I [am] the rose of Sharon, [and] the lily of the valleys. Ver. 1. _I am the rose of Sharon._] The Greek renders it, "the flower of the field," that grows without man's labour, having heaven for its father, earth for its mother. So had Christ, "made of a woman," "manifested in the flesh," without fa... [ Continue Reading ]
As the lily among thorns, so [is] my love among the daughters. Ver. 2. _As the lily among the thorns._] The lily is white, pure, and pleasant, having six leaves (and thence its name _a_ in Hebrew), and seven golden-coloured grains within it. The 45th Psalm (of like argument with this song) is dedic... [ Continue Reading ]
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so [is] my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit [was] sweet to my taste. Ver. 3. _As the apple tree among the trees, &c._] Among wild trees, moss begrown trees, trees that bring not forth food for men, b... [ Continue Reading ]
_He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me [was] love._ Ver. 4. _He brought me to the banqueting house._] Heb., To the house of wine, where he giveth me that which is better than apple drink, as Song of Solomon 2:3. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation al... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I [am] sick of love._ Ver. 5. _Stay me with flagons._] Not with cups or bowls only, but with flagons, larger measures of that wine that was set before her in Christ's wine house. "Comfort me with apples," such as fall from Christ's apple tree, spok... [ Continue Reading ]
_His left hand [is] under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me._ Ver. 6. _His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me._] As if she should have said, I called unto you, my friends, to relieve and raise me, falling into a spiritual swoon; but behold the "consolation that... [ Continue Reading ]
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, till he please. Ver. 7. _I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem._] A vehement obtestation, or rather an adjuration, I charge you, and that by an oath, taken from the m... [ Continue Reading ]
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. Ver. 8. _The voice of my beloved! behold!_] An abrupt passage, proceeding from a pang of love, whereof she was even sick, and now lay languishing, as it were, at Hope's Hospital, lingering and listening,... [ Continue Reading ]
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. Ver. 9. _My beloved is like a roe or a young hart,_] viz., For sweetness and swiftness, as in the former verse. His help seems long, because we are sh... [ Continue Reading ]
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. Ver. 10. _My beloved spake, and said._] Heb., Answered and said. She had sighed out, belike, some such request unto her beloved as David did, Psa 90:13 "Return, O Lord, how long!" Lovers' hours are full of eternity. H... [ Continue Reading ]
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over [and] gone; Ver. 11. _For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone._] In winter the clouds commonly "return after the rain." Ecc 12:2 A shower or two doth not clear the air; but though it rain much, yet the sky is still overcast with clouds; a... [ Continue Reading ]
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; Ver. 12. _The flowers appear on the earth._] Here we have a most dainty description of the spring or prime time - _prin-temps,_ as the French call it - far surpassing that... [ Continue Reading ]
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines [with] the tender grape give a [good] smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Ver. 13. _The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes, &c._] These two trees put forth their fruits first, when other... [ Continue Reading ]
_O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] comely._ Ver. 14. _Oh, my dove! that art in the clefts of the rock._] The dove is meek, mournful, simple, soc... [ Continue Reading ]
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes. Ver. 15. _Take us the foxes, the little foxes,_] _i.e., _ The heretics and schismatics. For as fox cubs will be foxes one day, and of little will become great; so schismatics, if not timely taken, will tu... [ Continue Reading ]
My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies. Ver. 16. _My beloved is mine, and I am his._] Hitherto the Church hath related Christ's words to herself and others. Now she shuts up the whole discourse with praise of Christ here, and prayer to him in Song of Solomon 2:17. In prai... [ Continue Reading ]
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Ver. 17. _Until the day break, and the shadows flee away._] Until that day dawn, _a_ that last and glorious day, when Christ the Sun of righteousness shall appear,... [ Continue Reading ]