Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Song of Solomon 6:8
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
8. This is evidently a description of a hareem, and it can only be Solomon’s own. The word translated are here is somewhat anomalous, and Budde would substitute ‘to Solomon are.’ But this is a much more moderate hareem than the account of Solomon’s given in the historical books would lead us to expect, e.g. 1Ki 11:3, where we read of 700 wives and 300 concubines. Solomon being here the speaker, it is natural that he should in his present circumstances minimise the size of his establishment, and veil it under the vague last phrase.
queens ] These are wives of royal birth.
concubines ] Heb. plaghshm, plur. of plegesh or pillegesh, appears in Greek as , , and is probably there a loan word from the Semitic peoples. But the derivation is unknown. Oettli says that as the king speaks here, he witnesses against Delitzsch’s idea that he was united in marriage to the Shulammite in ch. Son 5:1, by using the word tammth, ‘my undefiled’; but that is surely to press the word too far. Marriage was not regarded as impairing a woman’s purity.
virgins ] The word used here, ‘lmth, does not necessarily mean ‘virgins,’ but young women of marriageable age. Consequently, either subordinate members of the hareem, or young women not yet, but about to be, taken into it are intended.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Son 6:8
There are threescore queens.
Womans rights
So Solomon, by one stroke, sets forth the imperial character of a true Christian woman. She is not a slave, not a hireling, not a subordinate; but a queen: and in my text Solomon sees sixty of these helping to make up the royal pageant of Jesus.
I. Woman has the special and superlative right of blessing and comforting the sick. The Lord God who sent Miss Dix into the Virginia hospitals, and Florence Nightingale into the Crimea, and the Maid of Saragossa to appease the wounds of the battlefield, has equipped wife, mother, and daughter, for this delicate but tremendous mission.
II. Woman has a superlative right to take care of the poor.
III. It is womans specific right to comfort under the stress of dire disaster.
IV. It is womans right to bring to us the kingdom of hearten.
V. One of the specific rights of women is, through the grace of christ, finally to reach heaven. O, what a multitude of women in heaven I Mary, Christs mother, in heaven; Elizabeth Fry in heaven; Charlotte Elizabeth in heaven; the mother of Augustine in heaven; the Countess of Huntingdon–who sold her splendid jewels to build chapels–in heaven; while a great many others who have never been heard of on earth, or known but little, have gone into the rest and peace of heaven. What a rest! (T. De Witt Talmage.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. There are threescore queens] Though there be sixty queens, and eighty concubines, or secondary wives, and virgins innumerable, in my harem, yet thou, my dove, my undefiled, art achath, ONE, the ONLY ONE, she in whom I delight beyond all.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Threescore queens, and fourscore concubines; a certain number for an uncertain. The sense seems to be this, There are many beautiful queens and concubines in the world, in the courts of princes, and particularly in Solomons court; but none of them is to be compared with my spouse, and my heart is set upon none of them, but only upon my spouse, as the following verse declareth. Or the queens and concubines may note the particular congregations which are called by Christs name, and the virgins may signify the particular believers or professors; all which do make up one catholic church, as it follows. See Poole “Psa 45:10“, See Poole “Psa 45:14“, See Poole “Psa 45:15“. Virgins; either,
1. Which wait upon the queens and concubines. Or,
2. Which were reserved as a nursery, out of which queens and concubines were to be taken.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. threescoreindefinitenumber, as in So 3:7. Notqueens, c., of Solomon, but witnesses of the espousals, rulersof the earth contrasted with the saints, who, though many, are but”one” bride (Isa 52:15Luk 22:25; Luk 22:26;Joh 17:21; 1Co 10:17).The one Bride is contrasted with the many wives whom Eastern kingshad in violation of the marriage law (1Ki11:1-3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. In this verse and So 6:9 the church is commended as she stood related to others; and is compared with them, and preferred to them. The words may be considered either as an assertion, “there are”, c. or as a supposition, “though there be”, c. yet Christ’s church is but one, and excels them all. “Queens” are principal and lawful wives of kings “concubines”, secondary or half wives, as the word i signifies who were admitted to the bed, but their children did not inherit: “virgins”, unmarried persons, maids of honour, who waited on the queen. The allusion is to the custom of kings and great personages, who had many wives, and more concubines, and a large number of virgins to wait on them; see 1Ki 11:3; or to a nuptial solemnity, and the ceremony of introducing the bride to the bridegroom, attended with a large number of persons of distinction; and so Theocritus k speaks of four times sixty virgins attending the nuptials of Menelaus and Helena; see Ps 45:9. By all which may be meant either the kingdoms and nations of the world; by “queens”, the more large, rich and flourishing kingdoms; by “concubines”, inferior states; and by “virgins without number”, the vast multitudes of inhabitants that fill them; but all, put together, are not equal to the church; see So 2:2; or else false churches; by “queens”, such who boast of their riches and number, as the church of Rome, Re 18:7; by “concubines”, such as are inferior in those things, but equally corrupt, as Arians, Socinians, c. and by “virgins without number”, the multitudes of poor, weak, ignorant people, seduced by them and what figure soever these make, or pretensions to be the true churches of Christ, they are none of his, his spouse is preferred to them all. Or rather true believers in Christ, of different degrees, are here meant; queens, those that have the greatest share of gifts grace, most nearness to Christ, and communion with him; by “concubines”, believers of a lower class, and of a more servile spirit, and yet sometimes are favoured with, fellowship with Christ; and by “virgins”, young converts, who have not so large an experience as the former; and this distribution agrees with 1Jo 2:13; and the rather this may be the sense, since each of these are said to praise the church in So 6:9, who is preferable to them, and includes them all.
i “secundariae uxores”, Michaelis. k Idyll. 18. v. 24.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8 There are sixty queens,
And eighty concubines,
And virgins without number.
