Song of Solomon 4:12

a spring shut up The word rendered springis gal, not found elsewhere in this sense. Another derivative from the same root is used in Joshua 15:19 and Judges 1:15 in a similar sense. Some MSS., the LXX, the Vulg. and Syr. have gan=-a garden," repeated, and Budde with others prefers this reading. But it is difficult to see why the perfectly simple and satisfactory ganshould have been changed into the more difficult gal. The only argument for ganwhich seems to have much weight is that the -spring" is mentioned again immediately under another name. But that is met by Delitzsch, who distinguishes the -spring" from the -fountain"; the latter being the place whence the former issues forth.

a fountain sealed Cp. Proverbs 5:15-18. The fountain is the condition precedent of the garden, so that the metaphor is not changed. Perhaps the three nouns of the verse should be distinguished thus: A garden shut in is my sister my bride, a streamlet shut in, a sealed spring. Del. points out that chôthâm, -a seal," is used directly of maiden-like behaviour.