{{Short description|Second chapter of Song of Songs describing the intense love between a man and a woman}} {{Bible chapter|letname= Song of Songs 2 |previouslink= Song of Songs 1 |previousletter= chapter 1 |nextlink= Song of Songs 3 |nextletter= chapter 3 |book=[[Song of Songs]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 22 |category= [[Ketuvim]] | filename= Caterina del Sasso - Kirche Fresko Rose unter Dornen (cropped).jpg| size=250px |caption=<div style="width: 250px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">Church [[fresco]] showing a lily among thorns according to a quotation from the Song of Solomon, Santa Caterina del Sasso (Varese).</div>}}
'''Song of Songs 2''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''Song 2''') is the second chapter of the [[Song of Songs]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] or the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]].{{sfn|Halley|1965|p=278}}<ref name=Holman>Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.</ref> This book is one of the [[Five Megillot]], a collection of short books, together with [[Book of Ruth|Ruth]], [[Book of Lamentations|Lamentations]], [[Ecclesiastes]] and [[Book of Esther|Esther]], within the [[Ketuvim]], the third and the last part of the Hebrew Bible.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=429}} [[Jewish tradition]] views [[Solomon]] as the author of this book (although this is now largely disputed), and this attribution influences the acceptance of this book as a canonical text.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=429}} This chapter contains a dialogue in the open air and several female poems with the main imagery of flora and fauna.{{sfn|Brenner|2007|p=430}}
==Text== The original text is written in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew language]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 17 verses.
===Textual witnesses=== Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]], which includes the [[Aleppo Codex]] (10th century), and [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}} Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], assigned as [[4Q107|4Q107 (4QCant<sup>b</sup>)]]; 30 BCE-30 CE; extant verses 9–17).<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Ulrich | editor-first = Eugene | editor-link = Eugene Ulrich | title = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants | year = 2010 | pages = 740–741 | publisher = Brill | url = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls |access-date= May 15, 2017 | isbn= 9789004181830}}</ref><ref>[https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#song_of_songs Dead sea scrolls - Song of Songs].</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last = Fitzmyer|first = Joseph A. |title = A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature| authorlink = Joseph Fitzmyer | publisher = William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC | year = 2008 | pages = 42 |isbn = 9780802862419 | location = Grand Rapids, MI | access-date= February 15, 2019}}</ref>
There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] ('''S'''; [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|BHK]]: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), and [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}
==Structure== The [[Modern English Version|Modern English Version (MEV)]] attributes the voices in this chapter as follows: *{{bibleref2|Song|2:1|MEV}} = The Woman (continued from {{bibleref2|Song|1:16-17|MEV}}) *{{bibleref2|Song|2:2|MEV}} = The Man *{{bibleref2|Song|2:3-17|MEV}} = The Woman
==Female: Love in paradise (1:16–2:1)== [[File:Stamp of Israel - Festivals 5713 - 40mil.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Inscription "The lily of the valleys" from "Song of Solomon 2:1" on "Joyous Festivals 5713" stamp of Israel - 40 mil]] Verse 1 closes a poetic section providing a 'picture of the bed as a spreading growth', using a theme of nature's floras, starting from [[Song of Songs 1|the previous chapter]] with verses 1:16–17 focusing on the subject of trees and verse 2:1 on the subject of flowers.{{sfn|Hess|2005|pp=72–73}}
===Verse 1=== [[File:WV Sharon plain.png|thumb|right|150px|Sharon plain in Israeli Coastal Plain region]] [[File:Jaffa to Jerusalem. Plain of Sharon from the Tower of Ramleh LOC matpc.22712.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Plain of Sharon from the Tower of Ramleh. Jaffa to Jerusalem (between 1950 and 1977)]] {{see also|Rose of Sharon|Lily of the valley}} :''I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:1|KJV}} [[King James Version|KJV]]</ref> *"[[Rose of Sharon]]" ({{langx|he|חבצלת השרון}}, ''{{Strong-number|ḥăḇatzeleṯ|H|}} {{Strong-number|hasharon|H|}}'';<ref name="Song2_1h">[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/2-1.