9 One is my dove, my perfect one, –
The only one of her mother,
The choice one of her that bare her.
The daughters saw her and called her blessed, –
Queens and concubines, and they extolled her.
Even here, where, if anywhere, notice of the difference of gender was to be expected, stands instead of the more accurate ( e.g., Gen 6:2). The number off the women of Solomon’s court, 1Ki 11:3, is far greater (700 wives and 300 concubines); and those who deny the Solomonic authorship of the Song regard the poet, in this particular, as more historical than the historian. On our part, holding as we do the Solomonic authorship of the book, we conclude from these low numbers that the Song celebrates a love-relation of Solomon’s at the commencement of his reign: his luxury had not then reached the enormous height to which he, the same Solomon, looks back, and which he designates, Ecc 2:8, as vanitas vanitatum . At any rate, the number of 60 , i.e., legitimate wives of equal rank with himself, is yet high enough; for, according to 2Ch 11:21, Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines. The 60 occurred before, at Son 3:7. If it be a round number, as sometimes, although rarely, sexaginta is thus used (Hitzig), it may be reduced only to 51, but not further, especially here, where 80 stands along with it. ( ), Gr. (Lat. pellex ), which in the form ( ) came back from the Greek to the Aramaic, is a word as yet unexplained. According to the formation, it may be compared to , from , to cut off; whence also the harem bears the (Arab.) name haram , or the separated synaeconitis , to which access is denied. And ending in is ( ) is known to the Assyr., but only as an adverbial ending, which, as ‘istinis = , alone, solus, shows is connected with the pron. su. These two nouns appear as thus requiring to be referred to quadrilitera , with the annexed ; perhaps , in the sense of to break into splinters, from , to divide (whence a brook, as dividing itself in its channels, has the name of ), points to the polygamous relation as a breaking up of the marriage of one; so that a concubine has the name pillegesh , as a representant of polygamy in contrast to monogamy.
In the first line of Son 6:9 is subj. (one, who is my dove, my perfect one); in the second line, on the contrary, it is pred. (one, unica , is she of her mother). That Shulamith was her mother’s only child does not, however, follow from this; , unica , is equivalent to unice dilecta , as , Pro 4:3, is equivalent to unice dilectus (cf. Keil’s Zec 14:7). The parall. has its nearest signification electa (lxx, Syr., Jerome), not pura (Venet.); the fundamental idea of cutting and separating divides itself into the ideas of choosing and purifying. The Aorists, Son 6:9, are the only ones in this book; they denote that Shulamith’s look had, on the part of the women, this immediate result, that they willingly assigned to her the good fortune of being preferred to them all, – that to her the prize was due. The words, as also at Pro 31:28, are an echo of Gen 30:13, – the books of the Chokma delight in references to Genesis, the book of pre-Israelitish origin. Here, in Son 6:8, Son 6:9, the distinction between our typical and the allegorical interpretation is correctly seen. The latter is bound to explain what the 60 and the 80 mean, and how the wives, concubines, and “virgins” of the harem are to be distinguished from each other; but what till now has been attempted in this matter has, by reason of its very absurdity or folly, become an easy subject of wanton mockery. But the typical interpretation regards the 60 and the 80, and the unreckoned number, as what their names denote, – viz. favourites, concubines, and serving-maids. But to see an allegory of heavenly things in such a herd of women – a kind of thing which the Book of Genesis dates from the degradation of marriage in the line of Cain – is a profanation of that which is holy. The fact is, that by a violation of the law of God (Deu 17:17), Solomon brings a cloud over the typical representation, which is not at all to be thought of in connection with the Antitype. Solomon, as Jul Sturm rightly remarks, is not to be considered by himself, but only in his relation to Shulamith. In Christ, on the contrary, is no imperfection; sin remains in the congregation. In the Song, the bride is purer than the bridegroom; but in the fulfilling of the Song this relation is reversed: the bridegroom is purer than the bride.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(8) There are threescore queens.Presumably a description of Solomons harem (from comp. with Son. 8:11-12), though the numbers are far more sober than in 1Ki. 11:3. Probably the latter marks a later form of the traditions of the grand scale on which everything at the court of the monarch was conducted, and this, though a poetic, is a truer version of the story of his loves. The conjunction of alamth with concubines, pilageshm (comp. , pellex), decides for translating it puell rather than virgines.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. There are Better, I have there, pointing to the women’s apartments of his palace. The King here alludes to his harem. Threescore queens, etc.
