Albert Barnes Commentary Song Of Solomon 1:2-4

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine. Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is [as] oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee. 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 make mention of thy love more than of wine: Rightly do they love thee." — Song Of Solomon 1:2-4 (ASV)

The song begins with two stanzas in praise of the king (who is now absent), sung by a chorus of virgins from the royal household. Commentators, both Jewish and Christian, interpret the entire song as being spoken by the Church to the heavenly Bridegroom.

In Song of Solomon 1:2, the phrase Let him kiss me has been regarded by Christian commentators as a prayer of the Church under the old covenant, seeking closer communion with God through the Incarnation. As Gregory wrote, “Every precept of Christ received by the Church is as one of His kisses.” The line, Your love, is better translated as “your tokens of affection,” meaning these endearments are more desired than any other delights.

Regarding Song of Solomon 1:3, a better translation of the opening is, “For fragrance your ointments are good.” This phrase, along with what follows, creates a two-step climax: “Your perfumes are good; your name is the best of all perfumes.” The “ointments” mentioned here are fragrant oils, which were widely used for anointing guests at feasts (Luke 7:46; John 12:3). The line Your name is ointment poured forth suggests that just as fragrant oils become sweeter when they are spread, so the king’s name becomes greater the more widely it is known.

In Song of Solomon 1:4, the statement The king has brought me into his chambers means he has made me a member of his household. This is true for every member of the chorus, not only the bride. The final phrase, the upright love you, is better understood with the marginal reading: “they love you uprightly.” The word “they” refers to the “virgins” mentioned in the previous verse (Song of Solomon 1:3). Compare the use of the same word in Psalms 58:1 and Proverbs 23:31.