Albert Barnes Commentary Song Of Solomon 8:8-12

"We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like the towers [thereof] Then was I in his eyes as one that found peace. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand [pieces] of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred." — Song Of Solomon 8:8-12 (ASV)

A brief dialogue begins with a question and answer, likely from the bride's brothers, concerning a younger sister who will soon be old enough for marriage. The answer is given as a parable: If she is a wall—that is, steadfast in chastity and virtue, one on whom no casual advances can be made—then we will honor and reward her. This fortress-wall will be crowned, as it were, with a tower or battlement of silver. But if she is a door—light-minded and accessible to seduction (Proverbs 7:11–12)—then we must provide the protection of a cedar bar or panel against assailants.

In Song of Solomon 8:10, the bride herself replies with the pride of innocence and virtue already crowned. She has shown herself to be the kind of fortress-wall her brothers mentioned, and her reward has been the king's favor.

Next, in Song of Solomon 8:11–12, she turns to the king and commends her brothers to his favorable regard through another parable. Solomon owns a vineyard in Baal-hamon (possibly Baalbek, or the same as Amana, according to Conder), located in the warm and fertile plains of Coele-Syria and overshadowed by the heights of Lebanon (Song of Solomon 4:8). He has leased this vineyard to tenants.

The bride also has a vineyard of her own—her beauty and virtue, which were faithfully guarded by these same brothers in the past (Song of Solomon 1:6). This vineyard now belongs to Solomon. Let him have "the thousand" pieces of silver that are his due, for she is now entirely his. But let the faithful keepers have their reward as well. At least two hundred silver pieces should be theirs—a double tithe of royal praise and honor.