MY LOVE IS A GARDEN OF DELIGHTS
or
THE SONG OF SOLOMON, THE POLYGYNIST.
or
INTERRACIAL POLYGYNY

By L. Tyler, P.O. Box 620763, San Diego, CA 92162-0763; 
polyboy@delphi.com		Ruth1Lee2@aol.com
© 1988

½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
A DEDICATION:  CAROL LYNN MCINTYRE

She is black and so many delicious shades of brown. Her skin 
looks more delicious than anything I have ever eaten. She 
moves gracefully with strength and purpose in her steps, 
unaware of her awesome beauty.  I call out her precious name, 
almost to make sure she's real and not a dream. She turns and 
looks me in the eye and then suddenly smiles so radiantly I 
almost lose my breath.  It seems as if she glows!  I drink her in 
as she flows towards me with her arms open wide.  The face I 
see is Love. 
	
How I love her eyes and her mouth, filled with 
kindness and gentleness----from which I fear no hurt or 
unkindness.  She laughs and it sounds like music.  We 
touch and my heart soars.  We embrace and I put my lips on 
her delicious skin.  She is so delicious it is hard to keep my 
mouth off of her. As the Sun shines on her clean, soft and 
oiled skin I'm fascinated by the tiny tints of red, orange, 
yellow and all the browns that twinkle up at me. She is 
sooooo soft and firm, so full of life!  
	
We look into each others' eyes, hers sparkling----we look long 
and deep and our souls touch---and then suddenly it seems a 
cloud of uncertainty, self-doubt, personal fears, or haunting 
memories moves across her face and the lovely pools of her 
eyes are troubled.  I kiss her passionately and hold her ever so 
close, wishing I could pull right into my heart and soul and 
bathe her in my love, wanting to make it all right for her.  
Hesitantly I look again hoping her radiance has returned and  
Yes! the cloud has passed and her face is radiant again.  What I 
see in her face fills my heart.  All is well. We two as one set 
out together to face and deal with our world.  

We faced our world together so much in love.  I thought she 
was so incredibly wonderful moving there before me bare and 
beautiful that honeymoon night.  I thought I had been given 
the most wonderful queen for my heart to love.  I worshipped 
her in her dark beauty. How could I be so blessed? In ecstasy 
she said she could make love all night long that Halloween 
weekend.  Halloween darkness and death covered my eyes 
and blinded me.  It polluted my mind and it whispered "You 
are not good enough for her.  She will find out that you aren't 
good enough for her and she will leave you for another."  The 
hissing lie believed, my heart deceived, my soul backed off and 
the work of death began.  My queen now became my torment, 
her excellence rebuking me for being so presumptuous 
as to dare to mingle with the gods by loving one of their own.
My heart was chilled with fear that my wonderful goddess 
would suddenly see me as I really was and her passionate 
desire would turn to loathing.  Couldn't she see I was all 
crippled and broken inside?
	
The golden spell that had blessed our courtship was 
cracking apart as some dark frozen glacier, one small piece at a 
time.  She said she loved me for my voice before we met.  
When we met I was so amazed my mouth hung open in 
amazement and my eyes couldn't open wide enough to behold 
her glory.  Her laughter rang like bells and chimes all about us.  
She flowed to me and into my life.  My heart opened wider 
than my eyes and welcomed her in, pouring my love upon her 
in every way I could imagine.  She felt more loved than she 
had ever felt before.  She gave herself to me in our engagement 
and our bodies merged into oneness as our souls had. I 
accepted her love without reservation and gave her my love 
without reservation.  She blessed me in the same manner.  I 
felt my soul could fly no higher.

I forgot she was a mere mortal with a tender heart and a 
history of adversities.  I forgot that her heart was as tender as 
her breasts.  I forgot that though she was bold and out going 
like her breasts, she was as sensitive as they and in need of 
support and protection.  Blinded by unreasoned love I thought 
her to be a goddess and worshipped her, when she wanted me 
to lead her in the worship of my Jesus.  Blinded by unreasoned 
love she thought me above weakness and fear.   So when that 
Halloween darkness crept into my soul, and in its brokenness 
and open wounds the darkness found a hiding place, a place for 
it to root and grow.  By that honeymoon night my soul became 
the prisoner of the fear of losing her love, fear of failing her, 
fear of not being enough for and fear of losing her to another.
All she wanted me to do was just to keep on loving her as we 
had since our engagement.  I stepped from the glorious light of 
our love into the wretched darkness of my fear.  My darling 
Carol Lynn couldn't believe that her prince charming was dying 
within.   She didn't feel the chill and darkness that had just 
entered the room. 

Fear leaves such devastation.  In her torment she felt she was 
to blame for the cold iceman that I was becoming.  She sought 
counsel, tried to provoke me, tried to make me jealous---each 
resulting in a veil of tears for her.  Then my tormented goddess
sought to kill herself if our love could not be restored.  I asked 
her parents to come and get her since I was afraid to leave her 
alone----------they dragged her away from me as she wept 
and wailed begging me not to let them take her.   I just stood 
there and watched.  Oh God have mercy on my soul!

The damned darkness of damned divorce crept between us.
I begged her to return, begged for forgiveness and apologized 
for failing her-------but when she didn't answer for a week I 
sought the loving I yearned for in the arms of another 
wonderful dark queen.  I had given up.  I thought she would 
never come back to one so unworthy as I.  I felt I had to have 
the love of a wonderful dark queen so that I could know that I 
was still lovable, that I could know the love of a wonderful 
dark queen again.  My Lynn came that night and found me 
with the other.  Her last words were "Oh no, Ron!!!!!!!! I never 
had another chance with her.  

Hollywood got her and messed her up so badly she had to have 
a total hysterectomy and was in pain daily taking powerful 
pain killers.  She sought shelter and help in her childhood home 
with her parents.  She built her nest in her childhood bedroom, 
her heart broken, her spirit twisted, her soul so gravely 
wounded that no one knew if she could ever fly again-------my 
Lynn who had soared in the heights with eagles and falcons.
Her pain.   The pain wouldn't stop.  

"Oh please make this pain stop!  Let me take my pills.  I have 
eaten and I'll just take these pain pills and lie down to rest.  
Oh! My soul is so weary!  When will the pain stop?  To sleep, 
yes sleep.  I'm so tired. I'll just sleep a little.   It's so good to be 
home where I can feel safe, with Dad here.  I love him so 
much."  And my beloved Carol Lynn McIntyre laid herself 
down to sleep in the bed of her childhood bedroom----so safe--
--safe at last.

"What's wrong!  I can't think---I feel so groggy.  What's 
happening?!  Oh God, I'm going to vomit!  Help!----------"
And as she inhaled that last time-----My queen!  My goddess!
My darling young  wife-------------she inhaled her vomit and 
died.  Oh God!   Dear God! Would that it were I!  Oh turn back 
the clock and take my soul instead!  Oh God------my heart is 
broken!  Why should I be above the ground and my brilliant 
and beautiful young Lynn, my dark queen,  be there beneath 
the ground?  Oh God be merciful to me!  I feel the millstone 
around my neck.    I don't deserve your forgiveness but I 
would die without it.

	Yet she lives and is loved in the deepest depths of my 
soul though the grief and pain wont let me dwell on my 
wonderful memories of her and us---  My Scotch-Irish-Welsh 
heart grieves over my dark Queen.  God gave me a daughter 
who could pass for Lynn's sister, a wonderful woman, a 
daughter upon whom I can pour out all the love I feel for Lynn.  
And God showed me what I did wrong with Lynn and taught 
me how not to make those terrible mistakes again.   My three 
wonderful daughters are the products of His Love working 
through me.  I lost my dark queen, and He gave me three 
wonderful dark queens to help heal my grief. Thank you, Jesus!
Dear God, please heal the hearts of Lynn's family.

½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
>TABLE OF CONTENTS
>i. An Introduction
>I. The Song of Solomon 1:2-2:7
>APPENDIX ONE: FOOTNOTES TO SONG 1:2- 2:7
>APPENDIX TWO: WHO WROTE THE SONG OF 
SOLOMON
>APPENDIX THREE: GOD'S WORD ABOUT 
POLYGAMY/POLYGYNY.
>APPENDIX FOUR: INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE: 
RACISM VS. JESUS
>APPENDIX FIVE: KEYS TO A HARMONIOUS AND POLYGYNOUS 
CHRISTIAN FAMILY
APPENDIX SIX: WHAT DO YOU THINK? THE FEEDING OF 
TWO LEGGED OXEN.

½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
THE SONG OF SOLOMON
1:1 ¦ The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

			[ The Shulamite to her friends]
2. He should kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! 

			[The Shulamite to Solomon, in the hearing 
			of her friends]
For your [sexual] loving is better than wine.			
3. Your ointments smell sweetly; 			
Your name is an ointment poured forth: 
Therefore do the [marriage-age] virgins love you.
4.  Lead, drawing me along!					
         
      			[Her friends , the Daughters of 	
			Jerusalem ]
--We will run after you! 				 
    				
				[The Shulamite to her friends ]
The king has brought me into his chambers---	 

        		[Her friends, the Daughters of Jerusalem to 
			Solomon; or Solomon's concubines/wives to 
			him]
-We will be glad and rejoice in you,  
We will remember  your  [sexual] loving more than wine. 
	
							
			[ The Shulamite  to the king ]
They love you uprightly.			
                        
               		[Shulamite]
 5 I am black [as a raven], but beautiful, 
	daughters of Jerusalem,	
 As the tents of Kedar, 
As the curtains of Solomon.
6 Look not upon me, because I am black [as a raven]; 
Because the sun has looked upon me. 
My mother's children were angry with me: 
They made me keeper of the vineyards; 
Mine own vineyard have I not kept.
    
     			[To Her Beloved]
 7 ¦ Tell me, you whom my soul loves, 
Where you feed [your flock], 
Where you make it to rest at noon; 
For why should I be as one veiled 
Beside the flocks of your companions?

    			[ Solomon, the shepherd lover,  her 	
	
			Beloved; or her friends ] 
 8 If you know not, you fairest among women, 
Go out  your way  by the footsteps of the flock, 
And feed your young female goats beside the shepherds' 
booths.  
						
               		 [Solomon, her Lover]
9 I compare you, my loving friend, 
To a mare in Pharaoh's chariots.		
10 Your cheeks are comely with bead-rows, 		
Your neck with ornamental chains.				
	
					
        				[The Daughters of Jerusalem] 
 11 We will make you bead-rows of gold 		
With studs of silver.
    
				[The Shulamite] 
 12 ¦ While the king is at his  round table, 		
My spikenard sends forth its fragrance.
 13 A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; 
He shall pass the night between my breasts.		
14 My beloved is unto me a cluster of henna-flowers 
In the vineyards of Engedi.

    			[ Solomon, her Lover, The Beloved]
 15 Behold, you are fair, my loving friend; 
Behold, you are fair: your eyes are [as] doves.
    
         				[The Shulamite ] 
 16 Behold, you are fair, my well beloved, yea, pleasant; 
Also our bed is green.

    				[The Shulamite ] 
 17 The beams of our houses are cedars, 
Our rafters are cypresses.
 
        				[Shulamite]
2:1 I am a narcissus [a rose, a meadow-saffron] of Sharon, 
A lily of the valleys.
                    
    				[Solomon, the Beloved, her Lover] 
2 As the lily among thorns, 
So is my loving friend among the daughters.

    				[The Shulamite]
 3 ¦ As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, 
So is my well-beloved among the sons: 
In his shadow have I [intense] rapture and sit down; 
And his fruit is sweet to my taste.				
	
						              
      		[The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem] 
4 He has brought me to the wine-banqueting house, 
And his banner over me is [affectionate] love.	
5 Sustain [and revive]  me with raisin-cakes, 
Refresh [and support]  me with apples; 	
For I feel weak from [affectionate] love.			
6 His left hand is under my head,
 And his right hand does [intentionally and 
	intensely] embrace me.
 7 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem,
 By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field,
 That you would not stir up, arouse or 
	awaken [affectionate] love,
  Till it desire!
½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
A  modernized and modified J.M.Darby version
½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½>
>>AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SONG OF 
SOLOMON 			
			
The Song of Solomon, the Polygynist? Consider the 
following:
Song of Solomon 
6:8 There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines, 
And virgins without number:  
9 My dove, my undefiled, is but one; 
She is the only one of her mother, 
She is the choice one of her that bore her. 
The daughters saw her, and they called her blessed; 
The queens and the concubines, and they praised her.


What kind of man was Solomon?  This Song is by the young 
Solomon, not the old Solomon who failed himself and his 
people by marrying wives and concubines who didn't believe 
in Jehovah, the I Am of Sinai.  This is the young Solomon 
who built the Temple, with God's blessing and wisdom.  This 
is the young Solomon who had 140 wives with God's blessing 
and the gift of His wisdom.  But how can that be if he were 
such a polygynist? If you have any questions about how God 
feels about polygamy, polygyny and concubines, please the 
third Appendix of this document, and be prepared for a 
surprise.  There were a lot of them, and a lot of them were 
polygynists with God's full blessing on their lives.  Read 
Appendix Three and see for yourself.

This is Song of Solomon, the polygynist, and his black 
Shulamite , his love and the garden of his delights, who was 
praised by her co-wives (the queens and concubines) and 
blessed by the virgin daughters who attended her.  He, a 
mighty and exceptional king, and she, a beautiful and 
virtuous woman praised publicly by her husband and his 
other wives, had a lyrical and poetic relationship of Love and 
loving that we all could  emulate and learn from.  No wonder 
that he was praised, but for a black wife to be praised by her 
co-wives and  blessed by  her young virgin attendants (most 
of whom were not black>1)  is truly exceptional and places 
her in the company of the virtuous woman whose value was 
far above any precious stones >2.  It would be normal for her 
co-wives to resentful, bitter, jealous, envious and hateful of 
her -- which says a great deal of good for them since they 
manifested none of the above.  The black Shulamite must 
have been exceptionally gracious,  kind,  generous,  sweet, 
thoughtful and compassionate with and to her co-wives and 
virgin attendants -- for them to respond to her as they did.  
So we have quite a remarkable pair of lovers as the main 
characters of this delightful Song.  
[Footnotes: >1. Abraham's people were from the area of 
Syria and Iraq.  Joseph married an Egyptian.  The Egyptians 
had shaken off Ethiopian rule conquered the Ethiopians some 
600 years before, resulting in a great deal of racial mixture. 
400 years of slavery without the guidelines of the Sinai Law 
involved a great deal of interracial and interethnic marriage 
for the Israelites.  The Egyptians  had a long history of 
significant involvement, including bringing back war 
captives as slaves,  with  Ethiopians and NE Africans long 
before the Moslem Arab hordes invaded North Africa, 
changing the racial composition of the area to what it is 
today. Moses married an Ethiopian.  Israel was a veritable 
melting pot of races and nationalities long before the time of 
Solomon.>2. Prov. 31]

There is no book in the Bible that "stars" an ungodly primary 
character. This is the Solomon who was blessed and chosen 
of God to receive divine wisdom and build the great Temple 
and write many scripture Proverbs.  The black Shulamite 
was the wife who shared and adorned his excellence and 
blessing, and moved him to ecstatic and lyrical Love and 
loving.  These are two people we would do well to study, 
emulate and imitate as God leads.

**************************************************************
 SONG OF SOLOMON 

>>>1:1 ¦ THE SONG OF SONGS, WHICH IS 
SOLOMON'S.
	
