Behold his bed, which is Solomon's This is an answer to the question of the last verse, "Who or what is this which cometh up," &c. It should be, Behold, it is Solomon's palanquin, and it is spoken either by the same person who asks the question, or by another bystander. The word miṭṭâh, translated -bed" by the A.V., has that meaning, but it is used also of couches at table, Esther 1:6 (R.V.), of sofas, Amos 3:12, and of biers, 2 Samuel 3:31. Here it means a litteror palanquin. The A.V. rendering, his bed, which is Solomon's, is simply a literal translation of a pleonastic way of expressing the genitive which is constant in Aramaic, and which may have been common in the popular speech of Northern Israel.

threescore valiantmen are about it, of the valiant of Israel Gibbôr, the word translated valiant man, is the intensive of geber= -a man," and denotes a strong, bold man, hence a hero in war. Solomon's litter is surrounded by his bodyguard.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising