2:1 I am a meadow flower from Sharon, a lily from the valleys.
Solomon is a very wealthy king. He goes to a lot of expense and trouble to make this wedding night very special. His new wife calls herself a common meadow flower from Sharon and a lily from the valley, because she does not feel that she is worth all of this trouble and expense.
2:2 Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.
Solomon admits that she is just a common country flower, but her beauty surpasses everything around it. She is a beautiful flower among thorn bushes.
2:3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
Apples in the ancient world were erotic symbols. Solomon is describing the foreplay of their first sexual union as husband and wife.
2:4 He brought me into the banquet hall, and he looked at me lovingly.
The foreplay arouses the husband’s desire for his wife.
2:5 Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
Apples and raisin cakes were symbols of sexual passion. The wife now asks her husband to satisfy her desires.
The Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration
2:6 His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.
Solomon embraces his wife and consummates the marriage. They now become one flesh.
2:7 I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: Do not awaken or arouse love until it pleases!
Solomon’s new wife teaches the virgin maidens that sexual passions should not be executed until the proper time.
2:8 Listen! My lover is approaching! Look! Here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills!
Shulamite has a flashback thought of her courtship days of the past. She sees Solomon approaching her Galilee home over the hills.
2:9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.
Solomon cannot wait to see his lover, so he rides to her house as quickly as possible. Shulamite is inside of the house, looking out of the window.
2:10 My lover spoke to me, saying: “Arise, my darling; My beautiful one, come away with me!
Solomon invites Shulamite to spend the spring with him.
2:11 Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone.
Winter is over. Spring has arrived.
2:12 The pomegranates have appeared in the land, the time for pruning and singing has come; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The pomegranates and turtle doves are evidences that winter is over and spring is present.
2:13 The fig tree has budded, the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance. Arise, come away my darling; my beautiful one, come away with me!”
The fig trees bud in early March. The first figs arrive in June. The main fig harvest arrives in August. Winter has passed, but separation has not cooled Solomon’s love for Shulamite. He asked her to spend the spring with him.
2:14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Shulamite is in her house. She is like a beautiful dove in the clefts of the rocks. Solomon asks her to leave her house and come down to see him. He wants to see her beautiful face.
2:15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards— or our vineyard is in bloom.
Shulamite leaves her house and begins to walk with Solomon. She reminds Solomon that their love is like little foxes who dig in the vineyards. Foxes are very dangerous to vineyards, because their digging ruins the crops. Shulamite does not want to go too fast in their relationship and ruin the vineyard.
2:16 My lover is mine and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.
Shulamite and Solomon love each other, so Shulamite urges Solomon to go and take care of his shepherding business. She will think about him and wait for him.
2:17 Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved— be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountain gorges.
Solomon is to complete his shepherding business during the day and then return to Shulamite during the coolness of the afternoon as quickly as possible.