Whose song is it?  It is Solomon's, inspired by the Holy 
Spirit.  If the Holy Spirit says it is Solomon's Song, then I'm 
going to say that it is Solomon's Song.   The Song of Solomon 
was in the scriptures Jesus read in the Synagogue in Israel 
and there is no record of Him editing the text or 
discrediting it.  It was read in His presence at every 
Passover he attended while on earth.  He probably heard it 
sung at weddings He attended during His earthly walk.  None 
of the apostles discredited it.  I don't care whose hand held 
the pen (as with Paul and his dictated letters) but I believe 
there is enough evidence that it was accepted as scripture by 
the time the Septuagint was written and has been accepted 
by the obediently believing saints on every continent ever 
since.  Appendix Two gives some scholarly opinions.
	
Is it Solomon's song about himself and his Shulamite?  Why 
not? I'm not here to argue about who the speakers are, but I 
am here to enjoy and rejoice in what they said that was 
recorded by the Holy Spirit's working to thoroughly prepare 
us for every good and godly work, including the godly work 
of  having a compassionate, cherishing, ecstatic and ravishing 
relationship with our mates>r1.  If it helps us understand the 
relationship between Jehovah and Israel, between Jesus and 
the Church, so much the better.
	
It matters not to me if The Song was written about a couple 
and dedicated to Solomon, or was written for Solomon about 
such a couple or even Solomon and one of his wives, or sung 
by Solomon to his Shulamite and recorded by an inspired 
prophet or scribe.  The Spirit tells me it is Solomon's Song 
and I say Amen!

Why isn't it the Shulamite's Song?  In the realm of the Spirit 
when we are reborn inthe Spirit we are neither female nor 
male in Jesus Christ>r2.  We are spiritual beings whose bodies 
have been personally given to God for Him to use as His 
vessels, instruments and temples.  We trust Him to work out 
His good works in us who are His>r3.

Before they married, they were neither male nor female to 
each other in Christ, but when they married they entered 
into a sexual relationship where God reveals more fully their 
sexuality and assigns them their respective relationships and 
the behavior He expects of them in their sexual union, where 
he is her own man and she is his own woman>r4.  God gives 
us His reasons for assigning the relative positions and the 
expected behavior in His Way, and we know that He did it 
this way for there to be His peace and order in the socio-
sexual relationship which we know as marriage>r5.  The 
main difference between a close, personal and intimate 
friendship (which can be had with either sex) and a marital 
relationship is committed and covenanted sexual intimacy.    
The reason for marriage is sexual>r6, in that the partners are 
different sexually and come together to unite their sexuality, 
both for ecstatic pleasure>r7 and for the bearing of godly 
children>r8.  Since both the Shulamite and the virtuous 
woman in Christ are spiritual and enlightened, they accept 
their divinely assigned status and roles>r9.

So it is Solomon's Song because he, as her husband, has 
been divinely designated as her "head">r10.  Before the 
marriage she had not been placed under his authority and 
she was her own head under the other political, civic, social 
and familial heads involved in her life.  In choosing to marry, 
hopefully she obediently chose to accept his divinely 
appointed authority over and for her.   As her head, the part 
of the body with the mouth, he speaks for both he and her in 
the assembled presence of the other believing men in their 
assembly>r11.   What is hers is his and what is his is 
hers>r12.   He becomes personally and directly 
accountable to God for the way he exercises his headship 
over and for her>r13, to the point that if he lives foolishly 
with her his prayers are hindered>r14, and if he wrongs-
offends-grieves-stumbles-abuses her he opens himself to 
weakness, sickness or even death-sleep from the Lord>r15.
[FOOTNOTES: >r1. Prov. 5:15-20 and Ephes. 5.  >r2 Gala. 
3 with 2 Corinth. 4 & 5.         >r3. Phil. 2:12,13,14; Hebrews 
13:20,21.    >r4. 1 Corinth. 7:1-40; Matt. 19 and Mark 10.        
>r5  See Genesis 2 & 3; 1 Corinth. 11 & 14; 1 Timothy 2 and 1 
Peter 3.         >r6.  1 Corinth. 7:1-11; Gen. 2 & 3; Mark 10 and 
Mt. 19      >r7.  Prov. 5:15-20; Song of Solomon; 1 Corinth. 
7:1-5.      >r8  Malachi 2;  1Timothy 2:15;  Genesis 2 & 3.     
>r9  1 Corinth.14:34,35,36, 37,38.      >r10. 1 Corinth 11 and 
Romans 13:1-6.    >r11. 1 Corinth 14:34,35,36,37,38; 1 Tim. 
2:10, 11,12,13,14.  When her head, and the assembled men 
of the local assembly, are not around, there is no reason why 
she should not speak for the two of them to the women and 
children of the local assembly or to assemblies of 
unbelieving men.     >r12. Luke 14:33;  Acts 2 & 4; 1 Corinth. 
13.     >r13. 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Corinth. 4:1,2,3.     >r14. 1 Pet. 3:1-
7.      >r15. 1 Corint. 11:27-34; Hebrews 12.
**************************************************************

>>>[The Shulamite>2.1 to her friends/co-wives, or to herself 
	in a reverie as Solomon approaches her]
>>>1:2 ¦ HE SHOULD KISS ME WITH THE KISSES 
OF HIS MOUTH; 

"He should kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! ""He should 
kiss me" has been traditionally rendered "Let 
him kiss me", which is (in the LXX) in the Aor. Imperative 
3rd person singular, so she is not saying "You! Let him kiss 
me!".  Instead she is saying that he should kiss her.  It is 
imperative that he kiss her, that he should kiss her, that he 
is under command to kiss her>n8.  As his wife, she has 
authority over his body>r9 and woe to the one who does not 
yield to the authority ordained by God>r10.  Even his prayers 
could be hindered if he didn't yield to her authority over the 
kisses of his mouth>r11.  If he defied or abused her authority 
over his body/mouth Jesus might have to chasten him with 
weakness, sickness or even death>r12.
	
But is she on a power or authority trip here?  Is it her desire 
to control and exercise authority over his body?  I don't 
think so, because it is his possession of that which is so 
precious to her coupled with her felt need of his excellent 
kisses that makes it a Love-sees-the-need-and-responds>r13 
situation.  He must kiss her with the kisses of his mouth 
because God has given him that which she needs and that 
which He designed to meet her need (Gen.3:16).  For him to live 
with 
and walk with the God Who is Compassionate Cherishing, he 
must give her what she needs because she needs his kisses 
and he is the one appointed by God to be the donor of those 
great kisses for her.  For him to refuse her and withhold his 
kisses would be to hate her and defy his Lord and Savior 
Jesus Christ.  For him to refuse her and withhold his kisses 
would be to quench the Spirit's working  in him >rÆ to 
will/want to kiss her and then to be moved to actually kiss 
her.   He is appointed by Jesus' to minister to her in this 
need.  Surely the Love of God would constrain him to kiss 
her.  To refuse her would be to grieve the Spirit>r14 and 
frustrate the purpose of God.

Why should he kiss her?  She could say, "Thus says the 
Lord", but she doesn't have to use that final appeal to God's 
decree.  Instead she focuses on how wonderful and delightful 
his obedience to God is (better than wine >r14a).Her reason 
for his obligation to kiss her is the joy, blessing and ecstasy 
his obedient lovemaking produces (the godly fruit of 
obedience>r14b). Its affect on her indeed is better 
than wine (which is often bitter sweet and has bad after 
effects from too much use>r14a)  because his loving spiritual 
obedience >r14c to God's will for him with her allows the 
ministry (by the Spirit in him to her needs) to flow, 
delighting and enrapturing her with no hangover or bad side 
affects.   For her it is a good and mellow "high" that is legal 
and so very enjoyable.

Please consider the following in explanations why "Let him 
kiss me" means  "He should kiss me", or "He is under 
command to kiss me": The Jewish LXX Septuagint Greek 
translation of "Let him kiss me" involves the same Greek 
principles that are found in the translation of 1Co.7:9c-  LET 
THEM MARRY [StrongÕs <1060> (5657)]: StrongÕs 5657 
Tense - Aorist; 				Voice - Active-------                   
    The active voice represents the subject as the doer or 
performer of the action.  E.g., in the sentence, "The boy hit 
the ball," the boy performs the action. Mood  - Imperative:  
The imperative mood corresponds to the English imperative, 
and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain 
action by the order and authority of the one commanding.  
Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" 
(Mk.1:15)is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute 
command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.Ó

Does "let them marry" mean "You let/permit/allow them to 
marry", and does "Let him kiss me" mean "You let/permit/ 
allow him to kiss me?  Is ÒYouÓ the Òhearer [who is] to 
performÓ the action of marrying in this passage?  That this is 
not the case is seen in the following.  J. Gresham Machen, 
D.D., Litt.D; in his Macmillan Co. Greek manual, states the 
following: "The imperative mood is used in commands.  It 
will be observed that the English language has, properly 
speaking, no imperative of the third person.  Hence in 
translating the Greek imperative of the third person we 
have to use the helping verb let, so that the noun or pronoun 
that is the subject of the imperative in Greek becomes the 
object of the helping verb in English."

So in Ò let them marry.Ó and in "let him kiss me" it means ---
Òthat the pronoun (them) that is really the subject (third 
person plural: they) of the imperative (marry) in Greek 
becomes here the object (them) of the helping verb (let) in 
English.Ó  So a literal translation of Òlet them marryÓ would 
be Òthey are commanded to marry", or "they should marry",  
by the order and authority of the one commanding (The Holy 
Spirit ).   Who is commanded to marry? Those who donÕt  
abstain from sex-sin by exercising self-control.   A literal 
translation of "let him kiss me" would be "he is commanded 
to kiss me" or "he should kiss me", by the order and 
authority God gave her, as his wife, over his body 
(1Cor.7:2-5; Proverbs 5:15-20).
[[FOOTNOTES:>2.1 nkjv,scofield. >14a Ephes. 5:18-21.     >14b 
2 Corinth. 13:11,12.      >14c 1 Thess. 5:19.]	
	
>>>[The Shulamite to Solomon now with her>14d, in the 
	hearing of her friends]
>>>FOR YOUR LOVEMAKING>14e IS BETTER THAN WINE.

"For your [sexual] loving is better than wine!"
The Shulamite, in a reverie as she watches him approach, 
says that he should kiss her.  Then as he arrives in her 
presence she greets him with praise of his loving ways.
She loves him and can't help but express it.  The virtuous 
husband praises his wife in public, and here we see the wife 
praising him to his face in hearing of her friends.  Such 
words of blessing and welcome can be the greatest 
aphrodisiacs for loving and foreplay.   Evil words can break a 
heart, but good, loving and edifying words can build lives, as 
well as romance, endearing one to another.  Honest praise 
from one you love can inspire you to great things and 
wonderful moments.

Please notice that she praises the excellence that God has 
given to him in his lovemaking, in the blissful holiness of 
their marital sex.  She doesn't make the mistake of telling/ 
teaching him how to make love with her>15.  She has 
authority over and rights to the marital use of his body, and 
she has them from God so that if he resists her authority, he 
resists God>16.  This does not mean that she becomes 
the sexual tyrant and dictator of her own man, because that 
would be contrary to all the patterns of virtuous leadership 
given by the Spirit>17.       Instead of a tyrant, she becomes 
her own man's sexual exhorter and encourager, exhorting 
him when he tries something new with her that she likes, 
encouraging him when he does something she likes, gently 
warning him when he does something that is unpleasant to 
her, respectfully entreating and imploring him to try 
something new that she wants or would like to try, and 
gently telling him when he has done something that offends 
her>18.  Her exhortation and encouragement would be free 
of complaining, backbiting, murmuring, criticism and 
speaking of evil.

If he makes love with her in such a way as to offend, upset 
and grieve her, then certainly she should gently, humbly and 
respectfully tell him that he is offending, upsetting and 
grieving her so that he would have the opportunity to repent 
in loving-kindness>18.  Since her tongue is ruled by the law 
of kindness, he need fear no unkind word from her>19 All of 
this behavior is the work of the Spirit in a godly woman's 
life, working her tongue by the rule of kindness and 
working gentleness, patience, kindness, forgiveness and 
humility in her as she relates to her own man and family>20. 

The Body of Christ, the living believers on earth, are given 
by God as a vital resource when the wife has serious 
problems with her husband or their love-making.  If he 
offends her in their lovemaking and wont stop even when 
she asks him to stop, then she is to go to The Body, 
preferably the saints with whom they fellowship and 
who minister to them, and ask for their help >21.   The older 
sisters in the Lord should be able to encourage, instruct, 
advise and comfort her.  With her sisters, she should be able 
to enlist the help of the older brothers in Christ to pray for 
them, intervene with them and counsel them, shepherding 
them through the crisis in the bonds of compassionate 
cherishing.  

Of course there are instructions for those whose mates will 
not cooperate and stop their offensive and grievous 
behavior>22.  Such instructions as the following: 1) They 
should not boss, nag or verbally manipulate each other;2) 
She should not be his teacher, instructor, trainer or boss; 3) 
He should not try to make her do what he wants; 4) He 
should tell her what he needs and show her what he wants 
her to do, and respect her right to say "No" or not cooperate, 
leaving her to God if she is wrong or unreasonable; 5) 
She should respectfully  and humbly tell him when he is 
offending or grieving her, leaving him to God if he fails to 
respond according to compassionate cherishing; 6) They 
should pray daily and fast for each other; 7) They should 
turn to the Lord and His Body of believers for help and their 
ministry when they can't work it out; and 8) they should 
remember that even when they feel like enemies (one who 
can hurt you), Jesus wants them to compassionately 
cherish each other, do good to each other, pray for each 
other and bless each other>23

 Most men, with that dynamic mix of testosterone and 
adrenaline, are prepared to do battle or make love within 
minutes of the stimuli.  As hunter-warrior-lovers they exist 
combat ready and love-making ready.  It is a wise woman 
who doesn't provoke her lover into being a warrior at war 
with her. The refreshing springs of marital lovemaking 
become undrinkable when muddied by marital warfare.   In 
marital lovemaking, the warrior-hunter needs to be able to 
completely drop his defenses and weapons of war, be 
totally vulnerable in the complete safety and acceptance of 
his wife's embrace.  

Most lovers don't like to make love with a sword, or gun or 
shield between them, but that is what a wife will find if she 
verbally attacks and wounds her man, especially in love-
making.  He needs to feel safe enough that he can leave 
behind his warrior-hunter tools and be totally vulnerable 
with her in their intimacy.    The same is true of the woman 
who, for one reason or another (single mom, divorced, 
abandoned, abused etc.), has had to become a hunter-
warrior, in which case it becomes the responsibility of both 
to bring no offensive or defensive armaments into the 
context and experience of their love-making.  They both 
must love each other enough to take the risk of being totally 
vulnerable in their marital intimacy.  If they don't, their 
marital sex becomes a scene of warfare, conquest and 
exploitation.  Who needs that?

Marital sex is as much a Spiritual God ordained ministry as 
is feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and giving drink to 
the thirsty.  Isn't it obvious that the husband and wife 
should be as creative, zealous and devoted in their sexual 
ministry to each other, being sexually dependent on each 
other, as they would be in their ministry to the thirsty, 
hungry and unclothed who are dependent on them.  Since 
they are called to do their sexual ministry to each other, 
doing it as unto the Lord (meaning they would do their very 
best in order to please Jesus), you would expect excellence, 
creativity, originality and first class performance.  That is 
an example of how a Spiritual people who know each other 
in terms of the Spirit, not in terms of their bodies or the 
visible, use the opportunity of their bodies or the visible to 
serve each other and the God who called them.