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 2:1]. Biblehub</ref> [[Septuagint]]: "''ἄνθος τοῦ πεδίου''";<ref>[http://en.katabiblon.com/us/index.php?text=LXX&book=Cant&ch=2 Song 2:1], [[Septuagint]]</ref> [[Vulgate]]: "''flos campi''";<ref>[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=24&c=2 Song 2:1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712182544/http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=24&c=2 |date=2020-07-12 }}, [[Vulgate]]</ref> [[Wycliffe's Bible|Wiclif]]: "a flower of the field"<ref>[http://www.biblestudytools.com/wyc/song-of-solomon/2.html Song 2:1], [[Wycliffe's Bible|Wiclif]]</ref>): is thought to be a kind of crocus growing as a "lily among brambles" ([[#Verse 1|Song 2:1]][[#Verse 2|-2]]) in the [[Sharon plain]].<ref name="Sharon_Harper"/> *"[[Rose]]": is translated from the Hebrew word ''ḥăḇatzeleṯ'', that occurs two times in the scriptures, beside in this verse also in [[Isaiah 35:1]], which reads, "the desert shall bloom like the rose". The word translated as "rose" in KJV is rendered variously as "lily" (Septuagint: "''κρίνον''",<ref>[http://en.katabiblon.com/us/index.php?text=LXX&book=Is&ch=35 Is 35:1], Septuagint</ref> Vulgate: "''lilium''",<ref>[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=35 Is 35:1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712182743/http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=35 |date=2020-07-12 }}, Vulgate</ref> Wiclif: "lily"<ref>[http://www.biblestudytools.com/wyc/isaiah/35.html Is 35:1], Wiclif</ref>), "jonquil" ([[Jerusalem Bible]]) and "crocus" ([[Revised Standard Version|RSV]]). *"[[Sharon plain|Sharon]]": the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coastal plain which spans south of the slopes of [[Mount Carmel]], extending about 30 miles south to the [[Yarkon River]] north of [[Jaffa|Joppa]], varying from about 8 to 12 miles in width.<ref name="Sharon_Harper">[http://www.bibleodyssey.org/HarperCollinsBibleDictionary/s/sharon.aspx "Sharon"], ''[[Harper's Bible Dictionary]]''</ref> It is mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament; the other four references are in {{bibleverse|Isaiah|33:9|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Isaiah|35:2|KJV}}; {{bibleverse-nb|Isaiah|65:10|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|27:29|KJV}}.{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=111}}
==Male: My love is like a flower (2:2)== Verse 2 links to [[#Verse 1|verse 1]] on the use of "lily" (or "lotus"), and forms a parallel with [[#Verse 3|verse 3]] on the word order and the use of particles ("as" or "like", "so") as well as the 'terms of endearment' ("my love", "my beloved", or "my darling", "my lover").{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=76}}
===Verse 2=== :''As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters''.<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:2|KJV}} KJV</ref> *"Thorns" (Hebrew plural: ''ḥoḥim''; singular: {{lang|he|ח֖וֹחַ}}, ''{{Strong-number|ḥoaḥ|H|2336}}''): the Hebrew root word is found twelve times in the Bible: aside from this verse, also in {{bibleverse|1 Samuel|13:6|HE}}; {{bibleverse|2 Kings|14:9|HE}} (twice); {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|25:18|HE}} (twice); {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|33:11|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Job|31:40|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Job|40:26|HE}} [41:12 English]; {{bibleverse|Proverbs|26:9|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Isaiah|34:13|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Hosea|9:6|HE}}).{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=76}} *"My love" (or "my [female] friend"; Hebrew: {{lang|he|רעיתי}}, ''{{Strong-number|raʻyāṯî|H|7474}}''<ref name="So2_2h">[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/2-2.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 2:2]. Biblehub</ref>) a specific term of endearment used by the man for the woman that is used nine times in the book ([[Song of Songs 1#Verse 9|Song 1:9]], [[Song of Songs 1#Verse 15|15]]; '''2:2''',{{bibleverse|Song|2:10|KJV|10}}, [[#Verse 13|13]]; {{bibleverse-nb|Song|4:1|KJV}},{{bibleverse|Song|4:7|KJV|7}}; [[Song of Songs 5#Verse 2|5:2]]; [[Song of Songs 6#Verse 4|6:4]]).{{sfn|Bergant|2001|p=19}}<ref name="Strong's Concordance: 7474. rayah">[https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7474.htm Strong's Concordance: 7474. rayah]. Biblehub</ref> The masculine form of the same root word to call the man ("my [male] friend"; Hebrew: {{lang|he|רעי}}, ''{{Strong-number|rēʻi|H|7453}}''<ref name="So5_16h">[https://biblehub.com/text/songs/5-16.htm Hebrew Text Analysis: Song of Solomon 5:16]. Biblehub</ref>) is used in a parallel construction with "my beloved" (Hebrew: {{lang|he|דודי}}, ''{{Strong-number|doḏi|H|1730}}''<ref name="So5_16h"/>) in [[Song of Songs 5#Verse 16|Song of Songs 5:16]].{{sfn|Bergant|2001|p=19}}
