1. thy feet--rather, "thy goings" (@Ps 17:5). Evident allusion
to @Isa 52:7: "How beautiful . . . are the feet of him . . .
that publisheth peace" (Shulamite, @So 6:13).
shoes--Sandals are richly jewelled in the East
(@Lu 15:22 Eph 6:15). She is evidently "on the mountains," whither she
was wafted (@So 6:12), above the daughters of Jerusalem, who
therefore portray her feet first.
daughter--of God the Father, with whom Jesus Christ is one
(@Mt 5:9), "children of (the) God" (of peace), equivalent to
Shulamite (@Ps 45:10-15 2Co 6:18), as well as bride of Jesus Christ.
prince's--therefore princely herself, freely giving the word of life
to others, not sparing her "feet," as in @So 5:3 Ex 12:11. To act
on the offensive is defensive to ourselves.
joints--rather, "the rounding"; the full graceful curve of the hips in
the female figure; like the rounding of a necklace (as the Hebrew for "jewels" means). Compare with the English Version,
@Eph 4:13-16 Col 2:19. Or, applying it to the girdle binding
together the robes round the hips (@Eph 6:14).
cunning workman--(@Ps 139:14-16 Eph 2:10,22:5:29,30,32).
2. navel--rather, "girdle-clasp," called from the part of the person
underneath. The "shoes" (@So 7:1) prove that dress is throughout
presupposed on all parts where it is usually worn. She is "a bride
adorned for her husband"; the "uncomely parts," being most adorned
(@1Co 12:23). The girdle-clasp was adorned with red rubies
resembling the "round goblet" (crater or mixer) of spice--mixed wine
(not "liquor," @So 8:2 Isa 5:22). The wine of the "New Testament in
His blood" (@Lu 22:20). The spiritual exhilaration by it was
mistaken for that caused by new wine (@Ac 2:13-17 Eph 5:18).
belly--that is, the vesture on it. As in @Ps 45:13,14, gold
and needlework compose the bride's attire, so golden-colored "wheat" and
white "lilies" here. The ripe grain, in token of harvest joy, used to be
decorated with lilies; so the accumulated spiritual food
(@Joh 6:35 12:24), free from chaff, not fenced with thorns, but made
attractive by lilies ("believers," @So 2:2 Ac 2:46,47 5:13,14, in
common partaking of it). Associated with the exhilarating wine cup
(@Zec 9:17), as here.
3. The daughters of Jerusalem describe her in the same terms as
Jesus Christ in @So 4:5. The testimonies of heaven and earth coincide.
twins--faith and love.
4. tower of ivory--In @So 4:4, Jesus Christ saith, "a tower of
David builded for an armory." Strength and conquest are the main thought
in His description; here, beauty and polished whiteness; contrast
@So 1:1-17.
fishpools--seen by BURCKHARDT, clear (@Re 22:1), deep, quiet, and
full (@1Co 2:10,15).
Heshbon--east of Jordan, residence of the Amorite king, Sihon
(@Nu 21:25, &c.), afterwards held by Gad.
Bath-rabbim--"daughter of a multitude"; a crowded thoroughfare. Her
eyes (@So 4:1) are called by Jesus Christ, "doves eyes," waiting on
Him. But here, looked on by the daughters or Jerusalem, they are
compared to a placid lake. She is calm even amidst the crowd
(@Pr 8:2 Joh 16:33).
nose--or, face.
tower of Lebanon--a border-fortress, watching the hostile Damascus.
Towards Jesus Christ her face was full of holy shame
(see on So 4:1;
So 4:3);
towards spiritual foes, like a watchtower
(@Hab 2:1 Mr 13:37 Ac 4:13),
elevated, so that she looks not up from
earth to heaven, but down from heaven to earth. If we retain "nose,"
discernment of spiritual fragrance is meant.
5. upon thee--the headdress "upon" her.
Carmel--signifying a well-cultivated field (@Isa 35:2). In
@So 5:15 He is compared to majestic Lebanon; she hero, to
fruitful Carmel. Her headdress, or crown (@2Ti 4:8 1Pe 5:4).