[FOOTNOTES:  >14d, Possibly her co-wives or Solomon to her; 
sco= Daughters of Jerusalem. 	>14e love : (dby,nkjv, 
~niv); loves: (ylt,mkjv); Stong's Lexicon, (01730: 1c) love (pl. 
abstract); love/loves  obviously means sexual, affectionate 
and physical love making from its use in the  following 
passages: Prov. 7:18; Ezekiel 16:8; 23: 16,17.	>15 I Tim. 2:12 
Luke 22:25-30; 1 Peter 5:3.       >16 1 Corinth. 7:4 and 
Romans 13:1-5.         >17 John 13; Luke 22:23-30; Romans 
15:1-5; 1 Peter 5:1-6.     >18.  Proverbs 5:15-30; Heb 
3:13; 1 Cor. 14:31; Col. 2:2; Gal. 6:1;  Matt. 7:8,9; James 4:2; 
Matt 18:15-25 >19 Prov. 31:10-30  	>20 Phil. 2:12,13; 
4:13; Heb. 13:20,21;  1 Corinth. 12:1-11 	>21  Matt. 18:15,16, 
17,18; Titus 2; Gala. 6:1,2; 2 Tim. 2:22-25.	>22. 1 Peter. 
3:1-7; Matt. 18:15-18; 1 Corinth. 5:3-11; 2 Thess. 3:6-14; 
Romans 16:17; Ephes. 5:7-11; Gala. 6:1;  2 Tim. 2:24. 	>23 
Luke 6:27-38; 1Peter 3:1-7 and note >22.
***************************************************************

>>>[The Shulamite to Solomon now with her>14d, in the 
	hearing of her friends]

>>1:3 YOUR OINTMENTS SAVOUR SWEETLY; YOUR 
NAME IS  AN OINTMENT POURED FORTH: THEREFORE DO 
THE VIRGINS LOVE YOU.
1:3. Your ointments smell sweetly; 			
Your name is an ointment poured forth: 
Therefore do the [marriage-age] virgins love you.

Because of the comfort and joy given to the human 
heart and soul, we find Solomon comforting, rejoicing, 
comforted and rejoiced with myrrh, aloes, cassia, spikenard, 
frankincense, saffron, cinnamon and balsam, probably with an 
olive oil base.  These all taste and/or smell good.  The flavors 
and odors of the ointments are good, and because of the good 
that he does, his name (reputation, character, personality) is 
like one of his ointments put to use.  His being is pleasant, 
delightful, good, desirable, fragrantly alive and delicious 
company.  His character directs him to obtain good ointments 
because his character itself has become "good", by the grace 
and enabling presence of God Who alone is good and creates 
good in us>3.1

	Out of the abundance of the husband's heart comes 
his actions and, when filled and fruitful by the Spirit, his 
presence is indeed like a good and fragrant ointment poured 
forth, enrapturing and enriching those around him >3.2.   For 
this reason the virgins, betrothed and/or offered to him >3.3 
who beautify and prepare themselves for him with these 
ointments, love him who not only provides and cares for 
them >3.4 with good things, but also cares for them with 
God-given goodness and loving-kindness.  What he gives to 
them and what he is to them evokes love in the hearts of 
the women who love him.  Love begets love. 

 It is easy to love a pleasant person who loves us, how much 
more someone who is lovable to us.  We love Jesus because 
He first loved us and now gives us good and precious 
gifts>3.5.  From this we can learn that if we want our mates 
to love us, we should first compassionately cherish them, 
after giving yourself completely to Jesus and letting Him 
Love His Love through you.  Love begets love, for even the 
emotionally cold, the emotionally passive, the emotionally 
defensive become more pleasant when you consistently 
Love them.  Tragically, sometimes the emotionally dead, the 
emotionally crippled, the emotionally maimed and the 
emotionally enslaved are unable to respond to Love, having 
eyes they see not, having ears they hear not---as of old.
[Footnotes: >14d, Possibly her co-wives or Solomon to her; 
sco= Daughters of Jerusalem. 	>3.1  Hebrews 13:20,21.     
>3.2:John 7;38;Prov. 27:9; "smell"=  savour, dby; Because of 
the fragrance of your good ointments, nkjv;Strong's (7381 
from 07306) scent, fragrance, aroma, odor  	>3.3 Song 
6:8,9; Esther 2:2-18; 1 Corinthians 7:38.   >3.4 Exodus 
21:10,11; 1 Timothy 5:8. 	>3.5 Matthew 6; Philip. 4:19; 
Psalm 84:11.   >3.6 1 Thess. 1:1,9,10.]
***************************************************************

		[Shulamite>4.1 to King Solomon, in the 	
			hearing of her friends]
>>>Song1:4 DRAW ME, 

 Lead, drawing me along!	 Draw me! >4.2      Lead me 
away!>4.3	 Take me away with you! >4.4       Pull me along 
after you!  Obviously this little lady is motivated, pumped up, 
fired up and ready to go.  She wants her man to take her.   
Why?   Because she feels so good about him.  Why does she feel 
so good about him?  I'll bet you a plugged nickel that it 
was because he was soooooooooo goooood to her.   Love 
begets love.

Timid about her authority over his body?  I don't think so.  
Bossy, nagging and dictatorial?  I wouldn't believe it.  I could 
hear her imploring him, beseeching him and entreating him 
to take her with him, appealing to his love for her to move 
him.  We obey Him because we love Him.  He works in us to 
love each other, to want to love each other because we love 
Him, and to want to submit to each other's authority over 
each other's body because we love Him.  Prepared and 
enabled by Him to love we actually do love each other, 
submitting to each other's needs, wants and desires 
as we are able.  When you love someone you love to please 
them, serve them, help them,  share with them and bear that 
one's burdens.  She's not heavy because you love her sooooo 
much.

When you love that much, there is nothing toooo personal 
or intimate.   You have no desire to touch most people but 
you can't touch her enough.  You wouldn't think of putting 
your lips on most people's mouths but you long to press your 
lips on hers and tongue touch.  The bodily fluids of strangers 
are offensive to you but her body's fluids are precious to you 
to touch and/or to taste, a chance to have something of hers 
inside of you-----an intimate communion.  Each inch of skin 
or mucous membrane, with its sensitive nerve endings, is a 
point of communications for letting the one you love know 
how much you love and desire her/him. You and she are one 
flesh while you grow into oneness of soul and spirit.
 [Footnotes: >4.1 scofield     >4.2 mkjv,nkjv note, jbs,asv. 
>4.3 (nkjv).	>4.4 (niv)  ]

The Shulamite exclaims, "Lead me!"  How is Solomon 
supposed to lead her?  How is the godly husband supposed 
to lead his wife? What is the nature of the relationship that 
Jesus wants the husband and the wife to have?   Genesis 1: 
26-28; 2: 20 -24; 3:16;  and 1 Corinth. 11: 1-12 -----these 
passages make it very clear that the wife is under the 
authority of her husband even though he is no better no 
godlier than her.   If she joins herself to another while he 
lives >114 it is adultery, even if she has a perfectly legal 
divorce decree from the government since GodÕs laws are 
the final word.  So why the  double standards (e.g. 1. the 
wife can separate herself chastely from her husband, but he 
may not separate himself from his wife at all; 2. The wife 
may not rule over the husband, but the husband must take 
the lead as her servant and she must make the choice 
whether or not to follow him)?
[Footnote: >114 (l Cor. 7:39 and Romans 7:1-5; Mark 10:1-
20).]
	
This does not mean that women are second class citizens in 
the Kingdom of God, because the Word is clear>115, that 
even now in the spiritual realm -seated with Christ now in 
the heavens- there is no difference between males 
and females in their rights, privileges and responsibilities. 
In terms of the spiritual warfare and influence seen in 
Daniel 10 and Ephesians 6:10-20, females and males have 
equal opportunities to be used of God mightily and 
effectively. 
[Footnote: >115  in Galatians 3:26,27,28; Ephesians 2:6, 19-
22 and Matthew 19:10-12 and 1 Peter 3:7.]
	
So there is now no  difference between the sexes in spirit in 
Christ in the heavens.  But our spirits are also now in our 
bodies on earth in the realm of Satan, the prince of the 
power of the air, the spirit that now works in the 
sons of disobedience.  Our reborn spirits, the Holy Spirit, 
now lives in our flesh and blood bodies, which flesh and 
blood bodies cannot receive our inherit the Kingdom of God 
and are at war  >116 with the Spirit in us. When our bodies 
are transformed by Jesus they will not have blood and they 
will obviously have transformed flesh no longer under the 
influence of hormones, germs etc. 
[Footnote: >116 (Romans 7:13- 8:11; Galatians 5:16-26).]

 There is nothing in the Bible that says women are inferior 
to men.  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither 
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are 
all one in Christ Jesus.">5   What does it mean to be 
in Christ Jesus?   "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his 
great Love with which he Loved us, even when we were 
dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ . . . and 
has raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in the 
heavenlies in Christ Jesus . . . for through Him we both have 
access by one Spirit to the Father." >6  In terms of what is 
real, spiritually right now we who are His children have a 
presence in His very presence right now where sex is totally 
irrelevant and inconsequential.   "Therefore, from now on, 
we know no one according to the flesh. . .">7    Our 
sexuallity is not a legitimate basis for knowing each other or 
relating to each other.  Our sexuality is like a temporary 
"uniform" we wear during a short period of our eternal life 
with God, or like an instrument we temporarily play in 
God's orchestra. 
[Footnote: >5  Gal 3:28.      >6  Ephes.  2:1-18.      >7  2 Cor. 
5:16]
	
The husband  should not lord it over (exercise lordship) or 
tyrannize/suppress the wife, according to the following:
1 PETER 5: 5,6; LUKE 22: 25 ,26;1 TIM. 2: 9-12; 1 CORINTH. 
14:34*  35*; Ephesians 5:22-33.  The husband exercises his 
authority as "head" of the wife by  humbly teaching>119 her 
what she should do/say and by being a good example of how 
she should act/speak >120 . THE HUSBAND HAS NO RIGHT TO 
MAKE HIS WIFE DO  WHAT HE WANTS HER TO DO AND HE 
HAS NO SCRIPTURAL RIGHT  TO BOSS OR ORDER HER 
ABOUT>121 . If his wife resists his lead and authority, or 
just rebels outright, he can compassionately  but firmly 
admonish and rebuke her humbly and gently according to 
the following:
[Footnote: >119  2 Tim. 2:24-26.     >120 (Hebrews 13:7, 17,).  
>121  (Luke 22:25,26;1 Peter 5:5). >*See the Greek for this 1 
Corinth. interpretation: wife and woman is the same Greek 
word, man and husband is the same Greek word, it is the 
context that shows what the word means. 	>119  2 Tim. 
2:24-26.     >120 (Hebrews 13:7, 17,).  >121  (Luke 22:25,26;1 
Peter 5:5).]
    
        
			[Her friends>4.5, the daughters of 	
			Jerusalem>4.6, and/or her co-wives]
>>>WE WILL RUN AFTER YOU!>4.7 
     
Let us hurry!>4.8  The "you" is singular, meaning either 
the Shulamite or Solomon. This is so amazing to me as a 
westerner.  I believe that these are the same speakers here 
as the speakers below who say "We will remember your 
lovemaking more than wine!".  I believe that  the "we" of 
these exclamations definitely include Solomon's other wives, 
and here could have included the daughters of Jerusalem as 
well.  Either way, the fact that they feel so welcome is 
amazing.  Obviously both the Shulamite and Solomon had 
made them feel welcome even in their not-so-private 
affectionate exchanges and intimate moments.  They 
obviously not only felt welcome, but loved them both so 
much that they really enjoyed being with them, even if only 
as spectators.   

In the Orient it was not unusual for the wives of one 
husband to be within sight and/or hearing of their husband 
when he was being intimate with one of his other wives. 
Jealousy, bitterness, resentment, favoritism and unkindness 
could run rampant.  But here all the parties involved love 
each other, feel welcome with each other, enjoy each other 
and the other wives appear to take delight in the love being 
expressed between the Shulamite and Solomon.  This speaks 
volumes for the loving care and attention Solomon took to 
make each wife feel so secure, confident and loved; for the 
generosity, kindness and loving deeds of the Shulamite; and 
for their unselfish love and joy in the happiness and delight 
of their sister-wife, the Shulamite. This takes the sharing 
and having all things in common of Acts 4 to a whole new 
dimension and height.  If only the believers in Christ could 
achieve this level.  It would be the greatest evangelistic force 
on earth, for by  this kind of love shall all people know that 
He is alive in our midst and we are His disciples.
[FOOTNOTES: >4.5 niv.  	>4.6 nkjv,sco 	>4.7 mkjv, jbs, 
nkjv, ~dby.	>4.8 niv

        [The Shulamite>4.9 to her friends]

>>>THE KING HAS BROUGHT ME INTO HIS CHAMBERS>10 

The husband blesses the body and soul (purchased by Jesus 
with His own life's blood) of his own woman, Jesus' sister>11 
and God's adopted daughter>12. The husband causes the 
body-temple of his wife to be a temple filled with joy, praise, 
thanksgiving, peace and fulfillment as she gives thanks to 
God for her husband and their marriage.  Obviously she 
blesses her husband in his body in the same way, causing his 
lips to be filled with the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving 
to God for the gift of such a wonderful wife.  And they both 
know the blessing of 'inasmuch as you have done it unto 
one of these you have done it unto Me' as they have loved 
and compassionately cherished each other, blessing Jesus in 
each other>13.

Having made haste running, he has brought her into his bed 
chambers.  She proclaims his marital obedience to the glory 
of God Who is always glorified by our obedience to Him.  
Here again the minimal and basic wedding act or ceremony 
is repeated>14, where they covenant for life to be man and 
wife and she is brought from her room/house to his 
room/house for marital-sexual intimacy.  Those passages>14 
remind us that a married couple in Jesus is a couple who 
came together (free of adultery and fornication), leaving 
behind their parents and households in order to steadfastly 
stick by and live with each other, uniting their bodies 
sexually, becoming one flesh in a union that no human 
should divide, nullify, reject, repudiate or denounce>15.  This 
marital joining stands in marked contrast to the joining of 
the fornicator, adulterer, adulteress and the harlot, with its 
lack of commitment and blessing from God.

As she proclaims his spiritual obedience, she calls him "the 
king".  He is her ruler-leader, not only because he is King 
Solomon, but because he is her husband and as such God has 
proclaimed him to be her leader, head and guide>16.  As we 
saw above, he is her leader and guide whether or not they 
were married by common law, civil law, church law, 
concubinage, formal ceremony, informal covenant.   The 
Aborigines, Eskimos, Yaki Indians, Ashanti Africans 
and etc. are just as married before God as WASPs in their 
elegant churches even though their weddings were so 
different.   Their is nothing in the Bible that says marriage is 
a sacrament of the organized visible church, and the 
command to submit to civil authorities>17 is not a command 
that the marriage has to be sanctioned by the state.   

From the Word>18 we know that the husband, like the 
leader of the local assembly of saints, does not command, 
dictate, boss or tyrannize those under his care and 
responsibility.  He leads and guides by humble teaching and 
living the example.  He serves her by providing direction, 
leadership and behavioral options for her. He asks, requests, 
teaches and exhorts his own woman who then must choose 
whether or not she will submit herself (bring herself into 
submission) to him and his teaching.  If he teaches her to 
disobey the clear, specific and explicit Word, then she has to 
disobey him>19.  If she refuses to submit herself, for the 
husband has no authority to make her submit to him, when 
he asks her to obey clear, specific and explicit scripture, 
then he must humbly and gently initiate the steps of 
discipline in the Christian assembly>20.   If a woman doesn't 
want a man to be her leading and guiding servant, then she 
should remain single, chaste, and celibate with only God 
and the elders of the local assembly of believers as her 
leaders and guides>21.

