VII. (1) HOW BEAUTIFUL... — Literally, _How beautiful are thy feet_ (or _thy steps_)_ in the sandals._ This description of the beauty of the bride — “From the delicate Arab arch of her feet To the grace that, bright and light as the crest Of a peacock, sits on her shining head” — is plainly conne... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAP OF WHEAT SET ABOUT WITH LILIES. — Wetstein (quoted by Delitzsch in his Appendix) remarks that in Syria the colour of wheat is regarded as the most beautiful colour the human body can have; and after remarking on the custom of decorating the heaps of winnowed corn with flowers in token of the jo... [ Continue Reading ]
FISHPOOLS IN HESHBON. — Literally, _pools._ The Authorised Version follows the Vulg. _piscinœ,_ for which there is no authority. For _Heshbon,_ see Note on Numbers 21:26. The ruins still remain, with the same name _Hesban,_ in the Wady of that name (_Robinson,_ p. 278). “There are many cisterns amon... [ Continue Reading ]
CARMEL. — Marg., _crimson,_ from reading _charmîl,_ which preserves the parallelism with the next clause better. But the whole passage deals in the author’s favourite figures from localities; and certainly the comparison of a finely-set head to a mountain is at least as apt as that in the preceding... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THY STATURE. — Comp. Sir. 24:14. Not only was the tall and graceful palm a common figure for female beauty, but its name, _tamar,_ was common as a woman’s name (Genesis 38:6; 2 Samuel 13:1, &c). CLUSTERS OF GRAPES. — The italics were probably added by the English Version to bring the verse int... [ Continue Reading ]
BOUGHS. — Heb. _sansan;_ only here. Probably a form derived from the sound, like _salsal, zalzal,_ &c, denoting the waving of the long feathery branches of the palm. SMELL OF THY NOSE — _i.e._, “fragrance of thy breath,” _ap =_ nose being used apparently because of the resemblance of its root, _ana... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSING THE LIPS. — The text in this verse has evidently undergone some change. The LXX., in stead of _siphtheî yesheynîm,_ lips of sleepers, read _sephathaîm veshinnayîm,_ χέιλεσί μου καὶ ὸδοῦσι. The Marg., instead of _yesheynîm,_ sleepers, reads _yeshanîm,_ the ancient, which Luther adopts, transl... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM MY BELOVED’S. — This verse ends a section, not, as in the Authorised Version, begins one.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTH INTO THE FIELD. — Comp. Song of Solomon 2:10; Song of Solomon 6:11. The same reminiscence of the sweet courtship in the happy “woodland places.” It has been conjectured that this verse suggested to Milton the passage beginning, “To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the East,” &c. (P. _L._ 4:623... [ Continue Reading ]
TENDER GRAPE APPEAR. — Literally, _vine blossome open._ (See Note on Song of Solomon 2:13.) MY LOVES — _i.e.,_ caresses. LXX., as before, read “breasts.”... [ Continue Reading ]
MANDRAKES. — Heb. _dûdaîm_ = love-apples. Suggested probably by the word _loves_ immediately preceding, as well as the qualities ascribed to the plant, for which see Note, Genesis 30:14.... [ Continue Reading ]