Song of Solomon 1:8

If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. IF THOU KNOW NOT. She ought to have known (John 14:8). The confession of her ignorance and blackness leads Him to call her "fairest." Her jealousy of letting even "His companions" take the place of Himself () led her too far. He directs her to follow them, as they follow Him (); to use ordinances and the ministry: where they are He is (). Indulging in isolation is not the way to find Him. It was thus, literally, that Zipporah found her bridegroom ...

7,8 Observe the title given to Christ, O Thou whom my soul loveth. Those that do so, may come to him boldly, and may humbly plead with him. Is it with God's people a noon-time of outward troubles, inward conflicts? Christ has rest for them. Those whose souls love Jesus Christ, earnestly desire to share in the privileges of his flock. Turning aside from Christ is what gracious souls dread more than anything else. God is ready to answer prayer. Follow the track, ask for the good old way, observe the footsteps of the flock, look what has been the practice of godly people. Sit under the direction of good ministers; beside the tents of the under shepherds. Bring thy charge with thee, they shall all be welcome. It will be the earnest desire and prayer of the Christian, that God would so direct him in his worldly business, and so order his situation and employment, that he may have his Lord and...

Verse Song of Solomon 1:8. _IF THOU KNOW NOT_] This appears to be the reply of the _virgins_. They know not exactly; and therefore direct the bride to the _shepherds_, who would give information....

This section is made by the Targumist and other Jewish interpreters to adumbrate the condition of Israel in the wilderness; by some Christian expositors, that of the Gentile Church on her first conversion. Song of Solomon 1:5 I AM BLACK ... - Dark-hued, as the tents of Kedar with their black goats’ hair coverings, rough and weather-stained, “but comely (beautiful) as the rich hangings which adorn the pavilion of Solomon. Kedar was the name of an Arab tribe Genesis 25:13; Psalms 120:5. The word itself signifies “dark” or “black.” Possibly “tents of Kedar” stand here poetically for shepherds’ tents in general...

EXPOSITION SONG OF SOLOMON 1:1 THE SONG OF SONGS, WHICH IS SOLOMON'S. This is certainly the title of the book which follows, although in our present Hebrew Bible it is the first verse of the book preceded by the shorter form, 'The Song of Songs.' The Septuagint has simply the title Ασμα, So that our English title in the Authorized Version, 'The Song of Solomon,' has no ancient authority. It is well altered in the Revised Version to 'The Song of Songs.' The word "song" (שִׁיר) does not necessarily convey the meaning. composed to be sung to music. If the performance of the words were chiefly in view, the word would have been מִוְמוֹר, _carmen_, "lyric poem," "hymn," or "ode." The Greek Ασμα ἀσμάτων, and the Latin of the Vulgate_, Canticum canticorum, _accord with the Hebrew in representing the work as taking a

IF THOU KNOW NOT,.... Or, "seeing thou knowest not" m; the saints in this imperfect state know but in part, are ignorant of many things, and in some measure of themselves; for though they know much of the sinfulness and deceitfulness of their hearts, yet they know not all; and of their imperfection and weakness, yet not the whole of it; and some render the words, "if thou know not to thee", or, "for thyself", as Ainsworth; or "know [not thyself]" n, as others; hence Ambrose o observes, that "nosce teipsum" was not originally from the Pythian oracle; Solomon had it before that, and he from Moses, Deuteronomy 4:9; Saints have not a perfect knowledge of Christ and his truths, and are sometimes at a loss to know where he is, his word is purely preached, and his ordinances faithfully administered; O THOU FAIREST AMONG WOMEN; these are not the words of the daughters of Jerus

We will this evening read in the one Book of the Bible which is wholly given up to fellowship; I allude to the Book of Canticles. This Book stands like the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and no man shall ever be able to pluck its fruit, and eat thereof, until first he has been brought by Christ past the sword of the cherubim, and led to rejoice in the love which hath delivered him from death. The Song of Solomon is only to be comprehended by the men whose standing is within the vail. The outer-court worshippers, and even those who only enter the court of the priests, think the Book a very strange one; but they who some very near to Christ can often see in this Song of Solomon the only expression which their love to their Lord desires. Song of Solomon 1:1. The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is bett

ANNOTATIONS SONG OF SONGS In studying this Love Song the primary application to the remnant of Israel must not be lost sight of. It is to be kept in mind that we are on Jewish ground and that the perfect assurance of that perfect love, which we know as members of His body, is lacking. The deeper spiritual applications which the individual believer may make in heart communion with the Lord, must be left to each person. In a certain sense we are here in the “Holiest” of all, for love-communion with our Saviour-Lord is the most precious thing. It produces that worship and adoration which is so acceptable in His sight, the worship in the Spirit. Our annotations will therefore be more of a general nature, but, we trust, under God, helpful to a deeper study of the book. CHAPTER 1 The bride speaks first. She is occupied with the Beloved One. What He is, and all His kindness and loveliness ha...

SONG OF SOLOMON 1:1. Superscription by the collector or a later editor describing the whole book as the noblest or the most beautiful of Solomon's songs (1 Kings 4:32). SONG OF SOLOMON 1:2. A brief song by the bride or one of the wedding guests expressive of the bride's love for the bridegroom, and suggesting by the symbols of perfume and wine the power of his attraction. SONG OF SOLOMON 1:2. The exchange of person is puzzling, and it is proposed to change _thy_ to _his,_ or the reverse, but MT is supported by LXX, and there may have been much freedom in dramatio

IF THOU, &C. Answer of the court-ladies: ironical....