or the antelope. 3.5.15 hinds In reference to female deer. 3.6 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.6.16 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 3.6.18 frankincense An aromatic, vegetable resin used by the Israelites primarily for religious purposes, imported from Arabia and Saba. Frankincense was burned upon the altar of incense in the Temple at Jerusalem. Often associated with Jesus role as the divine High Priest, as 1. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 2. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 14
one entering into the Sanctuary of God the Father. A highly valuable and sought after commodity, easily negotiable in trade throughout the Middle East. 3.7 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.7.6 Solomon s The youngest son of David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel (sometimes Eliam). At the death of Absalom, David granted Bathsheba s wish that her young son Solomon would be David s political heir. Solomon would ascend to the throne of Israel before his father s death as a response to the machinations of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. Solomon would extend the boundaries of the kingdom of Israel and expand the infrastructure of the nation considerably, including the building of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Later in life, Solomon engaged in excesses that would endanger his salvation. 3.7.17 Israel The name given to Jacob, the younger twin born to Isaac and Rebekah, and the brother of Esau. Much has been made of the naming of the younger brother, most of which has reflected poorly on Jacob. That Jacob would be the preferred son spiritually was clearly impressed upon the mind and heart of Rebekah and no doubt Isaac was familiar with the prophecy that had been given by the Lord to his wife. It would appear, however, that the naming of Jacob, which was no doubt done to help Esau realize that the spiritual blessings were not going to be bestowed upon him, was for the most part lost on him. The scholars of the world have pointed to Jacob s name as a term of derision, inasmuch as one of its prominent meanings in Hebrew is supplanter. It literally means, however, heel-catcher in reference to one of the instances in the manner of his birth, he holding on to Esau s heel as he was being born. It is interesting that Esau himself used wordplay to deride Jacob s acquisition of the birthright and the blessing. This complaint and accusation was to come to an end with the angel s blessing. The scholars of the world have apparently missed this point; that is to say, the divine commandment that Jacob from that time forward would be called Israel. The proper name Israel derives from roots that mean he will rule as God; the prince that prevails with God. 3.8 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.9 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.9.2 Solomon The youngest son of David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel (sometimes Eliam). At the death of Absalom, David granted Bathsheba s wish that her young son Solomon would be David s political heir. Solomon would ascend to the throne of Israel before his father s death as a response to the machinations of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. Solomon would extend the boundaries of the kingdom of Israel and expand the infrastructure of the nation considerably, including the building of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Later in life, Solomon engaged in excesses that would endanger his salvation. 3.9.11 Lebanon In reference to the long range of mountains in the far north of the land of Canaan. Mount Lebanon included territory that pertains to the nations of Lebanon and Syria today. 3.10 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 7. Behold his bed, which is Solomon s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. 8. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. 9. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. 10. He made the pillars thereof of 15
3.10.18 purple The dye by which extremely rare, and thus costly, purple cloth was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of marine mollusks, notably the species Murex. Scholars report that more than 12,000 shellfish were required to extract 1.5 grams of the pure dye. Historians attest that the use of purple began on the isle of Crete nearly 1,600 years before the birth of Christ. Some scholars have suggested that Phoenicia actually means the land of purple rather than the land of palm trees, in their attempt to explain the source of Tryian purple, the most famous of the purples used in the ancient world. 3.10.30 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences including mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to take Isaac as an offering unto the Most High God, and mount Zion. The Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives lie immediately to the east. The traditional sites of Calvary and the Garden Tomb lie immediately to the north. The king at the time of the initial entry into the land of promise was Adonizedek. 3.11 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 3.11.7 Zion The establishment of Zion has been the desire of every righteous man and woman since the days of Adam and Eve. It is a goal worth pursuing, inasmuch as it is an attempt to restore the earth to its paradisiacal glory. From time to time there have been people who have succeeded in binding the hearts and minds of their fellow men to them through faith, hope, and charity, in the bonds of the Christian covenant. In certain instances, entire communities have been translated because of their faithfulness to the principles and ordinances that pertain to eternity. The goal of the saints of the latter days is to prepare the entire world for the restoration of the earth to its paradisiacal glory, a condition that will last for a thousand years while the Lord Jesus Christ rules and reigns upon the earth in the Church and Kingdom of God. Zion will, therefore, eventually fill the whole face of this planet. 3.11.11 Solomon The youngest son of David and Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel (sometimes Eliam). At the death of Absalom, David granted Bathsheba s wish that her young son Solomon would be David s political heir. Solomon would ascend to the throne of Israel before his father s death as a response to the machinations of Adonijah, Abiathar, and Joab. Solomon would extend the boundaries of the kingdom of Israel and expand the infrastructure of the nation considerably, including the building of the great Temple in Jerusalem. Later in life, Solomon engaged in excesses that would endanger his salvation. silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. Chapter 4 4.1 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.2 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 1. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. 2. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which 16
