Isaiah chapter 22 - Song of Solomon

Isaiah’s chapter twenty-two and the Song of Solomon have a lot of words in common. Of course all of the books of the Bible have a lot of words in common; conjunctions, pronouns, prepositions, adverbs and adjectives, but there quite a number of nouns that are common in this chapter of Isaiah and the Song of Solomon. Here’s a partial list.

daughter gladness sword bare house
walls sheep shield two covering
comfort wine armour choicest waters
valley David chariots mountains gate

There is nothing too unique about these words. They are ordinary words of common usage. In fact, every one of these words can also be found in 2nd Samuel and Ezekiel, but look at the third column of words. They are military words. It’s not surprising that we find that third column of words in 2nd Samuel and Ezekiel. Those two books are books about times of war and trouble, but the Song of Solomon is a love story.

What in the world are these words doing in a love story? (Note: Although the word ‘armour’ is found in Isaiah twenty-two, the word in the Song of Solomon is ‘armoury’, the place where the armour is kept.) How are these words used in the Song of Solomon?

armoury “Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there shield hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.” (Song of Solomon 4:4)

chariots “Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.
(Song of Solomon 6:12)

sword “They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his
thigh because of fear in the night.” (Song of Solomon 3:8)

These words are not in some part of the Song of Solomon that departs from the ‘love’ theme and takes an excursion into the operations of war. They are right in the middle of the love story. Have you ever wondered why Solomon used such weird words in his love story? So, we have words of war in the middle of the love story. What other words are noteworthy? How about these words found in Isaiah chapter twenty-two?
shoulder flesh ears

These words are more consistent with the theme of the Song of Solomon love letter. But, although these three words are found in Isaiah chapter twenty-two, they are not to be found in the Song of Solomon. Wouldn’t you think that will all of the descriptive language of the love story Solomon would have included the word ‘flesh’? He talks about every other part of ‘her’ body, but he doesn’t mention her ears or shoulders? Wow!

I think that this is a connection between the twenty-second chapter of Isaiah and the twenty-second book of the Bible, the Song of Solomon.