Chapter 1 Verse 1.

THE TARGUM, {A} OR CHALDEE PARAPHRASE

ON THE SONG OF SONGS

CHAPTER 1

Verse 1. The song of songs, &c.] The songs and hymns which Solomon the prophet, king of Israel, delivered by the {b} spirit of prophecy, before Jehovah, the Lord of the whole world. Ten songs are sung in this world; but this is the most excellent of them all. The first song Adam sang, at the time when his sins were forgiven him; and when the Sabbath day came, he put a covering upon his lips, and sang {c} a psalm or song for the Sabbath day. The second song sang Moses with the children of Israel, at the time when the Lord of the world divided the Red Sea for them; then they all of them opened their mouths, and sang as one song, as it is writers, {d} “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel.” The third song the children of Israel sang at the time that the well of water was given to them, as it is written, {e} “Then sang Israel.” The fourth song Moses the prophet sang, when his time was come to {f} depart out of the world, and in which he reproved the people of the house of Israel, as it is written, {g} “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak.” The fifth song Joshua the son of Nun sang, when he fought in Gibeon, and the sun and moon stood still for him {h} thirty and six hours: when they ceased from singing, he himself opened his mouth, and sang this song, as it is written, {i} “Then sang Joshua before the Lord.” The sixth song Barak and Deborah sang, in the day that the Lord delivered Sisera and his army into the hands of the children of Israel, as it is written, {k} “Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam.” The seventh song Hannah sang, at the time when a son was given her by the Lord, as it is written, {l} “And Hannah prayed by the spirit of prophecy, and said.” The eighth song David the king of Israel sang, on the account of all the wonders which the Lord did for him. He opened his mouth, and sang this song, as it is written, {m} “And David sang by the spirit of prophecy before the Lord.” The ninth song Solomon the king of Israel sang by the Holy Spirit before Jehovah, the Lord of the whole world. And the tenth song the children of the captivity shall sing at the time when they shall come out of captivity; as it is written and explained by Isaiah the prophet, {n} This song shall be unto you for joy in the night, that the feast of the passover is kept holy, and gladness of heart; as when the people go to appear before the Lord, three times in the year, with all kinds of music, and sound of the pipe, when they go up to the mountain of the Lord, to worship before the Lord, the mighty one of Israel.

Verse 2. Let him kiss me, &c.] Solomon the prophet said, “Blessed be the name of the Lord,” who hath given us the law by the hands of Moses, {o} the great scribe, written upon two tables of stone, and the six parts of the {p} Mishna and Talmud {q} to study in; and he was speaking to us face to face, as a man kisseth his friend, because of the greatness of the love with which he loved us more than {r} the seventy nations.

Verse 3. Because of the savour, &c.] At the report of thy wonders and of thy power, which thou wroughtest for thy people the house of Israel. All the nations trembled who heard of the fame of thy greatness, and of thy favours; and thy holy name was heard in all the earth, which is more excellent than the anointing oil that was poured upon the heads of the kings and priests; and, therefore, the righteous love to walk in thy good way, that they may possess {s} this world, and the world to come.

Verse 4. Draw me, &c.] When the people of the house of Israel came out of Egypt, the shechinah of the Lord of the world went before them {t} in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. The righteous of that generation said, Lord of all the world, draw us after thee, and we will run in thy good way; and bring us to the foot of Mount Sinai, and give us the law out of thy treasure house, the firmament: and we will rejoice and be glad, in the {u} twenty-two letters with which it is written: and we will remember them and love thy deity; and will withdraw ourselves from the idols of the nations: and all the righteous which do what is right before thee shall fear thee, and love thy commandments.

Verse 5. I am black, &c.] When the house of Israel made the calf, their faces became black, like the sons of Cush, {v} which dwell in the tents of Kedar: but when they returned by repentance, and were forgiven, the brightness of the glory of their faces was increased, like the angels’, because they made curtains for the tabernacle; therefore the shechinah of the Lord dwelt among them: and Moses, their master, went up into the {w} firmament, and made peace between them and their King.

Verse 6. Look not upon me, &c.] The congregation of Israel said before the nations, Do not despise me, because I am blacker than you, for I have done according to your works, and have {x} worshipped the sun and moon; for false prophets have been the cause that the fierce anger of the Lord