_A.M. 2990. B.C. 1014._ The church expresses her desire of familiarity with Christ, Song of Solomon 8:1, by the entertainment she would make him, Song of Solomon 8:2; Song of Solomon 8:3. She charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to disturb her beloved, Song of Solomon 8:4. A commendation of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that thou wert as my brother_ Most intimate, and free, and familiar with me, as brethren and sisters commonly are; _that sucked the breasts of my mother_ That came out of the same womb and sucked the same breasts, and were brother and sister by father and mother too: for such are generally most d... [ Continue Reading ]
_I would lead and bring thee_ With joy and triumph, as the bridegroom was usually brought to the bride's house; _into my mother's house, who would instruct me_ How I should behave myself toward thee: or, as the clause may be rendered, _where she did instruct_, or educate me. _I would cause thee to d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who is this_, &c. These seem to be the words of the daughters of Jerusalem, or of the friends of the bride and bridegroom, admiring and congratulating this happy union: _leaning upon her beloved_ Which implies both great freedom and familiarity, and fervent affection and dependance upon him. _I rai... [ Continue Reading ]
_Set me as a seal upon thy heart_ These are undoubtedly the words of the bride. The sense is, Let thy mind and heart be constantly set upon me. Solomon seems to allude to the engraven tablets which were frequently worn upon the breast, and to the signet on a man's arm or hand, which they prized at a... [ Continue Reading ]
_We have a little sister_ These are still the words of the bride. The present church, which was that of the Jews, speaks of another future church, which was to consist of the Gentiles, which she calls _little_, because she was the younger sister, and then, as a church, scarce had a being. And she ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_If she be a wall_, &c. This and the following verse are certainly very obscure, and it is, perhaps, impossible to ascertain the precise signification of each of the terms or clauses used in them. The general meaning, however, of this verse is thought to be, that Christ engages himself to provide fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am a wall_, &c. “The ancient church,” says Mr. Scott, “seems here thankfully to reflect on her privileges; she was, before the coming of the Messiah, as a wall built on the precious foundation, a part of the glorious temple that was to be erected; and the lively oracles and ordinances which she e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon_ A place, according to Aben-ezra, not far from Jerusalem, where many persons had vineyards. _He let out the vineyard unto keepers_ To farmers or tenants: to how many is not said; but the text supposes to several. _Every one for the fruit was to bring a thousand... [ Continue Reading ]
_My vineyard, which is mine_ My soul, may every true member of the church say, my heart and life, my time and talents; or, my privileges and advantages, may the church in general say, which are committed to my trust, and for which I must be accountable; _are before me_ Under my continual care. _Thou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou that dwellest_ The word היושׁבת thus rendered, is in the feminine gender, which plainly shows that Christ speaks here to his spouse, being about to depart from her for a season, as the next verse shows; _in the gardens_ Not in the wilderness of the world, for believers are _called out of the w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make haste, my beloved_ Seeing we must part for a time, make haste, O my beloved bridegroom, and speedily finish the work which thou hast to do in the world, that so thou mayest take me to thyself, that I may live in thine everlasting embraces.... [ Continue Reading ]