Also the souls won by her (@1Th 2:19,20), a token of her
fruitfulness.
purple--royalty (@Re 1:6). As applied to hair, it expresses the
glossy splendor of black hair (literally, "pendulous hair") so much
admired in the East (@So 4:1). While the King compares her hair to
the flowering hair of goats (the token of her subjection), the
daughters of Jerusalem compare it to royal purple.
galleries--(so @So 1:17, Margin; @Re 21:3). But MAURER
translates here, "flowing ringlets"; with these, as with "thongs" (so
LEE, from the Arabic translates it) "the King is held" bound
(@So 6:5 Pr 6:25). Her purple crowns of martyrdom especially
captivated the King, appearing from His galleries (@Ac 7:55,56). As
Samson's strength was in his locks (@Jud 16:17). Here first the
daughters see the King themselves.
6. Nearer advance of the daughters to the Church (@Ac 2:47 5:13,
end). Love to her is the first token of love to Him (@1Jo 5:1, end).
delights--fascinating charms to them and to the King
(@So 7:5 Isa 62:4, Hephzi-bah). Hereafter, too
(@Zep 3:17 Mal 3:12 Re 21:9).
7. palm tree--(@Ps 92:12). The sure sign of water near (@Ex 15:27 Joh 7:38).
clusters--not of dates, as MOODY STUART thinks. The parallelism
(@So 7:8), "clusters of the vine," shows it is here clusters of
grapes. Vines were often trained (termed "wedded") on other trees.
8. The daughters are no longer content to admire, but resolve to lay
hold of her fruits, high though these be. The palm stem is bare for a
great height, and has its crown of fruit-laden boughs at the summit. It
is the symbol of triumphant joy (@Joh 12:13); so hereafter
(@Re 7:9).
breasts--(@Isa 66:11).
the vine--Jesus Christ (@Ho 14:7, end; @Joh 15:1).
nose--that is, breath; the Holy Ghost breathed into her nostrils by Him, whose "mouth is most sweet" (@So 5:16).
apples--citrons, off the tree to which He is likened (@So 2:3).
9. roof of thy mouth--thy voice (@Pr 15:23).
best wine--the new wine of the gospel kingdom (@Mr 14:25),
poured out at Pentecost (@Ac 2:4,13,17).
for my beloved--(@So 4:10). Here first the daughters call Him
theirs, and become one with the bride. The steps successively are
(@So 1:5) where they misjudge her (@So 3:11); @So 5:8, where
the possibility of their finding Him, before she regained Him, is
expressed; @So 5:9 (@So 6:1 7:6,9 Joh 4:42).
causing . . . asleep to speak--(@Isa 35:6 Mr 5:19,20 Ac 2:47 Eph 5:14). Jesus Christ's first miracle
turned water into "good wine kept until now" (@Joh 2:10); just as
the Gospel revives those asleep and dying under the law
(@Pr 31:6 Ro 7:9,10,24,25 8:1).
10. Words of the daughters of Jerusalem and the bride, now united
into one (@Ac 4:32). They are mentioned again distinctly (@So 8:4),
as fresh converts were being added from among enquirers, and these
needed to be charged not to grieve the Spirit.
his desire is toward me--strong assurance. He so desires us, as to
give us sense of His desire toward us
(@Ps 139:17,18 Lu 22:15 Ga 2:20 1Jo 4:16).
11. field--the country. "The tender grape (MAURER translates, flowers)
and vines" occurred before (@So 2:13). But here she prepares for Him
all kinds of fruit old and new; also, she anticipates, in going forth to
seek them, communion with Him in "loves." "Early" implies immediate
earnestness. "The villages" imply distance from Jerusalem. At Stephen's
death the disciples were scattered from it through Judea and Samaria,
preaching the word (@Ac 8:4-25). Jesus Christ was with them,
confirming the word with miracles. They gathered the old fruits, of
which Jesus Christ had sown the seed (@Joh 4:39-42), as well as
new fruits.
lodge--forsaking home for Jesus Christ's sake (@Mt 19:29).
12. (@Mr 1:35 Joh 9:4 Ga 6:10). Assurance fosters diligence, not indolence.
13. mandrakes--Hebrew, audaim, from a root meaning "to love";
love apples, supposed to exhilarate the spirits and excite love. Only
here and @Ge 30:14-16. Atropa mandragora of
LINNÆUS; its leaves
like lettuce, but dark green, flowers purple, root forked, fruit of the
size of an apple, ruddy and sweet-smelling, gathered in wheat harvest,
that is, in May (Mariti, ii. 195).
gates--the entrance to the kiosk or summer house. Love "lays up" the
best of everything for the person beloved
(@1Co 10:31 Php 3:8 1Pe 4:11), thereby really, though unconsciously,
laying up for itself (@1Ti 6:18,19).