SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 4 Christ commendeth his church for her beauty, SONG OF SOLOMON 4:1. He calleth her to go with him, SONG OF SOLOMON 4:8, manifesting his love and affection for her, SONG OF SOLOMON 4:9. A further commendation of her, SONG OF SOLOMON 4:10. She prayeth for the effectual operatio... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TEETH ARE LIKE A FLOCK, numerous, and placed in due order, of sheep; which is here fitly supplied out of SONG OF SOLOMON 6:6, where it is expressed. EVEN SHORN; smooth and even, as also clean and white, whereas unshorn sheep retain much filth in their wool, even after their washing. EVERY ONE BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THY LIPS ARE LIKE A THREAD OF SCARLET; fine, and smooth, and soft, and round, and red, in which the beauty of the lips consisteth. _Thy speech is comely_; which is added, partly as another ingredient of an amiable person, and partly to explain the foregoing metaphor. The communication or discourse o... [ Continue Reading ]
THY NECK: this may seem to represent the grace of faith, by which we are united to Christ, as the body is to the head by the neck, and through which Christians receive their spiritual food, and consequently their strength and ability for action. IS LIKE THE TOWER OF DAVID; round, and smooth, and whi... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TWO BREASTS; another part in which beauty consists, EZEKIEL 16:7. By which some understand the two testaments, or the two sacraments; but these are rather Christ's than the church's breasts. Others, the church's fervent love to Christ, and to all the saints, for the breasts signify love, PROVERB... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK, AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY: these words are uttered by the bride, SONG OF SOLOMON 2:17, and here returned by the Bridegroom, as an answer to that request. And this place may be understood either, 1. Of the day of the gospel, when all legal shadows shall vanish; or, 2. Of the da... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART ALL FAIR; it is needless to mention the several beauties of all thy parts, for, in one word, thou art wholly beautiful; and it may be said more truly of thee than it was of Absalom, 2 SAMUEL 14:25, that from the sole of thy foot to the crown of thy head there is no blemish in thee. THERE IS... [ Continue Reading ]
_ Come with me unto the mountains of myrrh_, &c., mentioned SONG OF SOLOMON 4:6, FROM LEBANON, a known mountain in the north of Canaan, which is sometimes mentioned as a pleasant and glorious place, as SONG OF SOLOMON 5:15 ISAIAH 35:2 HOSEA 14:6, &c., in regard of its goodly cedars; and sometimes as... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST RAVISHED MY HEART; I am overcome with thy beauty, and therefore am so desirous of thy company. MY SISTER; so he calls her, partly because both he and she had one and the same father, to wit, God, yea, and mother too, being both at this time born in and of the commonwealth and church of Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW FAIR, how amiable and acceptable to me, is thy love! I do not disdain thy love, as I might do, but take it kindly, and prize it highly. HOW MUCH BETTER IS THY LOVE THAN WINE! of which SEE POOLE ON "SONG OF SOLOMON 1:2", SEE POOLE ON "SONG OF SOLOMON 1:4". OF THINE OINTMENTS; of the gifts and gra... [ Continue Reading ]
THY LIPS DROP AS THE HONEY-COMB; thy speeches both to me in prayer and praises, and to men for their edification, are highly acceptable to me. HONEY AND MILK; words more sweet and comfortable than honey or milk. UNDER THY TONGUE; by which phrase he may possibly intimate that her words were not utter... [ Continue Reading ]
A GARDEN, for order and beauty, for pleasant walks, and flowers, and fruits. ENCLOSED; either, 1. Defended by the care of my providence; or, 2. Reserved for my proper use. She will not admit of other lovers, either false teachers or worldly lusts, but keeps herself close for me. She is chaste, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PLANTS, the plants of thy garden, believers which are planted in thee, ARE AN ORCHARD; are like the plants or fruits of an orchard, which are pleasant to the eye, and delicious to the taste or smell, such as are here mentioned in the following words; whereby he signifies the variety and excellen... [ Continue Reading ]
TREES OF FRANKINCENSE; such trees as produce frankincense. Or, as others, both ancient and modern, render it, _trees of Lebanon_; such sweet-smelling trees and plants as grew in Lebanon, of which SEE POOLE ON "SONG OF SOLOMON 4:11".... [ Continue Reading ]
These are the words either, 1. Of the bride, who returns this answer to the Bridegroom. Thou callest me a fountain, but in truth thou only art that fountain from whence I derive all my streams of comfort; or rather, 2. Of the Bridegroom, who hath hitherto been speaking to and of the church, and sti... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE; or, _arise_; either, 1. To be gone, as being commonly hurtful to plants and gardens; or rather, 2. To come, as the next clause explains it. For both the north wind and the south wind have their several uses in gardens; the former to purge and cool the air, and to bring fair weather; the latt... [ Continue Reading ]