DAWN

     Explanation: In Song of Solomon 3 Abishag speaks of her dream about Solomon and her quest to find him. She finds him with his royal retinue and rejoices in his company. Today's painting presents a dream set at night in royal surroundings, similar to the setting of today's chapter.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Song of Solomon 2. Song of Solomon 4. Song of Solomon 5. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Song of Solomon 3. ]

     Abishag sought Solomon upon her bed (in a dream); but she did not find him (1). She arose (either in her dream, or in actuality) and went about the city, in the streets and the squares, seeking him whom her soul loved; but she found him not (2). The watchmen who went about the city found her; and she asked if they had seen him whom her soul loved (3). Shortly after she left them, she found him whom her soul loved; she held him and would not let him go, until she had brought him to her mother's house, into her chamber (4). She charged the daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that they not stir up or awaken love (or her beloved) until it (or he) pleases (5).
     Abishag sees something and asks what it is which is coming from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with the fragrant powders of a merchant (6). She sees Solomon's litter with sixty valiant men of Israel surrounding it (7). They are holding swords and were expert in war because of fear in the night (8). Solomon's chariot was made from the wood of Lebanon (9). Its posts were silver; its back of gold; its seat was purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem (10). Abishag commands the daughters of Zion to go out and look at Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart (11).

The Second Quest (Continued) - Love Sought & Found in the Country (2:8 - 3:5)

Abishag

¹ By night on my bed I sought [this one] -- him whom my soul loveth:
I sought him, but I found him not.
² I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets,
and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth:
I sought him, but I found him not.
³ The watchmen that go about the city found me:
to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
⁴ It was but a little that I passed from them,
but [then] I found [this one] -- him whom my soul loveth:
I held him, and would not let him go,
until I had [then] brought him into my mother's house,
and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
⁵ I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes,
and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up,
nor awake [this] my love, till [whenever] he please.

The Third Quest - Love Sought & Found in the City (3:6 - 5:1)

Abishag

⁶ Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?
⁷ Behold his bed, which is Solomon's;
threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
⁸ They all hold swords, being expert in war:
every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.
⁹ King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.
¹⁰ He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold,
the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love,
for the daughters of Jerusalem.
¹¹ Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion,
and behold king Solomon
with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him
in the day of his espousals,
and in the day of the gladness of his heart.