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