came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. 4.3 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.4 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.4.8 David The King of United Israel, David was the youngest of eight sons born to Jesse, although only seven are ever named in the scriptural account. 4.4.18 bucklers The Hebrew word which is here translated as buckler derives from roots that mean shield, protector, hide. 4.5 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.5.8 roes Most scholars think of the roe as the Arabian gazelle or the antelope. 4.6 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.6.18 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 4.6.24 frankincense An aromatic, vegetable resin used by the Israelites primarily for religious purposes, imported from Arabia and Saba. Frankincense was burned upon the altar of incense in the Temple at Jerusalem. Often associated with Jesus role as the divine High Priest, as one entering into the Sanctuary of God the Father. A highly valuable and sought after commodity, easily negotiable in trade throughout the Middle East. 4.7 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.8 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.8.5 Lebanon In reference to the long range of mountains in the far north of the land of Canaan. Mount Lebanon included territory that pertains to the nations of Lebanon and Syria today. 4.8.17 Amana A precipice located in the mountains of northern Canaan. 4.8.22 Shenir Elsewhere Senir. A city or region in the northern reaches of the land of Canaan. It is associated with the Assyrian name for mount Hermon. 4.8.24 Hermon A large ridge of mountain peaks that lies at the northern extremity of the land of Palestine. The most elevated point rises to 9,232 feet above sea level. The upper reaches of the river Jordan at to be found there. 4.9 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.10 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. This cross reference in Jesus the Christ appears there because James E. Talmage 3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. 4. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 5. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. 6. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. 7. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. 8. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions dens, from the mountains of the leopards. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. 10. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy Song. 4:10 JC 278 17
quotes directly from Frederic William Farrar s The Life of Christ, which is addressing the history of ointments and anointing. 4.11 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.11.28 Lebanon In reference to the long range of mountains in the far north of the land of Canaan. Mount Lebanon included territory that pertains to the nations of Lebanon and Syria today. 4.12 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.13 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. This verse is cited in Jesus the Christ because of its reference to spikenard. 4.13.11 camphire A variant spelling for the English word camphor. 4.13.13 spikenard The Hebrew word which his here translated as spikenard derives from roots which mean genuine, unadulterated, trustworthy, or liquid nard. Nard itself was probably made from the aromatic roots of an East Indian tree, Nardostachys jatamansi, although there are opposing views. 4.14 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.14.1 spikenard The Hebrew word which his here translated as spikenard derives from roots which mean genuine, unadulterated, trustworthy, or liquid nard. Nard itself was probably made from the aromatic roots of an East Indian tree, Nardostachys jatamansi, although there are opposing views. 4.14.3 saffron A member of the crocus family, a type of iris used for making yellow dyes and perfumes. 4.14.4 calamus This is generally thought of having reference to the Acorus calamus, a gladden or marshland flag whose roots and leaves have been used for making fragrances for millennia. Some erstwhile linguists have managed to twist the Hebrew name for this plant into cannabis, somehow implying a justification for the abuse of that herb. This of course is complete and utter nonsense. Two hundred and fifty shekels worth would be about 6 and one-quarter pounds of dried calamus root. 4.14.6 cinnamon A well-known aromatic used in the fabrication of ointments used in the Temple of God. The English word derives from the Hebrew word used in this verse. 4.14.11 frankincense An aromatic, vegetable resin used by the Israelites primarily for religious purposes, imported from Arabia and Saba. Frankincense was burned upon the altar of incense in the Temple at Jerusalem. Often associated with Jesus role as the divine High Priest, as one entering into the Sanctuary of God the Father. A highly valuable and sought after commodity, easily negotiable in trade throughout the Middle East. 4.14.12 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 4.14.14 aloes A species of the sandlewood tree that grows to the height of about eight or ten feet, about the same size as a tent. The leaves at the top of the tree are large and dense. love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! 11. Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. 12. A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: Song. 4:13-14 JC 523 18
4.15 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 4.15.13 Lebanon In reference to the long range of mountains in the far north of the land of Canaan. Mount Lebanon included territory that pertains to the nations of Lebanon and Syria today. 4.16 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 15. A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. 16. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. Chapter 5 5.1 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.2 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.3 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.4 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.5 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.5.14 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 5.6 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.7 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 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 19
me. 5.8 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.8.7 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences including mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to take Isaac as an offering unto the Most High God, and mount Zion. The Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives lie immediately to the east. The traditional sites of Calvary and the Garden Tomb lie immediately to the north. The king at the time of the initial entry into the land of promise was Adonizedek. 5.9 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.10 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.11 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.12 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.13 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.13.19 myrrh This English word is used to translate a variety of Hebrew and Greek words, all of which refer to kinds of resin similar in origin to frankincense. 5.14 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.14.10 beryl A translucent, bluish-green gemstone similar to the topaz, save for its color. This stone appears in the Revelation of John the Beloved as garnishing the twelfth foundation of the Holy City (see RV- C 21.20). 5.15 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.15.18 Lebanon In reference to the long range of mountains in the far north of the land of Canaan. Mount Lebanon included territory that pertains to the nations of Lebanon and Syria today. 5.16 The Song of Solomon is not to be considered divinely inspired writing. 5.16.23 Jerusalem A city located about 32 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and 18 miles from the Jordan River and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. Once the city was captured by the children of Israel from the Jebusites, it served as the capital of the kingdom of Israel and Judah for many centuries. Jerusalem sits aside of several prominences includ- 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. 20