Song of Solomon 6:11

I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. GARDEN OF NUTS. The bride's words; for she everywhere is the narrator, and often soliloquises, which He never does. The first garden (Song of Solomon 2:11) was that of spring, full of flowers, green figs, and tender grapes not yet ripe. The second garden was that of autumn, with spices (which are always connected with the person of Jesus Christ), and nothing unripe, (Song of Solomon 4:13, etc.) The third here is that of "nuts," from the previous autumn; the end of winter, and verge of spring: the Church in the upper room ...

11-13 In retirement and in meditation the Christian character is formed and perfected. But not in the retirement of the idle, the self-indulgent, or the trifler. When the Christian is released from the discharge of his duties in life, the world has no attractions for him. His prayer is, that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow within him, and around him. Such are the interesting cares and employments of him whom the world wrongly deems unhappy, and lost to his true interests. In humility and self-abasement, the humble Christian would turn away from the sight of all; but the Lord delights to honour him. Chiefly, however, may the reference be to the ministering angels who shall be sent for the soul of the Christian. Their approach may startle, but the departing soul shall find the Lord its strength and its portion for ever. The church is called the Shulamite: the word sig...

Verse 11. _I WENT DOWN INTO THE GARDEN OF NUTS_] I believe this and the following verse refer at least to the preparations for a farther consummation of the marriage, or examination of the advancement of the bride's pregnancy. But many circumstances of this kind are so interwoven, and often _anticipated_ and also _postponed_, that it is exceedingly difficult to arrange the whole so as to ascertain the several parts, and who are the actors and speakers. But other writers find no difficulty here, because they have their system; and that explains all things. It is probably not the _hazel_ but the _almond nut_, that is referred to here....

The bride’s words may be paraphrased: “You speak of me as a glorious beauty; I was lately but a simple maiden engaged in rustic toils. I went down one day into the walnut-garden” (the walnut abounded on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, and is still common in Northern Palestine) “to inspect the young plants of the vale” (i. e., the wady, or watercourse, with now verdant banks in the early spring after the rainy season), “and to watch the budding and blossoming of vine and pomegranate.” Compare Song of Solomon 2:11 notes. “Then, suddenly, ere I was myself aware, my soul” (the love-bound heart) “had made me the chariot of a lordly people” (i. e., an exalted personage, one who resides on the high places of the earth; compare 2Ki 2:12; 2 Ki

EXPOSITION SONG OF SOLOMON 6:1 WHITHER IS THY BELOVED GONE, O THOU FAIREST AMONG WOMEN? WHITHER HATH THY BELOVED TURNED HIM, THAT WE MAY SEEK HIM WITH THEE? The dialogue still continues, possibly because, as Delitzsch suggests, the effect of the dream which Shulamith narrates is not passed away in the morning. Under the influence of it she goes forth and meets the daughters of Jerusalem, who offer their assistance. But there is no necessity for this. The poetry merely demands that the idea of the dream should be still kept before the mind of the reader. The scene is still in the palace. The ladies playfully carry on the bride's cue, and help her to pour out her feelings. The bridegroom, they know, is near at hand, and is coming to delight himself in his bride; but the bride has not yet drawn him back completely to her side.

I WENT DOWN INTO THE GARDEN OF NUTS,.... This is very properly taken notice of in this song of love; it being usual for newly married persons to get nuts, and throw them among children, to make pastime; to signify, among other things, that they now renounced childish things u. These are the words of Christ, declaring to the church where he went, and what he employed himself about, when he departed from her; see Song of Solomon 6:2. Of the garden, as it intends the church, Song of Solomon 5:12; into which he was invited to come, and did, as here; see Song of Solomon 4:16; here it is called a "garden of nuts", which may design a spot in it destined for this fruit; by which some under

CHAPTER 6 The description of Her Beloved was addressed to the daughters of Jerusalem. Their answer is recorded in the beginning of this chapter. Her outburst of praise, her glowing testimony of Him, created the desire in the hearts of others to become His. “Whither is thy Beloved gone? ... We will seek Him with thee.” The bride answers and then in words of precious assurance she declares, “I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine.” Then the Bridegroom speaks in loving praise of her. He speaks of that which she is for Him. He owns that remnant as “the only one” of her mother (the nation Israel). Nor is she alone His dove, but she is fair as the moon and clear as the sun; glory covers her and she is like an army with banners displayed. He went down into the garden, to look at the verdure of the valley, to see if His vine budded, and suddenly, before He is aware, His love makes Him like A...

It is very difficult to explain, as they now stand, the relation of these verses to the context and each other. It is possible that Song of Solomon 6:10 is misplaced, and that it may have stood as an introduction to another song. The interpretation also of Song of Solomon 6:11 f. is unusually difficult. Song of Solomon 6:10. See Song of Solomon 6:4. MORNING, i.e. _dawn._ The poetic (Heb.) words for _sun_ and _moon_ are found together also in Isaiah 24:23;...

I WENT DOWN. The Shulamite explains that she went down to the nut-garden quite innocently, and with no design on her part....

Song of Solomon 6:4-13. The King fascinated Here we have a renewed assault by Solomon. Just after the Shulammite's impassioned claim to belong wholly to her lover her royal persecutor returns, and bursts out into praise of her physical beauty as before, Song of Solomon 6:4. In Song of Solomon 6:10 he repeats the words used by the court ladies in praising her. In Song of Solomon 6:11 the Shulammite, ignoring Solomon, recalls what she was doing on the fatal day when she was so praised, and her attempt at flight from the court ladies....