_In this chapter we have,_ (1.) _Christ's gracious acceptance of the invitation which his church had given him, and the kind visit which he made to her,_ Song of Solomon 5:1. (2.) _The account which the spouse gives of her own folly in putting a slight upon her beloved, and the distress she was in b... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE EATEN MY HONEY-COMB, &C.— Taylor, in his Concordance, interprets this passage, _I have eaten my pure wood honey with the honey of the pan;_ explaining _wood honey_ to be that which in hot weather bursts the comb, and runs down the hollow trees or rocks, where, in Judaea, the bees made great s... [ Continue Reading ]
I SLEEP, BUT MY HEART WAKETH— The fifth day's eclogue commences here; and contains a solemn declaration from the bridegroom, that he prefers his spouse to all others, chap. Song of Solomon 6:9. The word תמתי _tammathi,_ rendered my _undefiled,_ signifies _completely accomplished;_ one consummately p... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT IN HIS HAND BY THE HOLE OF THE DOOR— _Through the opening of the door._... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL FAILED WHEN HE SPAKE— _My soul failed at_ the remembrance of _his words._ New Translation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATCHMEN THAT WENT ABOUT THE CITY— _The watchmen that go about the city, found me; they smote me, they hurt me: the keepers of the walls plucked my veil off me._... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU, O DAUGHTERS, &C.— _I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved—What should you tell him, but that I am sick of love?_ Thus we have at beautiful _aposiopesis,_ which is lost in the common translation. Houbigant gives part of these words to the _virgins,_ thus; _What... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BELOVED IS WHITE AND RUDDY— _Fair and bright._ Bochart. _The chiefest among ten thousand._ Pitts, in his account of his return from Mecca, thus describes those _lights_ by which they travel in the night in the desert, and which are carried on the tops of high poles, to direct their march: "They a... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HEAD IS AS THE MOST FINE GOLD— A metaphorical expression, to denote consummate excellence in beauty.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FITLY SET— _Sitting at the full streams._ The literal meaning is, "His eyes are sparkling and yet mild, like those of milk-white doves, when they are delighted as they sit by the water-side." See Patrick, Bochart, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CHEEKS ARE AS A BED OF SPICES, &C.— _His cheeks are as a bed of spices, sweetly budding forth._ Bishop Patrick supposes that the word translated _lilies,_ alludes to a sort of lilies of a deep rich red colour, and particularly to that called by Pliny, _rubens lilium,_ which he tells us was much... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HANDS ARE AS GOLD RINGS— _His hands are as gold finely turned, beset with a chrysolite._ New Translation. Michaelis renders it, _His hands are golden cylinders, set with chrysolites._ The chrysolite is of a gold colour. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Swift are the returns of prayer; the request is no sooner... [ Continue Reading ]