Song of Solomon 6:13

The Hebrew word translated here as Shulamite is the feminine form of the name Solomon. It means peaceful. Israel not only welcomes the Lord but also becomes the earthly bride. "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth He is called" (Isaiah 54:5).

They call her by a new name, "Return, return, O Shulamite," which is the feminine form of Solomon. This is significant. Union is accomplished. The long broken relationships are re-established. Grace has done a perfect work in her. Blessed be the name of the Lord! He can now make Himself fully known to her, and she truly reflects the beams of His glory.

The scene opens with the daughters of Jerusalem calling on the bride to return. They had already heard from her lips the glowing description of the Bridegroom, which awakened desires after Him in their own hearts. Then, it seems, she left them to join her Beloved in the garden of spices, and now they plead with her to return. Possibly the secret of their plea is the desire to learn more of the Bridegroom — and who is better fitted to bear witness of the Bridegroom than the bride? For now they recognise she is in relation with the King. For the first time they speak of her as the Shulamite.

She may be a wonder to herself, she may take a place unworthy of any notice (v. 13), but the Lord and angels rejoice over her. As we know from the Gospels, the ninety-nine righteous ones can be left for the one lost son. The angels in heaven rejoice. The house makes merry. The friends of the beloved celebrate over the returned Shulamite. She is like Jacob when he returned: Mahanaim, the hosts of God, salute them both.

The text may be translated, "As it were the dance of Mahanaim." The reference is probably to the day when Jacob left Mesopotamia for the promised land. He travelled with his wives, his children, his servants and all his goods. On the way "the angels of God met him; and when Jacob saw them he said, This is God's camp! So he called the name of that place Mahanaim" (that is, two hosts or camps). There the host of heaven and the host of earth met. Here the Bridegroom and the bride have met in the garden of the King. The daughters say, in picture language, "We would see the effect of this meeting." How good when others can see the effect of our having been "with Jesus."

Some have thought that the company of two armies seen in the bride represents the old life and the new at constant war with each other in the Christian. We think this a mistake. Here it does not appear to refer to conflict at all, but rather to peace, unity, and glory. Does it not express the reunion of the long-divided house of Jacob under the Prince of Peace? Judah and Israel are no longer two nations warring with each other, but are joined in one. This union opens the way to the millennium — the reign of peace. The twelve tribes are restored, the nations are brought under their rule, and all is peace.

"Why should you look upon the Shulammite?" Let us not forget that the world has its eyes on us. What do they see in us? Do they see us working in that unity and joy before the Lord, which is the fruit of peace?