1:5-6 The young lady felt embarrassed because she had very dark skin as a result of having to tend her family's grapevines. Female courtiers did not work outdoors, so their skin was lighter than women who labored in the fields. The "tents of Keder"(v. 5) were apparently black and were probably animal skins. The Kederites were nomads who lived in northern Arabia southeast of Damascus (cf. Gen. 25:13; Isa. 60:7).
"These words express humility without abjectness."36
Her "own vineyard"(v. 6) refers to her personal appearance.37
"She had not had available to her the luxurious baths and toiletries or fashionable clothing of the court. There had been no opportunity for her to take care of her hair, skin, or hands according to the obvious courtly style."38
1:7 Solomon probably was not a shepherd. Ancient Near Eastern love poems commonly pictured men as shepherds.39The girl simply wanted to be with Solomon. If she could not, she would be very sad, just as a woman who veiled her face in mourning.
"The girl is saying that she does not want to be mistaken for a cult prostitute, a good picture of which is seen in Genesis 38:13-15."40
1:8 If this is Solomon's reply, he probably was kidding her and meant that she had no reason to feel he would disdain her. However these are probably the words of the girl's friends (cf. v. 4b). They evidently meant that if she thought Solomon would not want her because of her dark skin and hard work she was being ridiculous and should go back to her flocks. After all she was a very attractive woman.