==Female: A pastoral scene (2:3-7)== The verse 3 shows an 'excellent synonymous parallelism' with [[#Verse 2|verse 2]] on the word order and the use of certain words, such as "as" or "like", "so", "among" or "between", "my love"/"my beloved" or "my darling"/"my lover".{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=76}} Each verse begins with a preposition of comparison ("as"), followed by three Hebrew words consisting of a singular noun, a preposition ("among" or "between"; ''be^n'') and a plural common noun with a definite article.{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=76}}
===Verse 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.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:3|KJV}} KJV</ref> The sensual imagery of "apple tree" as a place of romance is still used in modern times in songs such as "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree".<ref>Pope, Marvin H. (1995) ''Song of Songs'', Yale University Press, p. 372; ''apud'' Longman 2001, p. 112</ref>
===Verse 4=== :''He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:4|KJV}} KJV</ref> *"The banqueting house" is a rendering of the phrase ''bet hayyayin'', which is only used here in the Bible, literally meaning "house of the wine".{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=112}} Some near synonyms include "house of the drinking of wine" (''bet misteh hayyayin'') in {{bibleverse|Esther|7:8|HE}}, and "house for drinking" (''bet misteh'') in {{bibleverse|Jeremiah|16:8|HE}} and {{bibleverse|Ecclesiastes|7:2|HE}}.{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=112}}
===Verse 5=== :''Sustain me with raisins,'' :''refresh me with apples;'' :''for I am faint with love.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Song|2:5|MEV}} [[Modern English Version|MEV]]</ref> The first two lines of this verse form a 'distinctive structure', using verbs and preposition of the same ideas: "refresh (sustain) me"/"revive (refresh) me", "with raisins"/"with apples".{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=79}} The word "apple(s)" links to the first word of [[#Verse 3|verse 3]], while the word "love" links to the last word of [[#Verse 4|verse 4]].{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=79}}
===Verse 7=== :''I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,'' :''By the gazelles or by the does of the field,'' :''Do not stir up nor awaken love'' :''Until it pleases.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Song|2:7|NKJV}} [[New King James Version|NKJV]]</ref> *Cross references: [[Song of Songs 3:5]]; [[Song 8:4|8:4]]{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=961 Hebrew Bible}} *"Charge" or "adjure"<ref>Note [a] on Song 2:7 in NKJV</ref> The names of God are apparently substituted with similar sounding phrases depicting 'female gazelles' ({{lang|he|צְבָא֔וֹת}}, ''{{Strong-number|tseḇā’ōṯ|H|6643}}'') for [God of] hosts ({{lang|he|צבאות}} ''{{Strong-number|tseḇā’ōṯ|H|6635}}''), and 'does of the field'/'wild does/female deer' ({{lang|he|אילות השדה}}, ''{{Strong-number|’ay-lōṯ|H|355}} ha-{{Strong-number|śā-ḏeh|H|7704}}'') for God Almighty ({{lang|he|אל שדי}}, ''{{Strong-number|’êl|H|410}} {{Strong-number|shaddai|H|7706}}'').{{sfn|Bergant|2001|p=26}}
==Female: Her lover pursues her (2:8–9)== This section starts a poetic exposition of lovers who are joined and separated ({{bibleverse|Song|2:8|KJV}}–{{bibleverse-nb|Song|3:5|KJV}}).{{sfn|Hess|2005|p=36}}
Verses 8–17 form a unity of a poem of the spring by the woman,{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=116}} beginning with 'the voice of my beloved' (''{{Strong-number|qōl|H|6963}} {{Strong-number|dōḏî|H|1730}}''; or 'the sound of his [approach]'), which signals his presence before he even speaks.{{sfn|Exum|2005|p=125}}
Andrew Harper suggests that the scene moves now from [[Jerusalem]] ("daughters of Jerusalem" in verse 7) to "some royal residence in the country", probably in the northern hills.<ref name=cambridgebible /> Verse 8b refers to her beloved "leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills".<ref>{{bibleverse|Song of Songs|2:8|NRSVA}}: [[New Revised Standard Version]]</ref> [[Ambrose|St. Ambrose]] comments by way of a [[biblical paraphrase|paraphrase]],{{quote|Let us see him leaping; he leaped out of heaven into the virgin, out of the womb into the manger, out of the manger into Jordan, out of Jordan to the cross, from the cross into the tomb, out of the grave into heaven.<ref>Ambrose, ''Enarrat. in Psal. cxviii.'' (''A Commentary on Psalm 118''), quoted by [[John Gill (theologian)|Gill, J.]] (1746-63), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/songs/2.htm Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible] on Song of Solomon 2, accessed 8 October 202</ref>}}
==Male: Invitation to come away (2:10-14)== [[File:Stamp of Israel - Festivals 5713 - 15mil.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Inscription "The fig tree puteth forth her green figs" from "Song of Solomon 2:13", "Joyous Festivals 5713" stamp of Israel - 15 mil.]]