[FOOTNOTES: >4.9 nkjv,scofield.	>10-kjv,dby,jbs,nkjv;  
[inner] chamber=(ylt,mkjv);  let the king bring me into his 
chambers=(niv)	>11 Matthew 12:50.	>12 Romans 8	
>13 Matt. 12:50; 25:40-45.	>14 Genesis 24; Matthew 
1:18,24; 25:6-10; Psalm 45:10-15; Deuteronomy 21:10-16; 
Exodus 21:8-11; Ezekiel 16:8.	>15 Matt. 19; Mark 10; 1 
Corinthians 6 & 7.   	>16 Genesis 2:16; 1 Corinth. 11:3; 
Ephes. 5:22,33; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1-7	>17 Romans 13 
& 1 Peter 2:13,14.	>18 1Peter5:3; Hebrews 13:7,17,24; 
Matt. 20:25,26,27; and Luke 22:25,26,27 with 2Tim.2:24-26.
>19 Ezekiel 20:18-20; Acts 4:19,20;Daniel 13:12-18;6:6-11; 2 
Chron. 22:10-12	>20 Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:5-15; 
Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:24-26.	>21 
1Corinthians 7.
 	

		[Her friends>22,  the Daughters of 
		Jerusalem>23 , her co-wives and the 		
		Shulamite ]
>>>WE WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN YOU>24!   WE WILL 
REMEMBER>24 YOUR>25 LOVEMAKING>26 MORE THAN 
WINE!
Who is the "we"?  It could be her friends, the daughters of 
Jerusalem, the virgin maidens offered to Solomon for 
marriage.  If so why do they rejoice and what do they 
remember?  Since he appears to be a wise, devoted and 
loving husband and they have seen him as such, that would 
cause them to rejoice in him who they wish would choose 
them to be his wives.   They have been in the presence of 
Solomon and the Shulamite when his left hand holds her 
head, his right hand embraces her and she exhorts them 
(2:6,7).  Seeing his loving and affectionate foreplay and 
embracing of the Shulamite would definitely fill the highly 
charged memories of virgin maidens hoping someday to be 
chosen as another wife by Solomon.  

It could be his other wives who have known him to be a 
wise, devoted and loving husband that makes them glad, 
filling their hearts with rejoicing to God, and fills their 
memories with his wonderfully intoxicating and enrapturing 
lovemaking.   But I prefer to think that it is the Shulamite 
speaking for herself as a member of his "bride", all his co-
wives and wives to be, speaking as the present representa-
tive of his community of wives>27, glad and rejoicing in his 
precious compassionate cherishing, remembering his 
wonderfully intoxicating and enrapturing lovemaking.  
Whether or not they are present physically, they are present 
in her mind and her heart, bound in the unity of the Spirit 
and heart in the bond of peace made possible by the Spirit of 
God and their love for Jesus/Jehovah.

Instead of bitterness, jealousy, insecurity, anxiety and 
rivalry  (all normal sinful reactions) between her and his 
other wives>28 we find her fully content>29, submissive>30, 
and willing to unselfishly share the erotic love of her own 
man with her co-wives, actually rejoicing in their shared 
love>31.  She rejoices with those who rejoice with her in 
their husband's love>32, living peaceably and harmoniously 
with them>33.  So we see that, as in the marital  relationship 
of Solomon and his Shulamite, polygyny  doesn't have  to be 
as unpleasant and unhappy as it is seen in such books 
like Dr. Mace's MARRIAGE EAST AND WEST.  It is obedience 
to God's instructions and Spirit enabled compassionate 
cherishing for Jesus and each other that enables even 
awfully difficult and complicated polygynous marriages to 
work and work well.  If it is possible for the local assembly 
of believers in Jesus, it is possible for the Christian 
polygynous marriage.  Obedience to the Word on these 
relations>34 would enable any godly family  to experience 
the loving unity seen the Song of Solomon.  Each one of us 
who are spiritually married to Christ>35 should be joyfully 
sharing His Love with each other in His Body of believers, all 
being parts of His "Bride".  We are glad and rejoice in Him, 
remembering His Love more than wine for He made us 
upright and we love Him for that, for Loving each one of us 
individually and sharing His Love with us all.

If the marriages of the polygynist are preceded by prayer 
and fasting it is possible that " . . .God, who knows 
beforehand whom He has chosen for us, tempers and tunes 
us the one to the other long before we meet in the flesh.">36
His intervention makes possible " . . .the lovely commingling 
of the various notes that make up our chord.">36  There can 
be "that wonderful knitting o f spirit which makes of several 
people one single soul. . .">37.   May it be said that "we 
were always, as it were, parts of one another. . .[where] 
each member lives for the good of the household. . .">38
If each member of the polygynous family will let Jesus work 
His lay-down-your-life-for-your-brother Love in them, like 
Jonathan had for David, especially in times of adversity 
and trials, blessed unity and harmony will prevail>39.

Can a polygynous "company" of wives dwell together in 
harmony and unity with their husband?  How?  "We have 
found it possible to be directed as a company so that we can 
move together in a harmony of spirit that is restful and very 
sure.  A company has to wait longer than one or two might 
have to do, but if all be set on doing  their Lord's will and be 
truly one in loyalty and the New Testament kind of affection 
that makes each one feel safe with each other one, if all flow 
together to the goodness of the Lord, unanimity is certain.  It 
is not difficult for our Father to make His children to be of 
one mind in an house, like the city of His purpose, 'that is at 
unity in itself'--'Jerusalem that hath been builded a true city, 
all joined together in one'. . . If the inmost law of such  a 
company be holy peace, it must be so.">40.  Do you want you 
family to united and harmonious in Jesus, then make it a 
practice to regularly pray together for guidance in matters of 
the family, and let that prayer include the stillness of 
waiting on God and knowing Him.>41

Will such a polygynous family have no problems, not 
setbacks, no disasters, no persecution, no harassment?
"The immediate effect of obedience can be apparent 
disaster; we must be one if we are to go through all that 
may follow such a step, in peace and in confidence.  So we 
gathered together with the definite intention of considering 
the matter in the light of what had been already shown 
tous, and in seeking to know, as a Fellowship, the mind of 
the Lord. . .shared responsibility in prayer. . . a deeper 
stillness fell upon us; 'Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the 
companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it'" . . .
Again in that living silence that can only be when the Lord is 
near, we hushed our hearts before Him.  At last there was 
thanksgiving, and the singing of hymns. When we rose from 
our knees we were pledged to faith, and we all knew it and 
were one.">42

PLEASE SEE THE APPENDIX OF THIS DOCUMENT ENTITLED 
"KEYS TO LOVING RELATIONSHIPS", if you wish to see how this 
kind of unity can be realized.
[FOOTNOTES:  >22 niv 	>23 nkjv,sco.	>24 singular 
you	>24 remember*= We mention your loves=(ylt);  
         	We will make mention of your love=(asv,
         	We will praise your love=(niv
         	We will find your love more fragrant than=(jbs 
	 Strong's 02142   1) to remember, recall, call to mind
       	1c) (Hiphil)
       		 1c1) to cause to remember, remind
       		1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in  
remembrance
       		1c3) to mention
       		1c5) to make a memorial, make remembrance
>25 singular 	>26 *love/loves* (Strong's Heb 01730; 
loves    (pl. abstract)) obviously means sexual, affectionate 
and physical love making from its use in the following 
passages: Prov.7:18;Ezekiel 16:8; Ezek. 23:17	>27 Esther 
2:15-18;Song 6:8-9; Psalms 45:14,15.	>28 Deuteronomy 
21:15,16,17; Exodus 21:10,11; Sarah and Hagar; Samuel's 
mother.	>29 Phil. 4:11;Song 2:6,7.	>30 Ephes. 5:23-
33;Song 1:4; 2:4,14;5:6		>31 1Timothy 6:1-8,18,19; Luke 
14:26,33.	>32 Romans 12:15	>33 Romans 12:18; Philip. 
4:13		>34 Matt. 18:15-33; Ephes. 4:1-3; Romans 15:1-5; 
Acts 4; 2 Corinth. 8 & 9    >35  2Corinth. 11:1,2	>36 Gold 
Cord, p. 65	>37 Gold Cord p. 60	>38 Gold Cordp.75	>39 
Gold Cord p.158	>40 Gold Cord p.183ff		>41  Gold Cord 
p. 187,192ff	>42 Gold Cord p. 285-287]

	[ The Shulamite>43 to Solomon]
>>>THEY LOVE YOU UPRIGHTLY.>44
Perhaps the Shulamite and Solomon were standing 
together, she in his arms, he looking at his wives and she 
exclaiming to him with her co-wives, "We will be glad and 
rejoice in you!   We will remember your lovemaking more 
than wine!"   Perhaps she, with a heart over flowing with 
love for him and love for her beloved co-wife friends,
the Shulamite declares confidently and merrily, "They 
sincerely and rightly love and adore you!"  I don't know, but 
I do know there was love, there was Love, there was 
compassionate cherishing, there was passionate affection 
from them for him.  Love begets love, so I know he had been 
passionately and affectionately loving, Loving, and 
compassionately cherishing them.  

How beautiful this scene is!  Oh that the saints of God 
would Love each other like this, would love Him and each 
other sincerely and rightly. We believers miss so much by 
not Loving each other this way.  We believers miss so much 
by not loving Him this way.  We can turn this around, we can 
repent, any time and start walking in His Love, praying for 
our brethren to join us.  If we Love Him, we will keep His 
commandments>45 as He works in us to wish to do and 
actually do His good will. By keeping His commandments 
His way we know that we know Him>46 and His 
commandment is to love the Lord Jesus with all our 
strength, soul, heart and mind, Loving our fellow believers 
and laying down our lives for them in unselfish and 
sacrificial Love.>47

Is such Love, such unity and harmony possible with our 
fellow believers? "Behold how good and how pleasant [it is] 
for [the] brethren to dwell together in unity!>48    ". . . they 
were all with one accord [one consent in harmony and 
unanimity] in one place. . . And they were all filled with the 
Holy Spirit. . .">49    Is it possible for us today?  "I therefore, 
the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy 
of call by which you are called, with all lowliness and 
meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in 
Love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond 
of peace.">50  When He asks us to do something, He offers 
us His enabling for the "willing and the doing" of it.>51  If 
we haven't achieved and experienced His Loving unity in 
our fellowships and marriages, it's because we have not let 
Him work it in us.  Let's Love Him enough to will it and do 
it.

"No purer joy can be
Than to be one in Thee;
Bound by one golden cord
Of love to our dear Lord.
Together, together, together,
Made one in Thee, 
All one in Thee,
Come let us flow together. . .
Than song of sweet wild bird,
Deep in the green wood heard,
More sweet the melody
Of such a unity. . . 
Made one in Thee,
All one in Thee, . . . .>52

PLEASE SEE THE APPENDIX OF THIS DOCUMENT ENTITLED 
"KEYS TO LOVING RELATIONSHIPS", if you wish to see how this 
kind of unity can be realized.

[FOOTNOTES: >43 nkjv; Beloved niv.
      >44 They love you uprightly=`mkjv,~ab, 
            `They love thee uprightly= (dby,~ylt)
              `Sincerely do they love you=~jbs
            `How right they are to adore you!=niv
            `Rightly do they love you=nkjv
>45 John 14:15; Hebrews 5:8,9	>46 1John2:2-5	>47 
1John3	>48 Psalm 133	>49 Acts2:1-4,40-47; 4:32-37
 >50 Ephes. 4:1-3     	>51 Phil.2:11,12,13; 4:13;  Heb. 
13:20,21     	>52 Gold Cord p. 344
***************************************************************            

>>>[The Shulamite>5.1 to her Solomon]
>>>1:5 I AM BLACK>5.2, BUT BEAUTIFUL>5.3, 
DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, AS THE TENTS OF 
KEDAR, AS THE CURTAINS OF SOLOMON.
>>>1:6 LOOK NOT UPON ME, BECAUSE I AM 
BLACK>6.1; BECAUSE THE SUN HAS LOOKED UPON 
ME. . . . .
She was not just tanned, swarthy or dark skinned.  The 
Hebrew word translated as "black" here in verse 5 is the 
very same Hebrew word used to describe her  Solomon's 
black hair (Song 5:11 ...... his locks [are] bushy, [and] black as 
a raven.).  She was raven black.  Now a raven is BLACK, 
GLOSSY BLACK, not tanned, swarthy or brown. She brings 
this up, not Solomon or her friends.  She is conscious of her 
blackness, self-conscious about her blackness.

Not only is she black, but she is very black because she has 
labored in the open under the sun, becoming burned and dried 
as she was forced to labor under the sun in the vineyards of 
her brothers and sisters.  Brown and black skinned people 
experience a drying, darkening and a burning of their skin by 
the sun from excessive exposure.  Brown folks can sun burn to 
very dark brown, and black folks can sun burn to "blue black".
My Black friend in college, Janice G., had to wear zinc sun block 
to protect her burnt "blue black" nose from further sun 
damage.  Both of my Black wives had "tan line" marks on their 
bodies from sun exposure.


She turns from rejoicing, with her co-wives, in Solomon's  
wonderful and delightful loving and lovemaking, to noting 
the integrity of their love for him.  Conscious of her beloved 
Solomon, conscious of her beloved co-wives, she is conscious 
that she is BLACK, and they aren't.  Self consciously she 
declares that she is BLACK.  If she felt good about being 
black, she would have said "I am black and beautiful!"  That 
she didn't feel good about her unique blackness, in the 
context of her marriage,  is evident that she says "I am black 
BUT beautiful".  This strongly implies that, not only in her 
own perception but also in  the  perception of most societies 
dominated by others than Blacks, black is NOT beautiful, 
black IS unattractive.  

Black is synonymous with darkness and that which is dismal, 
evil and dingy.  But she perceived that she had overcome her 
"black handicap", and even though she were black, she knew 
that she was BEAUTIFUL. She didn't feel she was "black AND 
beautiful" .   She felt she was "black BUT beautiful".   Most 
important she knew that Solomon and her friends perceived 
her as BEAUTIFUL >5.4, and that was all she needed.  Give 
honest praise, credit and tribute to your loved ones and help 
them rest on your view of them to overcome the dark 
stinkin'-thinkin' that would other wise handicap them.   
What is ugly to one  is beautiful to another, and beauty is in 
the eye of the beholder.  Listen to your virtuous friends 
about you, and don't listen to your enemies about you.

It is interesting that she compares her blackness to such 
positive 
images as if she is fully aware of how comely, attractive and 
desirable she is to her loved ones in her beautiful oil-softened 
and conditioned black skin.  The black tents of Kedar are homes 
and her black skin encloses the first home of their children and 
the home of her soul which Solomon enters in social and sexual 
intercourse.   Often two lovers experience a profound sense of 
"being home" when his penis is fully in her vagina---- a sense 
of experiencing physically what they feel emotionally---that 
they are united, joined together as one.  The black curtains of 
Solomon seem to represent the privacy and intimacy of their 
social and sexual communion, protecting her modesty and their 
intimacy and providing safety for her from any tongue strife 
that might be around her [Psa 31:20].  Her black skin, to her 
loved ones and so to her, was home, modesty, privacy, 
intimacy, delight and acceptance in and to her beloved so 
indeed she sees herself as comely, attractive and desirable in 
the eyes of her beloved.

