A Mutually Responsive Song of Love and Admiration. (1) The comparison of the richly-ornamented horses of Pharaoh's chariots. Parallels from ancient literature may be found in the commentaries. The Arabs had fine breeds of horses which they esteemed very highly, and such horses were splendidly adorned when driven in the chariots of the princes. The rich and even excessive adornment of the bride appealed to the Orientals as much as the simple beauty of the maiden. Hence the reference to plaits of hair, circlets of gold with silver points is appropriate both to a woman's headdress and the trappings of a gaily-decorated steed (Genesis 24:53; Genesis 34:12). (2) The bride returns the compliment. Her perfumes and her own charms exert their full power when stimulated by the gracious presence of her king. He is compared to a bundle or bag of myrrh which Oriental women place between their breasts at night, and which has a protecting and refreshing influence, as well as to the Paradise flower (henna-flower), the dye from which is used to give a delicate tinge to the hands and feet. These flowers are said to be found only in Palestine at En-gedi. (3) The bridegroom declares again the beauty of his love (lit. friend, in the OT peculiar to this book and Judges 11:37). He says that her eyes are doves, meaning that they have the softness and innocence of doves-' eyes. There is no general agreement about the exact reference of Song of Solomon 1:16 f. whether it is a picture of a fine mansion, or a poetic description of life among the trees of the forest; the green bed is the difficulty, which some take literally, and others figuratively, or according to the custom mentioned in Proverbs 7:17.
Related Commentaries of Song of Solomon 1:9
Song of Solomon 1:9-17
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.
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 camphireb in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my love;c 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 raftersd of fir.