===Verse 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.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:13|KJV}} KJV</ref> *"Green figs": is translated from the Hebrew word ''paggâh'', which occurs in its Aramaic form in the city name, "Bethphage".<ref name=cambridgebible>Harper, A. (1902), [[Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]]. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/songs/2.htm Song of Solomon 2], accessed 28 April 2019</ref> The plural form ''paggîm'' are used to call unripe fruits of the early fig (Hebrew: ''bikkûrâh''), which takes about four months to ripe, usually towards the end of June, in contrast to the late figs (Hebrew: ''tě’çnîm'') that grow continuously on the new branches and ripen usually they ripen from August onwards in Palestine.<ref>According to ''Riehm's Handwörterbuch''; ''apud'' Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Song of Solomon 2</ref> *"My love": see notes on [[#Verse 2|verse 2]]. [[File:Stamp of Israel - Festivals 5713 - 110mil.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Inscription "O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock" from "Song of Solomon 2:14", "Joyous Festivals 5713" stamp of Israel - 110 mil.]]
===Verse 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.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|2:14|KJV}} KJV</ref> *"Dove" (as in [[Song 5:2]], {{bibleverse-nb|Song|6:9|KJV}}) serves as a 'metaphor for inaccessibility'.{{sfn|Coogan|2007|p=962 Hebrew Bible}}
==Couple: Protect our love (2:15)== ===Verse 15=== :''Catch the foxes for us,'' ::''the little foxes'' :''that spoil the vineyards,'' ::''for our vineyards are in blossom.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Song|2:15|ESV}} [[English Standard Version|ESV]]</ref> *"Foxes": or "jackals".<ref>Note [a] on Song 2:15 in ESV</ref> The foxes are associated with the obstacle of the blossoming romantic relationship.{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=125}}
==Female: Love affirmed, gratification delayed (2:16-17)== Unlike the ambiguity of the speaker (or speakers) in the previous verse, the two verses in this section are no doubt spoken by the woman, affirming the mutual affection with her lover.{{sfn|Longman|2001|p=125}}
===Verse 16=== :''My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Song|6:3|KJV}} KJV</ref> In reversed order compared to [[Song 6:3]].<ref>Jamieson, Robert; [[Andrew Robert Fausset|Fausset, Andrew Robert]]; [[David Brown (Free Church of Scotland)|Brown, David]]. ''[[Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary|Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary On the Whole Bible]]''. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/songs/6.htm "Song of Solomon 6"]. 1871.</ref>
==See also== *[[Catch for Us the Foxes]] *[[Jerusalem]] *[[Sharon plain]] *Related [[Bible]] parts: [[Song of Songs 1]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources== *{{cite book|last= Bergant |first= Dianne |author-link=Dianne Bergant |title= The Songs of Songs |series= Berit Olam (The Everlasting Covenant): Studies In Hebrew Narrative And Poetry |editor1-first=David W. |editor1-last= Cotter|editor2-first= Jerome T. |editor2-last= Walsh|editor3-first= Chris |editor3-last= Franke |publisher= Liturgical Press |date= 2001|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xkwtwLQ_QCQC |isbn= 9780814650691}} *{{cite book|last= Brenner | first= Athalya |chapter = 21. The Song of Solomon | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 429–433 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}} *{{cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| authorlink= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 9780195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}} *{{cite book|last= Exum |first= J. Cheryl |title= Songs of Songs: A Commentary |series= Old Testament library |edition= reprint|publisher= Westminster John Knox Press |date= 2005 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mLKBcC5ND30C |isbn= 9780664221904}} *{{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr |url-access= registration| isbn= 0-310-25720-4}} *{{cite book|last= Hess |first= Richard S. |title= Songs of Songs |series= Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Series |publisher= Baker Academic |date= 2005 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AWoEZ2bWauAC |isbn= 9780801027123}} *{{cite book|last= Longman |first= Tremper |title= Songs of Songs |volume= 26 |series= The New International Commentary on the Old Testament |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |date= 2001 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PDnMuOcIUjEC |isbn= 9780802825438}} *{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | authorlink = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}
==External links== * [[Judaism|Jewish]] translations: ** [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16446 Shir Hashirim - Song of Songs - Chapter 2 (Judaica Press)] translation [with [[Rashi]]'s commentary] at Chabad.org * [[Christianity|Christian]] translations: ** [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Song+2 ''Online Bible'' at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English) * [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=26&chapter=2&version=9 Song of Solomon Chapter 2 King James Version] * {{librivox book | title=Song of Solomon}} Various versions
{{Song of Songs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Song 02}} <!--[[Category:Song 2| ]]--> [[Category:Song of Songs chapters|02]]