My beloved first wife, the deceased Carol Lynn McIntyre of 
Oceanside, had an IQ over 125, had a 44D bust with a 32" 
waist, and the beautiful face of an Indian princess.  She was 
so beautiful when I first saw her my mouth fell open, my 
eyes opened wide, and I stood there speechless, looking like 
a complete fool and causing her to burst out in beautiful 
musical laughter that broke the spell and brought me back to 
the wonderful reality of the moment.  She was Black and 
American Indian, but Black according to society.  Like the 
Shulamite, she saw her blackness as a handicap.  She would 
have dreams where she was "white" and being loved and 
adored by those about her, only to wake up crying to the 
reality that she was not "white" and so many people 
important to her were "white".    She loved devotedly her 
beloved  very dark Black father and sister Pat, which added 
to her confusion, guilt and frustration.  How could she love 
her very dark Black dad and sister Pat when in her heart she 
wanted to be accepted as "white"?  She felt disloyal to her 
beloved dad and sister.  What unnecessary torment our 
society, our social world, imposes on dark skinned 
minorities!  What a damned system it is that rates and ranks 
people solely on the basis of something so very superficial as 
the color of their skin and their facial features!  No wonder 
Jesus said that if you love the world's social system, you 
don't love Him and you make yourself the enemy of 
God>5.5.

Except for the Black empires (pre 2000 BC and circa 750BC) 
and conquests, marching through SE Asia to the Pacific 
before 2000 BC, outside of Africa it has usually been a 
handicap and liability to be Black.  The Black untouchables 
of India and the Blacks in Europe and America can verify 
that.  Even in international and interracial events like the 
Olympics, Black gold medal winners never get the acclaim
or the commercial opportunities and exposure that non-
Black gold medal winners experience.  Around the world and 
even among Blacks and Africans, the saying "If you're Black, 
step back.  If you're light, you're all right." prevails.   It is a God 
damned practice.

Christ tells us>5.6 in  terms of eternal reality, that there is 
neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor 
female, neither barbarian nor Scythian.  The eternal reality of 
our relationships is no longer based on our bodies, our national 
origin, our race,  or our social status.  These are not the factors 
that determine our behavior towards each other, including 
marriage.  The factors that determine our behavior towards 
each other, including marriage, are unseen - invisible - 
spiritual>5.7  2 Corinth. 4:17,18; 10:7; Luke 16:15].  

	
We no longer are to take pride in, have confidence in, boast 
of, lift up or exalt that which appears, our appearance; but 
we are to take pride in, have confidence in, lift up and exalt 
the spiritual realities of the regenerated heart or soul>5.8  .   
We pick our mates based not on their physical appearance or 
physical heritage, but on the nature of their regenerated hearts 
and souls.  We are commanded by God Himself to NO LONGER 
be acquainted with, stand in relationship to or have 
knowledge>5.9  of another human being "on the 
physical plane" or "simply as a physical being">.10. 

We must look at and relate to each person in terms of their 
soul and spirit for therein lies the reality with which we are 
called by Christ to deal. We must not relate to or know 
anyone on the basis of their physical appearance or physical 
heritage.  That means that a husband and wife should 
celebrate and enjoy sex , a very physical act and experience, 
not on the basis of the attractiveness or unattractiveness of 
their physical appearance or physical ancestry, but on the 
basis that they are commanded by God to sexually have 
each other and be sexually affectionate>.11.	

It is fairly common knowledge that we don't "wrestle 
against flesh and blood">12 in the spiritual battles we fight 
daily and some of us see ourselves in that struggle, but we also 
should daily reckon ourselves to be "blessed with all spiritual 
blessings" and seated  together in the spiritual realm in 
Christ>.13  because that IS the reality of our daily lives and 
we miss mark and the blessing when we live and act without 
that awareness." . . . we don't look at the things that are seen, 
but at the things that are not seen.  For the things that are 
seen[are] temporary, but the things that are not seen [are] 
eternal>.14 .Please see Appendix Four for more 
on this.

Righteous, just and fair judgment and justice; protection for 
the rights of the afflicted, widows, the homeless and the 
poor; a society that which promotes peace and personal 
maturity/growth; a society  acting without prejudice or 
bias; a society free of biased respect of persons,  
intimidating biased influences, where no one is to be 
considered common or unclean, where no one puts 
stumbling blocks and fall-traps in the way of another -----
sounds like a pretty darn good way to live.  It's a shame that 
so few countries in the world even come close to this 
standard.  It is a blessed hope that for 1000 years this 
standard will be the social norm and the social standard>15 
.  The present evil social system should not deter us, for we 
can, to the best of our ability, struggle to achieve this in our 
own sphere of influence and leave our microworld a better 
place when we are finished with this life. Please see Appendix 
Four.
[FOOTNOTES:  >5.1 scofield 	>5.2jbs,asv,dby,kjv,mkjv, 
ab,lxx;  I have dark skin=lams;     Dark am I=niv,~nkjv
Strong's 07838 shachor {shaw-khore'} or  shachowr   {shaw-
khore'} adj1) black.	>5.3 Strong's  05000, comely, 
beautiful, seemly.      >5.4 Song of Solomon 1:15;5:9.
>5.5 1John2:15-17	>5.6 in Gal. 3:28 + Col. 3:10,11 	
>5.7  2 Corinth. 4:17,18; 10:7; Luke 16:15].	>5.8 [ 2 
Corinth. 5:12; 10:7;Luke 16:15] 	>5.9 [  2 Cor. 5:16; 10:7; Luke 
16:15: See Arndt and Gingrich Greek & English Lexicon p. 558.]    
>.10[  2 Cor. 5:16; 10:7;Luke 16:15:  See Arndt & Gingrich Greek 
& English Lexicon pp. 408, 409.]	>.11  [1 Corinth. 7:2,3,4,5; 
Titus 2:4; Prov. 5:18,19; Song of Solomon]. 	>12  [ Ephes. 
6:12; 2 Corinth. 10:3,4,5,6,7] 	>.13 [ Ephes. 1:3-
14; 2:5-10] 	>.14 2Cor4:18;5:7,16] 	
>15 (Revelations 20:4-6; Hebrews 11:13-16)
 		>6.1kjv,mkjv,see v.5;Strong's 7840: 
blackish;   swarthy=asv,ab;  dark skin=lams; dark= 
niv,nkjv,lxx]


>>>MY MOTHER'S CHILDREN WERE ANGRY WITH 
ME: THEY MADE ME KEEPER OF THE VINEYARDS; 
MINE OWN VINEYARD HAVE I NOT KEPT.

A keeper of vineyards???!  We se the "virtuous wife" of 
Prov. 31 considering a field and buying it.  From the profit 
she makes she plants a vineyard.  We see her providing food 
for her beloved husband and you see her sharing her marital 
portion with her maidservants , the daughters of Jerusalem. 
She speaks wisely and kindly.  Her husband praises her.  In 
so many ways this Shulamite manifests the attributes of the 
virtuous woman.  This hard working keeper of the 
vineyards, generous and kind wife among wives, this maker 
and keeper of unity and harmony with her co-wives and the 
daughters of Jerusalem, this beloved black Shulamite 
sounds very much like the virtuous wife of Prov. 31.

Just like Cinderella and Ruth, she landed up doing the 
menial work for the family.  Like Ruth, she landed up 
working in the fields in a subservient position.  The step-
brothers of the Shulamite made her the keeper of the 
vineyards.  Her mother didn't deliver her from this 
assignment, even though she probably knew that it kept her 
from caring for her own inheritance, her own vineyard.
Black and the object of inequity in her own family, she had 
grounds for bitterness and resentment for the grief she 
experienced.  We shall see, in Song 8:12, that God in Solomon 
restored her to her freedom from her family and restored her 
to her inheritance.  She no longer has to worry about keeping 
her vineyard for Solomon's servants now keep it for her, 
freeing her for her marital bliss.

She could have been like my dear friend Alicia 
of National City, having fair skinned parents and siblings, 
but she was Black with a full "afro" head of hair, because of 
the Moorish genes her parents both carried from Spain.  The 
Shulamite could have been the only "black sheep" in the 
family, the family embarrassment.  More hurt and grief 
through no fault of her own, for a little country girl growing 
up.  God has a much better way.

What about those who do practice racism, discrimination, 
partiality, bias and bigotry?  A Christian has his marching 
orders on  how to deal with them from Luke 6; Ephes. 5:7,11; 
Galat. 6:1; 1Tim.2:1-4; 5:20,21; Matt. 18:15-18; 2 Cor.5:18-
20; 2Tim.2:24-26 and all the cross references of these 
passages.  Warning!  If you set out to obey the truth and 
principles in these passages, you may find yourself nailed to 
a cross.   A minor problem for those who have become 
children of God through faith in and acceptance of Jesus 
Christ and His perfect work to save us, for being nailed to a 
cross is followed by a resurrection in to supernatural and 
eternal life with Him who is Compassionate Cherishing, 
Truth, Eternal Life, Perfect Light and the Way.

So the Shulamite was aware of the prejudice against her skin 
color but it didn't seem to affect her self-acceptance, probably 
because she realized that Solomon's affectionate and passionate 
praise and acceptance of her was far more important to her 
than the nonacceptance of the bigoted.  Our society is on a 
self-love and self-image fad that doesn't even come close to the 
acceptance we can have of ourselves after we have been 
renewed and reborn in the Spirit having believed, trusted and 
received the Lord Jesus Christ as God's appointed Lord-Saviour 
and King-Redeemer to deliver us from death and the penalties 
of our shortcomings, confidently trusting Him to keep us until 
He returns for us so as to be evermore with Him.
***************************************************************
     	[To Her Beloved,nkjv]

#1:7* ¦ TELL ME, YOU WHOM MY SOUL LOVES, 
WHERE YOU FEED [YOUR FLOCK], WHERE YOU MAKE IT TO 
REST AT NOON; FOR WHY SHOULD I BE AS ONE VEILED 
BESIDE THE FLOCKS OF YOUR COMPANIONS?

"Tell me!"  Communication, without love would wither and die.  
One noted counselor maintained that a couple needs to spend 
more than 10 hours a week in face to face, eye to eye 
communication for the relationship to be healthy and strong.
The only way Solomon could have done that with 60 wives 
[Song 6] is in group settings where he interacted with them as a 
group, a communal experience.  If he observed the Sabbath 
strictly, he could have been with ten of his wives every day for 
six days in a small group setting where they enjoyed him 
together and he enjoyed them as a group and individuals in  a 
group.  The others had to have access to him during the week, 
even if it were just to see him and hear him as he focused on 
the ten wives of that day.   

I can hardly wait for Heaven where I hope to learn why he felt 
he should have so many wives. I can see a young man trying to 
pull off such a demanding task, but even as he grew older he 
continued acquiring wives, when he surely didn't have all that 
energy and ambition. Addictive behavior?  Who knows but he 
certainly violated the law about the king having too many 
wives.  Nevertheless, it didn't dampen his enthusiasm in his 
youth as we see him with the Shulamite here

"Tell me!" If she didn't violate the husband wife principles of 1 
Timothy 2 and 1 Peter 3, then she didn't boss him or nag him 
here, but rather entreated and implored him to tell her where 
he was.  "Honey, where are you eating lunch today?" With her 
eyes upon her beloved (as with Peter walking on the water to 
Christ), she is emboldened and empowered to exercise her 
marital authority by reminding him of her special wifely 
relationship to him which gives them the right and necessity of 
being together (1Cor7:2-5).  As his wife she had access to him.  
Even if he were with his other wives for lunch, she had the 
right, as wife, to have access to him.  Those who weren't his 
wives might just as well turn aside by the flocks of his 
companions, like Ruth did in the fields before Boaz married her 
(Ruth2).
***************************************************************

	 [FRIENDS= niv;  THE BELOVED nkjv; SOLOMON, THE 
			SHEPHERD LOVER=sco]
>>>Song1:8 IF YOU KNOW NOT, YOU FAIREST AMONG 
WOMEN, GO YOUR WAY FORTH BY THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE 
FLOCK,  AND FEED YOUR #KIDS BESIDE THE SHEPHERDS' 
BOOTHS.
     [#goats (see niv + nkjv)]

	It wasn't noon yet.   He didn't know where he and his 
companions would take their noon rest.  Since he can't give her 
an exact and specific answer he give her a principle that she 
can use any time to find him and his companions.  Like our 
Lord Jesus when He was on earth, Solomon changed locations 
often and sometimes without prior notice, as he followed God's 
leading>8.1.  Just as our Lord Jesus didn't leave us without the 
Body of Christ>8.2 or the Comforter who leads, feeds and 
shepherds us through others>8.3; even so he tells her to find 
and follow the footsteps of his companions who know of his 
doings and goings.  His devoted companions and shepherds 
would faithfully guide her to him when he is working and 
away from her.
[Footnotes: >8.1 (Jn3:8;Rom8:14); 	>8.2 (Eph4:12-16);	
>8.3 (1Pt.5:1-8)]

God tells us to follow in Jesus footsteps>8.4 .  The leaders He 
places over the local assemblies are to be living examples of 
how to follow Jesus>8.5.  If they are walking in the Spirit, we 
can imitate them as they follow Jesus, following their footsteps 
to find where they are with the Lord and enter into the close 
circle of fellowship>8.6.  His devoted shepherds should 
faithfully guide us to Him and more intimate fellowship with 
Him.   We are to be diligent in our fellowship with the 
saints>8.7 .  We are to find our way in the footsteps of the flock 
of Jesus-followers who hear and follow their good Shepherd>8.8 
.  We are to feed daily both ourselves and our "kids">8.9 .  We 
are to be staying with God's chosen feeders>.10, feeding on the 
Word and evaluating their spiritual "shepherding">.11  as they 
tell us of our Lord's goings, comings and doings.
[Footnotes:>8.4 (1Pt2:21);  	>8.5 (1Pt5:1-6);	>8.6 (Heb13:7); 
>8.7 (Hb.10:25;Eph4:12-16);	>8.8 (John10);	>8.9 (Psa.1:1,2; 
1Pt.2:2;Eph.6:4);	>.10 (John 21:15,16,17);	>.11 (1Thes.5:21; 
Heb.13:7)]

Solomon's first statement>.12 to her was one of submissive love 
in meeting her need>.13.  His second statement here is one of 
comfort, good cheer, praise and encouragement. She was black 
and sometimes she was self-conscious, among his other 139 
queens, concubines and betrothed virgins.  As if the most 
comfort is given to the most uncomfortable wife>.14, he sees 
her as the fairest among women (or wives).  Surely God gives 
grace to the humble and exalts them>.15.  God, in Solomon, 
chose the racially and socially "weak" wife to the confounding 
of the popular and highly esteemed wives and chose for glory 
and exaltation the one  that society called base and 
despised>.16.  Jesus does this over and over again in the Bible 
and today.  Solomon placed his value and estimation on her and 
she accepted them.  It is the same with we who are espoused to 
Jesus and find our acceptance and self-esteem in Him Who is 
our Beloved, not because of what we are or have in and of 
ourselves, but because of what God makes us to become in and 
by Jesus and His Spirit>.17.
[Footnotes: >.12 (Song 1:4);	>.13 (Song1:2;1Cor.7:2-5);	>.14 
(2Cor1:4);	>.15 (1Pt.5:5,6);	>.16 (1Cor.1:27,28; Num.12);	     
>.17 (2Cor.11:2; 1Cor.1:29-31; Philip.2:12,13; Heb.13:20,21.]

"Fairest among women!"  What about her beauty? What about 
feminine beauty in general? Is it a liability or an asset for you?   
In our shallow and superficial world, beauty is      
                                             POWER!!!
Yes, power!  Pat B. is an example how a woman can use the 
POWER of her beauty for good.  She became a teacher and 
when her students saw her they were really impressed by her 
lovely beauty and radiant smile.  ThatÕs power!  Immediately 
they WANT to like her and they WANT  her to like them so 
they behave in such a way as to please her.  Even when they 
get crazy and restless, they still WANT her to like them so they 
finally come around.  Her beautiful smile and radiant 
personality feed their hungry loved starved souls and they 
feel good just being around her.  For the ones with no love, 
her love for them gives them the will to live, to work and to do 
well in school.  Pat becomes the wind under their sails.  Pat
hopes that eventually their pleasant experience of being 
loved, especially being loved by Pat who to them is VIP, will 
addict them to Love so they canÕt and wont want to live 
without it --- and hopefully even become loving people 
themselves, as they model themselves after their loving 
teacher and her Loving behavior.
	
