←Song of Solomon 8→BSB

If he were her brother, she could kiss him in public. Romantic kisses were not appropriate in public, but kisses between family members were acceptable.

I adjure you: For the third time, the woman urges the young women of Jerusalem to keep their virginity (see Song of Solomon 2:7; 3:5). The importance of virginity is affirmed in Song of Solomon 8:8–9.

• I roused you under the apple tree: The apple tree symbolizes fertility because it bears fruit (see Song of Solomon 2:3, 5; 7:8).

• there your mother conceived you: Mentioning his mother subtly suggests procreation as a result of sexual love (compare Song of Solomon 8:2).

• seal over your heart . . . on your arm: In ancient Israel a seal was used for identification or to show ownership by pressing the face of a ring into soft wax. The husband wants his wife to mark him with her identity, privately upon his heart, and publicly upon his arm as well.
• love is as strong as death: Though death is inevitable, the bond of love is resolute, unshakable, and broken only in death.
• The energy of jealousy moves to protect an exclusive relationship such as that of husband and wife or between God and his people (Nah 1:2; Zech 1:14–17).
• as the grave: Hebrew as Sheol. In the Old Testament, Sheol is the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily associated with punishment.

We have a little sister: The wife's brothers worry about their sister's purity. In ancient Near Eastern culture, they protect their sister's sexuality until she marries.

• wall: This term has two metaphorical meanings:

  1. A young girl's chest is flat like a wall (see Song of Solomon 8:10)

  2. Until marriage, she should remain abstinent and strong like a wall

• build a tower of silver upon her: Towers served as lookouts to protect the city; a silver one would be more noticeable and strong. If the woman is already a wall, having kept her virginity, they will honor and support her decision.

• On the other hand, a swinging door suggests promiscuity. The brothers will make her control herself.

• I am a wall: The woman states she remained pure for marriage.

• like towers: The woman uses words of attractiveness (see Song of Solomon 4:4; 7:4, 8) and questions her brothers’ view of her as immature.

• Baal-hamon is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. However, "Balamon" appears in later writings as a location in northern Israel; it might be the same place. \

• a thousand shekels of silver: The Old Testament mentions various types of shekels, so the exact value is unclear, but the vineyard was large.

• The scene has shifted from the lease payment to the more familiar and pleasant gardens.

• my companions: It seems the wife is talking with her friends. Her husband feels jealous and wants her attention.

• Come away, my beloved: She asks him to follow her, and he chases her as fast as a gazelle (see Song of Solomon 2:8–10).

• mountains of spices: Compare Song of Solomon 4:6.