Stating the numbers of its inmates in general and representative terms, equivalent to many, very many. The exact numbers are given three hundred wives and seven hundred concubines in 1Ki 11:3. These hapless beauties, by a policy of luxury which in the end proved disastrous, were selected to form a galaxy to brighten and adorn the court, and minister to the pride and passion of the King. But he affirms that this one, on whom his eye is newly set, is
“Fair as a star when only one
Is shining in the sky.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. (9) My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
In these verses we have still further proof of Christ’s love to his church, and the distinguishing nature of it. It is, as if the Lord had said, Though there be among men, and the great ones of the earth, those who have concubines and wives without number; yet, my beloved is but one, and the only one of my love; and so fair, so lovely, so undefiled, that even those who know not me, shall be obliged at length to confess that she is blessed. Reader! at the great day of God we are told that this shall take place. They shall see and confess; and, although in this life, who so despised, and set at nought as the followers of Jesus; yet, at the final audit, every eye shall see him, and all nations shall wail because of him . Rev 1:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Son 6:8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.
Ver. 8. There are threescore queens, and fourscore, &c. ] Or as some read it, hypothetically, Be there sixty queens, and eighty concubines, which were secondary wives – usurary, the lawyers call them, that had right to the bed, but no rule in the family – and virgins, or waiting gentle women without number; although there be of other sorts never so many, yet “My dove,” albeit but one, is an “only one,” and beloved accordingly. see Jer 31:20 For the allegory here – some go one way to work, some another. Let there be never so great a number, saith one, of peoples and nations, of churches and assemblies, which challenge my name and love, and perhaps by their outward prosperities may seem to plead much interest in me, and much worth in themselves, yet “My dove,” &c. Others think, that by “queens” are meant true believers; by “concubines,” hypocrites and formal professors; and by “virgins,” profane persons, that have not yet so much as a form of godliness. The first are the fewest, and the last are the greatest number. Lastly, There are those who make “queens,” “concubines,” and “virgins,” to signify three different sorts or degrees of true Christians in the Catholic Church, which yet is but one. Some have made but small progress in piety; these are compared to “virgins,” and are the far greater in number: Some are got further onward, and are of better proof; these are like “concubines,” and do exceed the “queens” in number; quo enim perfectiores, eo pauciores. Some again are eminent and eximious Christians; these are queens, and have more close communion with Christ: and to this highest degree we must all aspire and endeavour, striving to perfection. Nature, art, grace, do all proceed from less perfect to more perfect. We read in Scripture of a Christian’s conception, Gal 4:19 birth, 1Pe 1:23 ; 1Pe 2:2 childhood, 1Co 3:1-2 1Jn 2:13 youth, or well grown age, Eph 4:13 old age. Act 21:16 Mnason was a gray-headed experienced Christian, a father. 1Jn 2:13 All must exact of themselves a daily growth, and be still bringing forth fruit in their old age, Psa 92:13-14 so shall the king take pleasure still in their beauty; so shall he one day set them upon his right hand, as place of dignity and safety, in gold of Ophir. Psa 45:9 ; Psa 45:11
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
There are: i.e. I have.
threescore. The numbers are not the same as in 1Ki 11:3, because a different period is referred to.
virgins = damsels. See note on Son 1:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ki 11:1, 2Ch 11:21, Psa 45:14, Rev 7:9
Reciprocal: Jdg 19:1 – a concubine Psa 45:9 – Kings’ Pro 31:10 – can Pro 31:29 – thou Son 1:3 – the virgins Isa 7:15 – Butter Mat 25:1 – ten Mar 2:19 – Can Rev 14:4 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Son 6:8-9. There are threescore queens A certain number for an uncertain. The sense seems to be this: there are many beautiful queens and concubines in the world, in the courts of princes, but none of them is to be compared with my spouse. My undefiled is but one The only beloved of my soul, my only spouse. The only one of her mother She is as dear and as precious to me as only children use to be to their parents, and especially to their mothers. The daughters saw her Called virgins, Son 6:8. They praised her As more beautiful and worthy than themselves.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Son 6:8 f. The Simple Home Nobler than the Royal Harem.The reference is probably to Solomons domestic establishment as pictured in the historical books (1Ki 11:3); some critics change the word translated there are into to Solomon, i.e. Solomon had.concubines: subordinate wives. The origin of the Hebrew word is unknown.virgins: more correctly maidens (mg.), i.e. servants and attendants. The bridegroom would rather have his one beloved than all these ladies of the court. For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, That then I scorn to change my state with kings. It is added to enhance her value that she is an only daughter.Pure (mg.) instead of choice one seems to be more expressive; it would, however, have to be taken not in a moral sense (Psa 73:1) but of the physical features (clear in Son 6:10). That another word was used emphasizing the fact that she was the only one borne by her mother is mere conjecture. By a bold effort of imagination she is pictured as the object of admiration even to those who are accustomed to the richest splendour and most dazzling beauty.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
6:8 There are {d} sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and virgins without number.
(d) Meaning that the gifts are infinite which Christ gives to his Church: or that his faithful are many in number.