1. Song of Solomon 3:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why must the daughters of Zion go out to look upon Solomon?

Song of Solomon 3:11 (ESV)

11 Go out, O daughters of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.

The daughters of Jerusalem are urged to go and look at Solomon on his wedding day. Solomon is there in his kingly splendour crowned by his mother, with gladness in his heart, but entirely alone in the centre of the spotlight.1

The reference to Solomon’s mother contrasts with the woman’s longing to take her man home to her own mother’s house (Song of Solomon 3:4), which appears to be much humbler.2

As we mentioned, there is a deep irony to what appears to be a day of great happiness and splendour for Solomon. The young man wants the opposite with his new bride.