2:4 banqueting house. Lit. “house of wine” (text note). The setting is outdoors (1:12 note). The lovers’ “house” to this point has been the forest (1:16, 17). Now they move to a different “house,” namely, the young man’s vineyard, his “house” of wine. The expression continues the royal imagery of 1:4, 12 (the shepherd is a king), and the comparison of love and wine in 1:2.

his banner. Banners commonly adorned royal banquet halls, but this banquet hall, or “house of wine,” is different. It has only one banner, love, and that is also the only “wine” that will be consumed at the banquet.