Song of Solomon 7:4

a tower of ivory Not a tower entirely built of ivory, but some well-known tower, or kind of tower, adorned with enriching panels or medallions of ivory. Cp. "the ivory palaces," Psalms 45:8, and "the divans of ivory," Amos 6:4, and Driver's note there. A tower-like neck has always been regarded as beautiful.

thefish pools in Heshbon the pools. The A.V. follows the Vulg. piscinae. Heshbon was the ancient capital of Sihon king of the Amorites. Probably it had before that belonged to Moab (Numbers 21:27 ff.). After the conquest by Moses it was assigned to the tribe of Reuben; but in Isaiah's time it had long been in the hands of Moab again. To-day it is represented by a large mound in the Wady Hesban, and among the ruins a large well-built tank has been found, which is probably one of the pools referred to here, as it lies outside the walls. The point of comparison is the soft shimmer of the eyes.

by the gate of Bath-rabbim i.e. either opposite a gate which led to a place called by this name, or the gate of the populous city, literally -the daughter of many." But if the latter had been intended, -mother" would have been more appropriate and natural than -daughter." But cp. "daughter of troops," Micah 5:1 (Song of Solomon 4:14, Heb.).

thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus This comparison seems to us inappropriate, for though we cannot now ascertain what particular tower was meant, the probability is that it was some watch-tower placed in a lofty and impregnable position on Anti-Libanus, to keep watch upon, or to overawe Damascus. The writer must have regarded a prominent nose as a beautiful feature.