Song of Solomon 8:14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient love poetry often concluded with anticipated union or celebration. The Song's ending is unique—expressing ongoing longing rather than fulfilled arrival. This suggests that human love, however wonderful, remains incomplete in this life, always pointing beyond itself. Jewish tradition read this eschatologically: Israel's longing for Messiah and final redemption. The bride's urgent plea became a prayer: 'Make haste, beloved; come quickly, O Lord.' Early church tradition heard in this ending the Church's eschatological cry: 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus' (Revelation 22:20). The book of Revelation similarly concludes with urgent longing for Christ's return: 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come' (Revelation 22:17). The mountains of spices suggest the bride is ready, prepared, cultivated—waiting for the beloved's arrival. The Puritans emphasized the 'pilgrim' nature of Christian life—always moving toward but never fully arriving at complete union with Christ until the eschaton. Modern readers recognize both the ideal for human marriage (perpetual desire to deepen intimacy, never settling for maintenance mode) and the spiritual reality that believers groan for Christ's return and complete consummation of the divine-human relationship (Romans 8:22-23; Philippians 1:23).
Questions for Reflection
- How does your spiritual life express urgent longing for Christ's presence and return—'make haste, my beloved'—or have you settled into comfortable maintenance Christianity?
- What does it mean to cultivate your life as 'mountains of spices'—prepared, fragrant, ready for Christ's arrival and intimate communion?
Analysis & Commentary
The Song concludes with the bride's invitation: 'Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.' The imperative 'make haste' (Hebrew 'berah,' בְּרַח, flee quickly/hurry) expresses urgent longing for the beloved's arrival. The comparison to 'a roe or a young hart' (gazelle or young deer) echoes earlier imagery (2:9, 17)—these animals are swift, graceful, and sure-footed in mountainous terrain. The 'mountains of spices' (harei besamim, הָרֵי בְשָׂמִים) recalls the garden of spices (4:16; 5:1) and may refer to mountainous regions where aromatic plants grow, or metaphorically to the bride herself (earlier described with spices, 4:10-14). The bride invites her beloved to come quickly to her, to the place of intimacy and delight. This ending leaves the Song open—not describing arrival but expressing ongoing longing and invitation. The bride's final word is a plea for the beloved's presence, suggesting that covenant love involves continual desire for greater intimacy and deeper communion. It never reaches a point where longing ceases; instead, love perpetually seeks the beloved's presence.