1. Introduction to King Solomon’s romance with his black wife
The first chapter of the Songs of Solomon introduces a fascinating dialogue between King Solomon and his wife, a black woman. The writings indicated that they had a strong physical and sexual attraction for each other:
Prelude: (indicating that the Book was written by King Solomon) :
The song of songs, which [is] Solomon’s
Wife:
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Look not upon me, because I [am] black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
King Solomon:
If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots. (Songs of Solomon 1: 1 –
2. King Solomon’s wife was a black woman
The young woman was despised by her own siblings because of her skin complexion, but this was not a problem for the King. She declared that she was “black, (shachor/H7838) but comely…as the tents of Kedar,”. The use of the word shachor indicates that she had black skin.
We also learn that her siblings became angry with her because she was black:
Look not upon me, because I [am] black, (shĕcharchoreth/H 7840) because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept
3. I am black like the tents of Kedar
The tent referred to the homes in which some people lived. However, it is the reference to “Kedar” that emphasizes the darkness of her complexion. Kedar (Qedar/ H 6938) was the second son of Ishmael the son of Abraham and means dark or black skinned.
4. I am black because the sun has looked upon me
The young wife explained to us that she was not only dark skinned from birth, but that outdoor labor had further darkened her skin. Reading between the lines, it seems that the siblings were fairer in complexion and hated her darker skin color. The young Jewish woman retorted that she was beautiful although she was black and that they were not to despise her.
4. King Solomon’s passionate love for his wife
The Songs of Solomon reveals the passionate love that King Solomon had for his wife. Her siblings must have been shocked that the King would find her desirable. He exclaimed:
Lover. How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves (Songs of Solomon 1: 15).
Read more about his passion in Songs of Solomon 4.
5. King Solomon was a BLACK man
As the love story progressed, King Solomon’s wife exclaimed that:
My beloved [is] white and ruddy (‘adom /H 122), the chiefest among ten thousand (Songs of Solomon 5: 10).
Again ‘adom refers to the color red and comes from the root word ‘adam (H119) which refers to Adam who was a bronze man. I suspect that most of us believe that David and his son were Caucasians. However, scripture exposes this misconception.
Although the young bride said that her husband the King was “white”, this referred to the radiance of his complexion, according to the New International Version. His skin must have been free from blemishes.
Blessings! Celebrate your Black Heritage – all the way from Eden
July 11, 2015 at 3:19 pm
This is not about Solomon’s wife. This is about Solomon describing God’s love. To exclude the possibility that Solomon had black skin, folks are interpreting it to mean the scripture is about Solomon and his black wife. What is the significance of Solomon’s love life to the scriptures? I think his love life has no import here. The keys: ‘Draw me… we will run after thee … the upright love thee. This is Solomon describing his relationship with God.
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August 29, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Dear Bantze
If you read the entire book you will see that it is about a man and wife.
Sincerely
Mercedes
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January 12, 2014 at 8:20 pm
The fact that he is white is changed in the New International Version on purpose so we in this age don’t see that it really is about black and white and that we need to come together because it’s us against THEM. Them against us I should say. And it is clear that the Shulamite is black; that made it all the way to the NIV. May I also point out that why would the Shulamite even say anything about her complexion if it was not an issue at that time? It has always been about black and white. The devil has kept us divided since the beginning. When a black and white person get together, they don’t like it because it shows union amongst the people.
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January 18, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Hello Hannah
Thanks for commenting. I have not checked this out in the NIV so I cannot comment. The truth is that the wife said that she was black and said so twice in the text. She considered herself to be beautiful. People of the black race can identify with her.
Sincerely
Mercedes
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