If you have this great beauty , you can use it to build 
people, encourage people and help people if you package your 
beauty in sweet loving kindness. Your children love and adore 
their beautiful and sweet mother.  Your smile can be their 
sunshine, your laughter their music, your eyes their 
inspiration.  Yes, and I raised three, that smile often has to 
become a frown when they disobey or do things that will hurt 
themselves.  Like the Bible says, ÒThose whom the Lord Loves, 
the Lord disciplinesÓ, so you love for them has to include 
discipline because an undisciplined child is a child doomed to 
disaster  and grief in life.  Whether it be the chop sticks I 
used to flick my girls legs or the things (privileges, clothing, 
radios, TV's, doors, furniture etc.) I took away from them 
because of their disobedience, they knew that we loved them 
and as soon as the discipline was done, we went on loving and 
laughing with them.  We always explained to them why 
their disobedience was bad for them and why we had to 
discipline them.
	
The power of  beauty can be used to get your friends 
to listen to you and respect your say or opinion.  TheyÕll hear 
you out because they like you and you're beauty.  That 
assumes that their is a beauty to the way  you talk as well as 
the way you look.  Cursing, swearing and obscenities make 
even the most beautiful woman look bad and attractive only to 
the obscene.  No one in their mind wants to be around a 
beautiful woman who has a bad mouth, unless they want her
money or sex and as soon as they get what they want, they 
are gone and she is alone with her ugly mouth.
	
The power of your beauty on your man can make or 
break him.  If he is a fool and doesnÕt appreciate your sweet 
beauty or abuses it and you, then he has indeed played the fool 
and there is no hope for him except for God.  Until he lets Jesus 
save him, heÕs no good to you or to God.  If he is a wise man, he 
knows he has a treasure in your beauty, especially if it is the 
beauty of face and form coupled with the beauty of a kind 
mouth and heart. Such beauty moves him to desire you, moves 
him to want to be with you. Such beauty moves him to be 
thankful for you, to appreciate and treasure you.  He becomes 
addicted to your smile and your kind and harmless talk.  He 
longs for your smile and laughter.  When he is down or beat by 
the day or life in general, you can speak encouragement to him, 
comfort him in his hurt, give him your warmth and soft loving 
to help him recover from the cold and hard world outside that 
he has to deal with.  Your warm loving beauty in form and 
word can make an ordinary man a great man, can make a 
small man a big man, can make a weak man a strong man, can 
make a wounded and hurting man a healed and recovering 
man.  
	
Yes you have needs too.  You need to be loved and 
cherished too.  But your love can be powerful, inspiring and 
uplifting even when you feel weak and unloved.  A beautiful 
woman deeply loved by her man can often be profoundly 
beautiful to her man even when she thinks she is her worst.
Now you don't want to test his love by seeing if he can love you 
when you are a mess and not fixed up, but if the boy loves you 
truly he will see your beauty even if your hair is like a 
haystack, your breath is like the pig sty and your leg hairs are 
like steel wool.  

If you have come to Jesus, believed and accepted His great 
unconditional Love for you, given your whole life to Him and 
asked Him to come inside of you and make you His child, His 
Love in you can Love others even if they nail you to a cross.  
But your need for Love is why Jesus commanded husbands to 
have and show 1 Corinthians 13 loving- kindness and 
compassionate cherishing for their wives.  Of course they 
canÕt do that until they have believed in and accepted Jesus as 
the One who saves them from the evil in their lives and as the 
One who gives them a whole new life as they yield to Him 
living and loving in and through them.  That kind of husband 
can ever be learning how to better love and cherish his 
precious wife and children.  To such a husband, his beloved, 
lovely and godly wife is more precious than all the jewels in 
the world.
****************************************************************	

                [LOVER, niv; SOLOMON,sco]
>>>Song1:9 I COMPARE YOU, MY LOVE~, TO A #STEED IN 
PHARAOH'S CHARIOTS.    
1:10 YOUR CHEEKS ARE COMELY WITH *BEAD-ROWS, ^YOUR 
NECK WITH ORNAMENTAL CHAINS.
[~my loving friend
#a steed=asv,jps,dby; 	filly=nkjv; 	mare=niv,lams,ab; 
horses=lxx.      	
*braided hair= lamsa; 	plaits=asv;	  circlets=jps;  	earrings= 
niv; 	ornaments=mkjv; 	garlands=ylt;	bead-rows=dby; 
as those of a dove=lxx.
^ necklaces=lamsa; 	beads=jps; 	strings of jewels= 
niv,asv,ab;  chains=mkjv,nkjv] 

"My Love" means "my loving friend".  She is his friend and 
companion.  His greeting to her reflects his love for and respect 
for her character and personality.  She is not only physically 
beautiful to him, she is beautiful to him in character and virtue. 
His heart safely trusts in her and he fears no harm or evil from 
her (Prov. 31).  She is to his soul as Jonathan was to David.  
Knit in heart and soul.  Joined and cemented in heart and spirit 
until death part them.  Visions and dreams shared, in sickness 
and in health, in riches and in poverty, for better or worse.
Covenanted and bound together God declares these two faithful 
friends one, not just in flesh, but in the eternal realities of the 
Spirit.   

A filly or mare among all of the rest of the horses that pull 
Pharaoh's chariots.  We are talking form, line, symmetry, grace 
of movement, impressiveness, the quality of the exceptional.  
Such a comparison would mean that she is one of the best.  The 
comparison probably means that in her person and body are 
gathered the best qualities and attributes, and this allows her 
to fit in among the best.  Here again he is saying that she is one 
of the fairest of women, one of the best.

Certain peoples among the African nations scar their faces, 
especially their cheeks, in order to make decorative and 
beautifying designs and patterns.  Other African peoples 
beautify and decorate their women with many rings or chains 
around their necks, some almost up to the jaw.  Whether or not 
the Shulamite practiced these customs, we know that Solomon 
perceived her cheeks and neck as desirable, attractive and 
praiseworthy, however she adorned them.

In Christ now, we see a better way for the wife or woman to 
adorn and decorate herself to make herself attractive, desirable 
and praiseworthy to her man in Christ.   She beautifies herself 
by having the  personality and life style of the woman 
described in Prov. 31; 1Tim.2;  Tit.2; 1Pet.3.   
Her ornaments are trustworthiness, good works, working 
willingly, diligence, taking the initiative, strength of character, 
manual labor, generosity to the poor and needy, honorableness, 
wisdom in speech, kindness in speech, industrious, fear of the 
Lord, obedience to the Lord, voluntary submission of self to her 
husband, not a teacher or boss of her husband, chaste, 
gentleness in deed, peacefulness  in spirit.

Costly clothing, expensive jewelry, scents, oils, lotions and 
perfumes are not necessary for the godly woman to beautify 
herself, especially since they shame those who are poor and are 
lacking, since indulging one's self with these could be an 
expression of selfishness (except for when her husband buys 
them for her and asks her to wear them), and since the 
acquisition of such expensive items could be an expression of 
the idolatry of greed and discontent (Luke 12:16-21; 1Tim. 6:8-
11; Heb. 13:5; 1 Pet.3).  It is true that the natural and carnal 
man walking according to his own thoughts and glands would 
not find these traits beautiful.  The man who loves the Lord 
and the things of the Lord will perceive such beauty and will 
be drawn to such a woman and love her as the daughter of the 
King that she is(2Cor.4:18; 5:7,12,16).

The key point here for the godly wife is that even if no one else 
in the whole world saw her as beautiful, desirable or attractive, 
all that really should matter to her in her marital joy is that 
her own man sees her as beautiful, desirable and attractive.  
Even if she is so poor that she must only use vanilla and olive 
oil on her skin (mixed with flavorings), with cinnamon (etc.) as 
scented body powders, and must sew her clothing by hand; her 
simple and natural beauty, desirability and attractiveness to 
him is made perfect and complete by God as He pours out His 
glory on her (Ezk.16:14).   Thank God that Jesus loves us as we 
are and for what He is going to make us, Love making us more 
lovable on our pilgrimage.  We will be like Him who is all glory 
and beauty, power and majesty, Love and truth.

*****************************************************************

	    [The Daughters of Jerusalem= nkjv,sco]
 >>>Song1:11 WE WILL MAKE YOU #BEAD-ROWS OF GOLD 
WITH STUDS OF SILVER.
    [#chains =lamsa; 	circlets =jps; 	earrings =niv; 
garlands =ylt;    plaits=asv; 	ornaments=nkjv]

Now her companions, the virgin daughters of Jerusalem, 
express their loving devotion for their leader and guide to 
whom they render service in this instance by making her 
clothing>1.  Even though some of these virgins might become 
wives to Solomon and so are potential rivals, they still praise 
here and rejoice with her by helping her look more attractive 
to Solomon>2.  The joyful loving and giving action of this group 
of companions is made possible most likely through God-
given virtue>3.  Solomon, his love and provision for them, and 
their corporate and individual love for him is the setting of this 
loving generosity.

Solomon gave them what they needed materially and out of it 
they bestowed gifts on their loved one.   The principle of 
materially providing for your own family and household was 
given to us at the time of Adam and Eve and continues with us 
today as the will of God for us>4.  Similar to this natural and 
human pattern is Christ's provision for us, providing  all that 
we need to do His will>5 so that we may become beautiful, 
attractive and desirable to Him>6.

In the light of 1Tim.2 and 1Pet.3 it is apparent that the man of 
Christ will not be in the habit of giving his own woman 
expensive clothes or jewelry made of gold or pearls as is 
common in our society.  Instead of such gifts, he will be giving 
to his own woman in Christ the spiritual gold and pearl 
jewelry which is God's Word, Truth, Rule and Wisdom>7 so that 
she can adorn, decorate and beautify herself in a spiritual 
manner by the empowering and enabling of God by His 
Spirit>8.

[Footnotes: >1. Psalm45:10-17; Esther 2; Song 6:8,9.	>2. Gen.30;
Esther 2; Psalm 45:14,15; Song 6:8,9; Rom.12:15.  	>3 Prov. 31; 
Ephes 4:1,2,30,31,32.	>4. Gen. 2&3; Prov. 31; 1Tim.5:4,8; 2 
Thess. 3.	>5 Philip.4:19;  2 Tim. 3:16,17.	>6Ezek. 16:9-14; 
Rev. 19:7,8.	>7. Prov. 6:21,22,23; 7:3; 8:10,11,18,19
>8. Philip. 2:12,13; Heb. 13:20,21.

This is the end of Part One of the Song of Solomon.

**********************************************
APPENDIX ONE: FOOTNOTES* TO SONG 1:2- 2:7
  >>> THE SONG OF SOLOMON>1~ 
1:1 ¦ The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

			[ The Shulamite >1.a to her friends>1.b]
1:2. He should kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; 

			[Daughters Of Jerusalem>1.c, 
			her co-wives or the king]
For your love* is better than wine.			
1:3. Your ointments smell* sweetly; 			
Your name is an ointment poured forth: 
Therefore do the virgins* love you.
*********************FOOTNOTES**************
>1~ This is basically and mainly a modern English version 
of 
Darby's version.
>1.a  nkjv,sco
>1.b  Beloved [to her friends] : niv
>1.c , sco
1:2 *loves: (ylt,mkjv);Stong's Lexicon, 01730: 1c) love (pl.         
              abstract);
           * For thy love : (dby,nkjv,~niv)
            * *love/loves (Strongs Heb 01730) obviously means 
	sexual, affectionate and physical love making from 
	its 
use in the following passages:
Prov. 7:18 Come, let us revel in LOVE until the morning, let 
us delight ourselves with LOVES.
Ezekiel 16:8 And I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, 
and behold, thy time was the time of LOVE; and I spread my 
skirt over 
thee, and covered thy nakedness; and I swore unto thee, and 
entered 
into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou 
becamest mine.
Ezekiel 23: 16 And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, 
she lusted after them, and sent messengers unto them into 
Chaldea.17 
And the children of Babylon came to her into the bed of LOVE, 
and 
they defiled her with their fornication . . .
#1:3 "smell"=  savour=dby; Because of the fragrance of your 
	good ointments,=nkjv
	Strong's 7381 from 07306; 1) scent, fragrance, aroma, 
	odour              1a) scent, odour
#1:3 "virgins" = Strong's05959     `almah {al-maw'}
    from 05958; TWOT - 1630b; n f
    1) virgin, young woman
       1a) of marriageable age           1b) maid or newly 
married
    ++++
    There is no instance where it can be proved that             
    this word designates a young woman who is not a     
    virgin. (TWOT)

 **********************************************
The Song of Solomon Continued----

				[Shulamite>1.d to the king ]	
1:4.  Draw me*,						
         
      			[Her friends >1.e , the Daughters of 	
				Jerusalem >1.f ]
--we will run after you!* 				
    				
				[The Shulamite >1.g ]
The king has brought me into his chambers*---	 

        			[Her friends1.h, the Daughters of 	
			Jerusalem>1.i; or Solomon's concubines/wives 
to him]
-We will be glad and rejoice in you,  
We will remember*  your*  love* more than wine. 		
	
									[ 
The Shulamite >1.j to the king >1.e]
They love you uprightly.*			
****************FOOTNOTES*******************
>1.d  
,sco
 1:4 Draw me = #mkjv,nkjv note, jbs,asv;   
	Lead me away=(nkjv); 
	Take me  away with you=(niv)
	Strong's 04900      mashak {maw-shak'}
        1) to draw, drag, seize
   	1a) (Qal)
      	 1a1) to draw (and lift out), drag along, lead     
    	along, drag or lead off, draw down
              1a7) to cheer, draw, attract, gratify
1.e  , or Beloved [to the king?] niv
1.f   nkjv,sco
1:4 we will run after you!*=#mkjv,jbs,nkjv,~dby; 
	let us hurry!=(niv)
1.g  nkjv,sco]
1:4 = chambers*= [inner] chamber=(ylt,mkjv);  
	let  the king bring me into his chambers=(niv)
	Strong's 02315 cheder {kheh'-der} from 02314;  n m
    		1) chamber, room, parlour, innermost or 	
		inward  part, within
1.h   niv
1.i   nkjv,sco
1.6   ^masculine, the Beloved (nkjv), the Lover (niv)
1:4=remember*= We mention your loves=(ylt);  
         	We will make mention of your love=(asv,
         	We will praise your love=(niv
         	We will find your love more fragrant than=(jbs 
	 Strong's 02142 zakar {zaw-kar'}
    		1) to remember, recall, call to mind
       			1a) (Qal) to remember, recall
      			 1b) (Niphal) to be brought to 		
	
		    remembrance, be remembered, 
			    be thought of, be brought to mind
   			1c) (Hiphil)
       			    1c1) to cause to remember, remind
       			    1c2) to cause to be remembered, keep in     
        			     remembrance
       			    1c3) to mention
       			    1c4) to record
       			    1c5) to make a memorial, 
			      make remembrance
1:4=*love/loves* (Strong's Heb 01730; loves    (pl. abstract)) 
obviously means sexual, affectionate and physical love 
making from its use in the following passages: Prov.7:18;Ezekiel 
16:8; Ezek. 23:17
1.e  niv
1.j  nkjv
1:4=uprightly*=  `They love thee uprightly= (dby,~ylt, 
	mkjv,ab)
              `Sincerely do they love you=~jbs
            `How right they are to adore you!=niv
            `Rightly do they love you=nkjv
	Strong's 04339 meyshar {may-shawr'}  n m
   		1) evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity
   		   1a) evenness, level, smoothness
   		   1b) uprightness, equity
   		   1c) rightly (as adv)
***********************************************
The Song of Solomon Continued                       
               			[Shulamite>1.d]
 1:5 I am black* , but comely, daughters of Jerusalem,	
	
						black>1.9
 As the tents of Kedar, 
As the curtains of Solomon.
1:6 Look not upon me, because I am black *; 			
	
						black>1.9 
Because the sun has looked upon me. 
My mother's children were angry with me: 
They made me keeper of the vineyards; 
Mine own vineyard have I not kept.
***********************FOOTNOTES***********
1.d   sco
1.9  #jbs,asv,dby,kjv,mkjv,ab,lxx,Strong's 7840: blackish;   
              I have dark skin=lams,
              Dark am I=niv,~nkjv
              She was not just tanned.  The Hebrew word 
translated as black in Song of Solomon 1:5 (I [am] black, but 
comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as 
the curtains of Solomon.) is the very same Hebrew word to 
describe her husband's hair (Song 5:11 ...... his locks [are] 
bushy, [and] black as a raven.).  Now a raven is BLACK, GLOSSY 
BLACK, not tanned or brown.
	Strong's 07838 shachor {shaw-khore'} or     
    	shachowr   {shaw-khore'} from 07835;  adj
    1) black
**********************************************
The Song of Solomon Continued
    
     				[To Her Beloved]
 1:7 ¦ Tell me, you whom my soul loves, 
Where you feed [your flock], 
Where you make it to rest at noon; 
For why should I be as one veiled 
Beside the flocks of your companions?

