CHAPTER VIII _The love of the bride to her spouse, and the nature of that_ _love_, 1-7. _The younger sister_, 8-10. _Solomon's vineyard_, 11, 12. _The confidence of the bride and bridegroom in each other_, 13, 14. NOTES ON CHAP. VIII Verse Song of Solomon 8:1. _O THAT THOU_ WERT _AS MY BROT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:2. _WOULD - BRING THEE INTO MY MOTHER'S HOUSE_, WHO _WOULD_ _INSTRUCT ME_] She would teach me how to conduct myself towards thee, as she would how to nurse a young child. _TO DRINK OF SPICED: WINE_] Wine rendered peculiarly strong and invigorating. The bride and bridegroom o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:3. _HIS LEFT HAND_] See on Song of Solomon 2:6. With the _fourth_ verse the SIXTH _night_ of the marriage week is supposed to end.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:5. _THAT COMETH UP FROM THE WILDERNESS_] Perhaps the words of the _daughters of Jerusalem_, who, seeing the bride returning from the country, leaning on the arm of her beloved, are filled with admiration at her excellent carriage and beauty. _I RAISED THEE UP UNDER THE APPL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:6. _SET ME AS A SEAL UPON THINE HEART_] It was customary in the Levant and other places to make impressions of _various kinds_ upon the _arms_, the _breast_, and other parts. I have seen these often: some slight punctures are made, and the place rubbed over with a sort of bl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:7. _MANY WATERS_] Neither common nor uncommon _adversities_, even of the most _ruinous_ nature, can destroy love when it is _pure_; and _pure love_ is such that nothing can _procure_ it. If it be not excited naturally, no money can purchase it, no property can procure it, no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:8. _WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER_] This young girl belonged most probably to the _bride_. _SHE HATH NO BREASTS_] She is not yet marriageable. _WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR OUR SISTER_] How shall we secure her comfort and welfare? _IN THE DAY WHEN SHE SHALL BE SPOKEN FOR?_] When any per... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _IF SHE_ BE _A WALL_] All these expressions, says _Calmet_, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young sister. For a _woman_ without a _husband_ is like a _wall_ without _towers_, and without defense; is like a _gate_ or _door_ without _bar_ or _lock_; and like a _city_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _I_ AM _A WALL, AND MY BREASTS LIKE TOWERS_] I am become marriageable, and I stood in need of the _defense_ I have now in my beloved; and as soon as I was so, and became pleasing in the eyes of my beloved, I was given to him in marriage, and have ever since _found favour in his sight_. As... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:11. _SOLOMON HAD A VINEYARD_] _Calmet_ translates and paraphrases the _Hebrew_ of these two verses thus: "Ver. Song of Solomon 8:11. _Solomon_ _has a vineyard at Baal-hamon: he has let it out to keepers, each_ _of whom for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of_ _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:13. _THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE GARDENS_] This is supposed to refer to the bridegroom asking permission of his spouse early in the morning to retire, as was his usual custom. He intimates the _companions_ were waiting to _hear_, and he wished to _hear it_ in the way of _permis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Song of Solomon 8:14. _MAKE HASTE, MY BELOVED_] These appear to be the words of the bride giving permission, but entreating him to speed his _return_. What these _mountains of spices_ were, we cannot particularly tell; but they must have been thus named from their producing the _trees_ on whic... [ Continue Reading ]