Bed or carriage?

Scripture Text: Song of Solomon  3:9 – 11     (22a, page 181)

Verses 9 – 11

A royal carriage King Solomon made for himself from the timber of Lebanon.  Its posts he made of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple, its interior inlaid with love by the young women of Jerusalem.

Go forth, O young women of Zion, and look upon King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

 Below are some selections from other versions

In verse 7 there is a carriage or ??? that she rode in to the wedding ceremony.

In verses 9 and 10, there is a carriage or ??? that is say King Solomon made for himself.  The word in each of these verses is translated into several words. One person, Dr Arnold G Fruthtenbaum was the only one I found that pointed out that the Hebrew word in verse 9 was different than the Hebrew word in verse 11.  Why is this a big deal?  It is big because most English versions treat it as the same thing.  In Song of Solomon the first litter or carriage is mentioned in verse 7.  It showed that she transported, that she didn’t walk or ride on some animal.  In verses 10 and 11 this carriage or bed is describe in some detail.  It says that King Solomon made it.  Whether that means he physically cut the wood and attached the pieces, or that he oversaw whoever was doing the manual work, it showed that he took a big interest in it.

Based on one person providing information that was available to all of the translators, I think he is right and what is described in verses 9 and 10 is the wedding bed.  There is  probably more significance to the wedding bed in Solomon’s time than I am aware of.  But this alerts me to see what other information can be found from other books in the Bible and in other historical writing.

If you have sex for the first time on your wedding day, it is a big deal.

If you have been having sex already, it really isn’t a big deal.  That might explain why weddings have become as elaborate as they are now.  The Bride and the Groom get to be the special people at a big party.  That is something unique for most people.  Everyone defers to the wishes of the Bride and Groom.  This is just a guess on my part, but if the sex isn’t going to be a big deal, then the party becomes the highlight.

Verse 9

King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself with wood from Lebanon. HCSB

Verse 9

King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon. DARBY

Verse 9

King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair NASB

Verse 9

A palanquin king Solomon made for himself, YLT

Verse 9

King Solomon made himself a carriage ESV Or sedan chair

Verse 9

A bed of state King Solomon made for himself FRU

Verse 9

King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.

ASV

Verse 9

King Solomon has made for himself a beautiful wagon from the wood of Lebanon. NLV

Verse 9

King Solomon made the movable throne for himself.
He made it out of wood from Lebanon. NIRV

Verse 10

Or base, or canopy HCSB

Verse 10

Its back of gold and its seat of purple fabric, with its interior lovingly fitted out by the daughters of Jerusalem. NASB

Verse 10

Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst lined [with] love YTL

Verse 10

Its cushion of purple  FRU

Verse 10

You women of Jerusalem have taken great care to furnish the inside CEV

Verse 10

The inside of it was made beautiful by the daughters of Jerusalem. NLV

Verse 11

Now come and see the crown given to Solomon by his mother on his happy wedding day. CEV