    			[ Solomon, the shepherd lover>1.c,  her 
	
		Beloved>1.j; or her friends>1.e ] 
 1:8 If you know not, you fairest among women, 
Go out  your way  by the footsteps of the flock, 
And feed your kids* beside the shepherds' booths. 		
	
				     
               		 [Solomon>1.c, her Lover>1a]
1:9 I compare you, my love*, 
To a steed* in Pharaoh's chariots.		
1:10 Your cheeks are comely with bead-rows*, 		
Your neck* with ornamental chains.				
	
					
 
        				[The Daughters of Jerusalem>1.f] 
 1:11 We will make you bead-rows* of gold 		
With studs of silver.
******************FOOTNOTES*****************
1.e  see above
1.j  see above
1.c  see above
1:8=kids*=goats (see niv + nkjv) + Strong's 01429 g@diyah 
{ghed-ee-yaw'} from 01423; TWOT - 314c; n f pl
    1) kids, young female goats
1.a see above
1.c see above
1:9=love*=Strong's 07474 ra`yah {rah-yaw'}from 07453; n f; 
    		1) attendant maidens, companion
     	Young's=female friend
1:9=a steed*=asv,jps,dby; filly=nkjv; mare=niv,lmsa,ab; 
	horses=lxxmare=
	Strong's 05484 cuwcah {soo-saw'}from 05483;n f                           
		1) mare
1:10=beadrows*=  braided hair* =lamsa; plaits=asv;  
	circlets= jps;  earrings =niv;   ornaments=mkjv;    
	garlands =ylt;    bead-rows =dby; as those of a dove 
	=lxx
	Strong's 08447 towr {tore} or tor {tore}from 08446 n m
    		1) circlet, plait, turn (of hair or gold)
    		2) (CLBL) succession, order
	rt=the bead rows can hang from her ears over 
	her cheeks, or from her hair, or across her cheek from 
	a nose ring and an earring
1:10=neck*= necklaces* =lamsa; beads =jps; strings of 
	jewels= niv,asv,ab;  	chains=mkjv,nkjv    
	Strong's 06677 intensively from 06696 in the sense of 
	binding;  n m
    		1) neck, back of neck
1:11=bead-rows*=dby;  chains =lamsa; circlets =jps; 
	earrings 
=niv; garlands =ylt;    plaits=asv; 	ornaments =nkjv
	Strong's 08447 towr {tore} or tor {tore}from08446; n m
	1) circlet, plait, turn (of hair or gold)
	2) (CLBL) succession, order
***********************************************
 APPENDIX TWO: WHO WROTE THE SONG OF 
SOLOMON
C.I. Scofield, D.D.  and E. S. English, Litt.D., have Solomon 
as the author, around 10th Cent. B.C., with Solomon (as 
shepherd-lover) and the Shulamite as the two principal 
parties.>r1.   Fausset has it as "The Song of songs," i.e. the most 
excellent  of songs, by Solomon to his Shulamite, secure in the 
Old Testament Canon.  "The significance of the name Solomon, 
'the peace giver,' appears at the outset (chap.i.3), 'thy name is 
as ointment poured forth,' diffusing peace and love (John xiv. 
27); the same image as in Ps. cxxxiii. Not till towards the close 
does the bride receive her name Shulamith (vi. 13), "the peace 
receiver," and so the "prince's daughter" (vii.1; comp. Matt. 
v.9)>b2.   
	
J. Taylor states that it has an approximate date of writing 
as the 3rd century B.C., but we "cannot regret that these 
canticles of human love have been preserved for us in the OT.  
The mutual attraction of the sexes is Divinely ordained. The 
love 
which finds expression in Ca. is regulated by marriage.  The 
imagery is too luscious and the detail too complete for our 
taste, but they were produced by an Oriental for Orientals. . . 
As a poem there is nothing else in the Bible to compare with 
this.">b5  A late writing, even centuries after Solomon's death 
does not mean it is not Solomon's Song.  In a culture of oral 
tradition, dancing and singing poems etc. it is not difficult to 
see how it could have been at first a part of Israel's oral 
tradition, and then the Holy Spirit decided to use a 
prophet to make it part of the written tradition at some 
later century.  The author is the Holy Spirit who has a perfect 
record of every song Solomon ever was moved to sing.
	
D. A. Hubbard, Th. M., Ph.D., states that it probably was 
written after Solomon's death, but before 300 B.C. >b3.   As to 
its canonicity, ". . . Rabbi Akiba affirms the canonicity of the 
Son in superlatives: 'the whole world is not worth the day on 
which the Song of Songs was given to Israel; all the Writings 
are holy, and the Song of Songs is the holy of holies'">b4.  "Both 
the abundance of details and the absence of clues as to deeper 
spiritual significance within the book itself speak against the 
finding of allegory or type in the Song. . . .E.J. Young carries the 
purpose one step further: 'Not only does it speak of the purity 
of human love, but by its very inclusion in the Canon it 
reminds us of a love that is purer than our own' (Introduction 
to the Old Testament, 1949, p.327)>b5.
	
R.W. Orr, Ph. C., D.B.A. prefers a 4th century B.C. 
date, maintains it is not a song about Solomon and his 
Shulamite, and had only one writer>b6.  "We shall therefore 
read The Song as a set of idylls in praise of married love, with 
dramatic development from desire to fulfillment.  This purpose 
is sufficient in itself, for its teaching on the sanctity and joy of 
ideal love, and its imperatives of chastity and life-long 
faithfulness, contribute significantly to the completeness 
of scripture.  The devotional use is secondary, and without 
any explicit warrant from the NT (for it is nowhere quoted)>b7.
[FOOTNOTES: .r1   p.705, The Scoffield Reference Bible, New 
York Oxford University Press, 1967
>b2  p.114; Bible Encyclopaedia and  Dictionary,  by A.R. 
Fausset, Zonderfan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
>b5 pp. 870, 871;  John Taylor, D. Litt.; Dictionary of the Bible, 
edited by James Hastings, D.D.; Hendrickson Publishers, 
Peabody, Mass. 01961-3473
>b3  p. 1204,  Hubbard, Ph.D.; The New Bible Dictionary, 
Organizing Editor: J.D. Douglas, Ph.D.;  W. B. Eerdmans Publishing 
Co. , Grand Rapids, Mich.; 1962, 1967
>b4  p. 1204, Hubbard, Ph.D.; The New Bible Dictionary, 
>b5 pp.1205, 1206; Hubbard, Ph.D.; The New Bible Dictionary, 
>b6  p.702, R.W. Orr; The International Bible Commentary; 
Editor: F.F.Bruce; Zondervan Publishing House, GrandRapids, 
Michigan, Marshall Pickering, 1979, 1986
>b7 p. 704; R. W. Orr; The International Bible Commentary; 
Editor: F.F.Bruce


½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½½
APPENDIX THREE: GOD'S WORD ABOUT 
POLYGAMY/POLYGYNY.

	Is polygyny a dead and old issue?  In January of '96 
the New York Times ran an article about more than 100,000 
polygamists living in Paris, France, alone. An e-mail 
correspondent from Paris wrote to me telling me that 
reportedly a recent Prime Minister of France was a 
practicing polygynist.  Polygamy, in one form or another, is 
being practiced on every continent today. 
	St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century Christian Patriarch, 
stated the following of the Western Christian community of 
his century:
	"But here there is no ground for a criminal accusation: 
for a plurality of wives 	was no crime when it was the 
custom; and it is a crime now, because it is no 	longer 
the custom......The only reason of its being a crime now to do 
this, is 	because custom and the laws forbid it.>1. . . . That 
the holy fathers of olden 	times . . . to whom God gave His 
testimony that 'they pleased Him'. . . it was 	permitted to . . 
. them to have a pluraltiy of wives. . .>2 . . . the honorable 
name 	of saint is given not without reason to men who 
had several wives. . . nor did 	the number of their wives 
make the patriarchs licentious.>3 
[>1 A Select Library, vol. iv; p. 289;   >2  A Select Library, Vol. 
V; p. 267;  	>3 A Select Library, Vol. iv; p. 290]
	I understand  Rev. Gerhard Jasper to make the 
following points: (1) In Old Testament times a Jewish 
polygynist's marriage was fully recognized as marriage, 
protected by the Law and the elders;  (2) the Jewish 
polygynist's faith in or faithfulness to God was not 
questioned because of his polygyny; (3) the polygyny of the 
Jewish polygynist did not keep him from being admitted to 
the congregation with full membership.>44.  Moses did not 
forbid polygamy  but apparently it was unusual among 
average people .>45. 
	" . . . Yet polygyny  is adopted from the time of Lamech 
(Gn. 4:19), and is not forbidden in Scripture . . . Polygamy 
continues to the present day among Jews in Moslem, Hindu, 
Buddhist, Asian, Oriental, and African countries." >25
     	ÒConcubine. A secondary wife acquired by purchase or 
as a war captive, and allowed in polygamous society such as 
existed in the Middle east in biblical times. . . . Concubines 
were protected under Mosaic law (Exod. 21:7-11; Dt. 21:10-
14), though they were distinguished from wives (Jdg. 8:31) 
and were more easily divorced (Gen.21:10-14)Ó>26
	" . . . Concubinage was a legally sanctioned and socially 
acceptable practice in ancient cultures, including that of the 
Hebrews; concubines, however, were denied the protection to 
which a legal wife was entitled.  . .Ó>27.
	" . . .  Herod had nine wives at once. . . Its possibility is 
implied by the technical continuance of the Levirate law," 
[Deut. 25:5-10] "and is proved by the early interpretation of 
1 Ti 3, whether correct or not.  Justin reproaches the Jews of 
his day" [A.D.] " with having 'four or even five wives,' and 
marrying 'as they wish, or as many as they wish.'  . . .  
Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews till 
the time of R. Gershom (c. A.D. 1000), and then at first only 
for France and Germany.  In Spain, Italy, and the East it 
persisted for some time longer, as it does still among the 
Jews in Mohammedan countries.">28 
[Footnotes:  >44.  Trobisch, MY WIFE MADE ME. . . P.18; 
(AFRICAN THEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Rev. Gerhard Jasper of 
Lutheran Theological College in Makumira, Tanzania; 
Februrary 1969, p. 41).   >45.  Please see Deut. 21:15,16 and 
THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; p. 407.   >25   
IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas;  1962,W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 
p.787.	 >26  IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas;  1962,W. B. 
Eerdmans Publishing.	>27 1986, Funk & Wagnalls NEW 
ENCYCLOPEDIA.	>28.  HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;  
p.583ff.]]
	Reflecting the reality of how Israel and Judah divided 
after Solomon died, Jesus (as Jehovah) presents Himself as 
the husband of two wives in the following:
 MKJV EZEKIEL 23: 1 ¦ The word of the LORD came again to 
me, 2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of 
one mother.  3 And they fornicated in Egypt; they whored in 
their youth, their breasts were handled, and there their 
Oholibah, her sister. And they became Mine, . . . ." 
	God never presents Himself as sin or sinner to us 
except for when holy Christ became sin for us on the cross.  
In Ezek. 23, the sinners were His wives and He was righteous 
as the husband of two wives.  It was only two wives in 
accordance with His own Law that decreed that the ruler 
must not multiply wives to himself. Polygyny , even GodÕs 
polygyny , is NEVER labeled or declared to be sin or sinful in 
the Bible.  
MKJV GEN. 4: 19 ¦ And Lamech took two wives to himself. 
The name of the first one [was] Adah, and the name of the 
other [was] Zillah; 
MKJV GEN. 16: 2 And Sarai said to Abram, Behold now, the 
LORD has kept me from bearing. I pray you, go in to my 
slave woman. It may be that I may be built by her. And 
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's 
wife, took Hagar her slave woman, the Egyptian, and gave 
her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
	God intervened and sent Hagar back into the marital 
situation with Abram and Sarai>41  When God next spoke to 
Abraham>42  there was no condemnation of his polygyny , 
but instead God blessed him with an even greater blessing 
than before. In response to the blessing he takes his son by 
Hagar and  circumcised  him>43 .  "in all things the Lord had 
blessed Abraham" (Gen. 24:1).   
[Footnotes:>41  (Gen 16:9-16.);    >42  (Gen. 17:1--);    >43  
(Gen. 17:23-25);    
	Polygyny and bigamy were recognized features of the 
family life.  From the Oriental point of view there was 
nothing immoral in the practice of polygamy. . . . At all 
events, polygyny was an established and recognized 
institution form the earliest times">8 HASTINGS DICTIONARY 
OF THE BIBLE;  p.259.
	God blessed Sarah with fertility in  polygyny>44  and 
God blessed Hagar and Ishmael even though she was cast out 
of Sarah's house at Sarah's confirmed request because of the 
question of an heir, not polygyny>45 .   Abraham had 
another concubine after Hagar, named Keturah>46  by whom 
Abraham had six children without any condemnation or 
denunciation by God.  
[Footnotes:>44    (Gen 21:1-7); >45   (Gen. 21); >46   (1 
Chron.1:32) ]
	Culturally it is interesting that Nahor, Abraham's 
brother, also was a polygamist having a concubine>47. 
Abraham  had at least another concubine besides Keturah 
under God's blessing>48   although he diligently protected 
the heir status of Isaac.  HezronÕs Caleb had two 
concubines>49.  
[Footnotes:>47 (Gen. 22:20-24);   >48  (Gen. 25:1-6);   >48  
(Gen. 25:1-6)]
	Eerdmans' Douglas' New Bible Dictionary: ÒConcubine. A 
secondary wife  . . . . allowed in polygamous society such as 
existed in the Middle east in biblical times....Handmaidens, 
given as a marriage gift, were often concubines (Gen. 
29:24,29). Concubines were protected under Mosaic law 
(Exod. 21:7-11; Dt. 21:10-14), though they were 
distinguished from wives (Jdg. 8:31) and were more easily 
divorced (Gen.21:10-14)." 
[Footnote: >10 1962, IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas; W. B. Eerdmans 
Publishing] 
	FUNK & WAGNALLS NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA: 
CONCUBINAGE, Òrefers to the cohabitation of a man and a 
woman without sanction of legal marriage.  Specifically, 
concubinage is a form of polygyny  in which the primary 
matrimonial relationship is supplemented by one or more 
secondary sexual relationships. Concubinage was a legally 
sanctioned and socially acceptable practice in ancient 
cultures, including that of the Hebrews; concubines, however, 
were denied the protection to which a legal wife was 
entitled. . . . . the concubine's status was inferior to that of  a 
legal wife.  Her children had certain rights, including support 
by the father and legitimacy in the event of the marriage of 
the parentsÓ [>11 1986, Funk & Wagnalls] 
	HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE: ÒThe relative 
positions of wives and concubines were determined mainly 
by the husband's favour.  The children of the wife claimed 
the greater part, or the whole, of the inheritance; otherwise 
there does not seem to have been any inferiority in the 
position of the concubine as compared with that of the wife, 
nor was any idea of  illegitimacy, in our sense of the word, 
connected with her children. . . . >12
[Footnote: >12. HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;  p.259.]
	Ò The difference between a wife and a concubine 
depended on the wife's higher position and birth, usually 
backed by relatives ready to defend her.Ó >13
 [Footnote: >13. 1989, HASTINGS DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE;  
p.585.] 

>>>>THE BIBLICAL RECORD CONTINUES	
	Esau's  polygyny >55 was not condemned but his 
unequal yoke was the point of grief to his mother.   EsauÕs 
son had a concubine>56 .  [Footnotes:>55     (Gen. 26:34,35; 
28:9); >56    (Gen. 36:12); ]
	Jacob marries Rachel and Leah>58 , and goes on to have 
children by his concubines as well>59.    Sure, treachery was 
involved in the Rachel and Leah marriage, but it appears 
that the treachery stands alone as the evil since at the first 
mention of the polygyny  option,>60  Jacob has no moral 
objection and nowhere does God denounce his marriage to 
the two women. Yes Lev. 18:18  shows that much later in the 
time of Moses, God forbade  two sisters being wives to one 
husband at one time and makes rivalry the issue. 
	God  deliberately involved Himself in the polygyny  of 
Jacob by blessing Leah with fertility>61.  God repeated 
himself by blessing the mother of Samuel with fertility 
without denouncing her polygyny>62 . God intervened and 
granted fertility to Rachel in her polygyny>63  .  God not only 
blesses Jacob with fertility but also with miraculous 
prosperity in his polygyny> 64 . God not only blessed Jacob 
in his polygyny  but also delivered him from evil and harm 
as a polygynist>65
[Footnotes:>58   in Gen 29 & 30;  >59    (Gen. 35:22; 37:2);. >60   
(Gn. 29:27,29).    >61  (Gn. 29:31,32; 30:17);  >62   (l Sam 1:1-
6); >63  (Gn. 30:22);  >64  (Gn. 30:41-31:10); >65  (Gn. 31:24, 
29,42)] 
	JacobÕs son Ashur had two wives >68, and his son, 
Manasseh, had a concubine>69.  BenjaminÕs Shaharaim was 
also a polygamist>70.  
[Footnotes:>68  (1Chron. 4:5); >69  (1 Chron 7:14);  >70  (1 
Chron.8:8)]
	The next occurrence is controversial but interesting.  
Before the Law and in accordance with the principles of 
Genesis, Moses interracially marries Zipporah a Midianite.  
She seems to do a Michal>71  and apparently suffers the 
same fate because next we see Moses interracially marry, 
after the giving of the law, an Ethiopian Cushite>72  in 
polygyny . Under God's Law Moses gave instructions about 
polygyny>73  affording it the full legal status of monogamy 
with no stigma or  denunciation. 
[Footnotes:>71   (l Sam 6) in Ex. 4:23-26; >72    (Num 12:1-
10);  >73    in Ex. 21:10,11]
MKJV EXODUS 21: 7 ÒAnd if a man sells his daughter to be a 
maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.  8 
If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to 
himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no 
power to sell her to a strange nation, since he has dealt 
deceitfully with her.  9 And if he has betrothed her to his 
son, he shall deal with her as with daughters.  10 If he takes 
himself another [wife], her food, her clothing, and her duty of 
marriage shall not be lessened. 11 And if he does not do 
these three to her, then she shall go out free without money.Ó
MKJV LEVITICUS 19:20 ÒAnd whoever lies with a woman 
with semen, and she is a slave-girl, betrothed to a husband 
and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her, there shall 
be an inquest. They shall not be put to death, because she 
was not free.Ó
MKJV DEUT. 22: 23 ÒIf a girl [who is] a virgin is engaged to a 
husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her,  
24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that 
city, and you shall stone them with stones that they die; the 
girl because she did not cry out in the city, and the man 
because he has humbled his neighbor's wife. So you shall put 
away evil from among you. 25 But if a man finds an engaged 
girl in the field, and the man forces her and lies with her, 
then only the man that lay with her shall die.  26 But you 
shall do nothing to the girl. No sin [worthy] of death [is] in 
the girl; for as when a man rises against his neighbor and 
slays him, even so is this matter. 27 For he found her in the 
field, the engaged girl cried out, but [there was] none to save 
her.Ó
	God's Law forbade a king from "multiplying" wives>.75 
to himself  without making such a command to  we nonkings.  
It appears from later scripture about Godly and God blessed 
kings of Israel that God makes a distinction between 
MULTIPLYING wives & horses to yourself and adding wives 
& horses to yourself.   None of us object to King David having 
more than one horse but many object to King David having 
more than one wife, yet it is the same command "he shall not 
multilply hoses . . . wives to himself." By 2 Samuel 5-12  God 
had ÒgivenÓ him seven wives plus a number of concubines.  
We see His implied blessing on DavidÕs polygyny .  This 
implied blessing of his polygyny  would have to mean that 
David, with concubines  and seven wives, had not yet 
violated the prohibition against a king multiplying wives and 
horses to himself.  
[Footnotes:>75  De 17:15 ÒYou  shall only set him king over 
you whom Jehovah your God will choose: from among your 
brethren shall  you  set a king over you;  . . . 16 Only he shall 
not multiply horses to himself,  . . . 17 Neither shall he 
multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away; 
neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.Ó  
NO PROHIBITION FROM HAVING SOME HORSES , SOME WIVES 
and some gold]
	In Deut. 21:15-17 God intervenes and acknowledges 
and vindicates the second wife in a polygamous marriage 
where the sin of partiality >76  was being practiced.  If 
polygyny were sin why didn't God condemn it in this passage 
instead of covering it with the dignity and holiness of His 
Law?  The wife is vindicated, not condemned.               
[Footnote: >76  (James 2:1-7)]
Deut. 21:15 ¦ ÒIf a man have two wives, one beloved, and 
one hated, and they have borne him children, [both] the 
beloved and the hated, and [if] the first-born son be hers 
that was hated;  16 then it shall be, in the day that he makes 
his sons to inherit [that] which he has, [that] he may not 
make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the 
hated, who is the first-born;  17 but he shall acknowledge as 
first-born the son of the hated, by giving him a double 
portion of all that he has; for he is the first fruits of his 
strength: the right of the firstborn is his.Ó
	Gideon had MANY WIVES, was blessed and used of God 
without any condemnation/denunciation from God about his 
polygyny>77  .[Footnotes:>77  (Judges 8:29-32) ]
	What about the LeviteÕs?  These keepers of the 
tabernacle, did they have special rules that kept them from 
polygyny? Not according to the following, because when his 
concubine was mercilessly murdered by rape, the nation of 
Israel rose to vindicate him and avenge her murder.
Judges 19:1 ¦ ÒAnd it came to pass in those days, when 
[there was] no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite,  
. . . who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem-Judah.  2 
And his concubine  . . . . went away from him to her father's 
house to Bethlehem-Judah, and was there four whole 
months.  3 And HER HUSBAND rose up and went after her, to 
speak friendly to her, [and] to bring her again;  . . .  And she 
brought him into her father's house; and when the father of 
the damsel saw him he rejoiced to meet him.   4 And his 
FATHER-IN-LAW, the damsel's father, retained him, and he 
abode with him three days;  . . .5 . . . And the damsel's father 
said to his  SON-IN-LAW, . .Ó 
	SO A CONCUBINE IS NOT A HARLOT.  Just like any other 
wife, she can become a harlot while married (Ezek. 16 and 
Hosea).  HARLOTRY IS AN EVIL THAT EITHER A WIFE OR A 
CONCUBINE CAN PRACTICE WHILE MARRIED.   Not only is a 
concubine not a harlot, the Holy Spirit by the writer of the 
book of Judges declared the Levite to be the concubine's 
"husband", declared the father of the concubine to be the 
Levite's "father-in-law", and declared the Levite to be the 
"son-in-law" of the concubine's father.  This is a very strong 
legitimization of the husband-concubine marital status.  It is 
the same legitimization of the relationship that the Holy 
Spirit used in Matthew 1, calling the espoused Mary "wife" 
and the espoused Joseph "husband".  If God so recognizes 
them and describes them, then who are we to do any less.  
By the Holy Spirit here in Judges 19 we see that a concubine 
had a "husband" who was the "son-in-law" of her father, his 
"father-in-law".  A wife has a "husband" who is the "son-in-
law" of her father, her husband's "father-in-law".
	David is a fascinating case.  He marries Michal in l Sam. 
18.  Then, as the anointed future king of Israel, David took to 
himself three additional wives in l Sam 25, and one is 
recognized by the Spirit for her grace and wisdom.  He does 
this at a time of God's miraculous intervention and blessing 
in his life.  God neither denounces or condemns him or his 
polygyny.  In the case of three or four wives you are still 
dealing with addition, rather than the multiplying of Deut.
	It is interesting that horses, silver and gold - AS WELL 
AS WIVES - were not to be multiplied.  I can't believe this 
was meant to limit the king to ONE HORSE, or ONE SILVER OR 
GOLD BAR,  even so I can't believe it limits a king to one 
wife.
	In fact in 2 Sam 6, it is Michal who is condemned and 
punished instead of her polygamous husband David.  By the 
time he becomes King in Judah he has 6 wives>83 and is 
being blessed and prospered by God. At the time of the 
wonderful Covenant with David in 2 Sam. 7, God specifically 
blesses and covenants with polygamist David and his 
concubines and his seven wives, as part of his house, receive 
a blessing. God even said "I gave you . . . your master's 
wives" >84  ". And Nathan said to David, you  are the man! 
Thus says    Jehovah the God of Israel: I anointed you king 
over Israel, and I delivered you  out of the hand of Saul;  8 
and I GAVE YOU  YOUR MASTER'S HOUSE, AND YOUR 
MASTER'S WIVES INTO YOUR BOSOM, and gave you the 
house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that] had been too little, 
I would moreover have given unto you such and such 
things."       			[Footnotes:>83   (2 Sam. 3);  >84a 
2Sa 12:7]
	At this time God had ÒgivenÓ him seven wives plus a 
number of concubines (1 Chronicles 3).  God here condemns 
DavidÕs adultery and murder, but implies His blessing on 
DavidÕs polygyny .  This implied blessing of his polygyny  
would have to mean that David, with concubines  and seven 
wives, had not yet violated the prohibition against a king 
multiplying wives to himself. >84b to David in his polygyny.  
Apparently even concubines plus seven wives is not 
"multiplying" wives to oneself. He had about 14 wives and 
concubines at the end of his life>85.  David the polygamist 
was declared to be loyal to God>86.   God declares that David, 
the polygamist, fully followed God>87.
[Footnotes:>84b 2Sa 12:7;  >85   (1 Chron 3);  >86   ( l King 
11:4);  >87   (l King 11:6)] 
	Both David and Abraham recognized all the rights and 
responsibilities of the concubines as if they were official 
wives.  The bottom line is what does God say and how does 
He view concubines.  Reflect on the following: 
MKJV 2 Sam.12: 11 ÒSo says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up 
evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your 
wives before your eyes and give [them] to your neighbor. 
And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.Ó
MKJV 2 Sam 16: 21 ÒAnd Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in 
to your father's concubines, that he left to keep the house. 
And all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your 
father. And the hands of all who [are] with you will be 
strong.  22 And they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the 
house, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the 
sight of all Israel.Ó
MKJV2Sam.20:3 ÒAnd David came to his house at Jerusalem. 
And the king took the ten women, [his] concubines, whom he 
had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed 
them but did not go in to them. And they were shut up till 
the day of their death, living in widowhood.Ó 	
	In these passages you see God calling and recognizing 
as "wives" DavidÕs concubines.  If that is the way God sees 
them, only a fool would treat them as less than a wife 
(Malachi 2).  Malachi 2 makes it pretty clear how God feels 
about those who break their covenants with their concubines 
and wives.
	Solomon's polygyny  was sinful first because He 
disobeyed GodÕs command against a king multiplying wives 
to himself>89;  and secondly because he married unbelievers 
with whom God had specifically forbidden marriage>90.  Too 
many wives and forbidden wives both had the same 
predicted result, that they turned his heart away from God. 
Solomon was declared to be disloyal to God in his 
polygyny>91  while David the polygamist was declared to be 
loyal to God>92  . God even declares that polygynist David 
fully followed God>93 .  [Footnote: >89    (Deut. 17:15-17);  
>90  (Nehemiah 13:23) ; >91    (1 Kings 11:1,2,6, 11);  >92   ( l 
King 11:4); >93   (l King 11:6)]    
	Evil king Rehoboam imitated Solomon and almost had 
18 wives and 60 concubines in 2 Chron. 11 & 12. Then Godly 
king Abijah, blessed and prospered of God, also had fourteen 
wives>94  .  The Godly High Priest Jehoida gave two wives to 
godly king Joash in 2 Chron 24.  Godly queen Esther was a 
wife blessed by God in her  polygyny . God Himself describes 
Himself as a polygamist in Ezekiel 23.  Jesus reaffirmed the 
Old Testament teachings on polygamy and concubinage in 
Matt. 23:2,3.				[Footnote: >94   (2 Chron. 
13)]
MKJV MATT. 23:2  Ò. . . The scribes and the Pharisees sit in 
Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, 
observe and do. But do not do according to their works; for 
they say, and do not do.Ó
	What a record!  Two authors of the Old Testament, 
David and Solomon, possibly three if you count Moses, were 
uncondemned and God-honored polygynists in their 
polygyny.  Four godly patriarchs with whom God entered 
into special and unique covenants (Abraham, Jacob, David, 
Solomon; five if you count Moses) were polygynists at the 
time God covenanted with them.  In every era of the Old 
Testament (Pre Law, Sinai Law, Judges, Kingdom prophets, 
Dispersion prophets) you find GodÕs people and leaders 
practicing polygyny and practicing it according to GodÕs will 
or commands.  Yet many Christian leaders agree with the 
brother that apparently maintains that the Bible offers little 
defense for polygamy in comparison to monogamy, that 
because of its shortcomings polygyny cannot be tolerated as 
a form of marriage willed by God.>22.  Perhaps that's why 
God chose the polygamous marriage of Solomon and his 
Shulamite in The Song of Solomon to be the model for 
marriage in Israel and the marriage model for His 
relationship to Israel>95. [Footnotes:>22.  Trobisch; MY WIFE 
MADE ME..P.21; >95  (Ezekiel 23)]
	St. Augustine, 4th century AD of Hippo, has a good 
word, as follows:
" . . If our critics, then, wish to attain not a spurious and 
affected, but a genuine and sound moral health, let them find 
a cure in believing the Scripture record, that the honorable 
name of saint is given not without reason to men who had 
several wives; . . .nor did the number of their wives make 
the patriarchs licentious. But why defend the husbands, to 
whose character the divine word bears the highest 
testimony. . . ."		[Footnote: >.23  A Select Library of the 
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church, Vol. 
iv; p.290]