Commentari biblici

So 7:1-13.

1. thy feet--rather, "thy goings"

(Ps 17:5).

Evident allusion to

Isa 52:7:

"How beautiful . . . are the feet of him . . . that publisheth peace" (Shulamite,

So 6:13).

shoes--Sandals are richly jewelled in the East

(Lu 15:22; Eph 6:15).

She is evidently "on the mountains," whither she was wafted

(So 6:12),

above the daughters of Jerusalem, who therefore portray her feet first.

daughter--of God the Father, with whom Jesus Christ is one

(Mt 5:9),

"children of (the) God" (of peace), equivalent to Shulamite

(Ps 45:10-15; 2Co 6:18),

as well as bride of Jesus Christ.

prince's--therefore princely herself, freely giving the word of life to others, not sparing her "feet," as in

So 5:3; Ex 12:11.

To act on the offensive is defensive to ourselves.

joints--rather, "the rounding"; the full graceful curve of the hips in the female figure; like the rounding of a necklace (as the Hebrew for "jewels" means). Compare with the English Version,

Eph 4:13-16; Col 2:19.

Or, applying it to the girdle binding together the robes round the hips

(Eph 6:14).

cunning workman--

(Ps 139:14-16; Eph 2:10, 22; 5:29, 30, 32).

2. navel--rather, "girdle-clasp," called from the part of the person underneath. The "shoes"

(So 7:1)

prove that dress is throughout presupposed on all parts where it is usually worn. She is "a bride adorned for her husband"; the "uncomely parts," being most adorned

(1Co 12:23).

The girdle-clasp was adorned with red rubies resembling the "round goblet" (crater or mixer) of spice-mixed wine (not "liquor,"

So 8:2; Isa 5:22).

The wine of the "New Testament in His blood"

(Lu 22:20).

The spiritual exhilaration by it was mistaken for that caused by new wine

(Ac 2:13-17; Eph 5:18).

belly--that is, the vesture on it. As in

Ps 45:13, 14,

gold and needlework compose the bride's attire, so golden-colored "wheat" and white "lilies" here. The ripe grain, in token of harvest joy, used to be decorated with lilies; so the accumulated spiritual food

(Joh 6:35; 12:24),

free from chaff, not fenced with thorns, but made attractive by lilies ("believers,"

So 2:2; Ac 2:46, 47; 5:13, 14,

in common partaking of it). Associated with the exhilarating wine cup

(Zec 9:17),

as here.

3. The daughters of Jerusalem describe her in the same terms as Jesus Christ in

So 4:5.

The testimonies of heaven and earth coincide.

twins--faith and love.

4. tower of ivory--In

So 4:4,

Jesus Christ saith, "a tower of David builded for an armory." Strength and conquest are the main thought in His description; here, beauty and polished whiteness; contrast

So 1:5.

fishpools--seen by BURCKHARDT, clear

(Re 22:1),

deep, quiet, and full

(1Co 2:10, 15).

Heshbon--east of Jordan, residence of the Amorite king, Sihon

(Nu 21:25,

&c.), afterwards held by Gad.

Bath-rabbim--"daughter of a multitude"; a crowded thoroughfare. Her eyes

(So 4:1)

are called by Jesus Christ, "doves' eyes," waiting on Him. But here, looked on by the daughters or Jerusalem, they are compared to a placid lake. She is calm even amidst the crowd

(Pr 8:2; Joh 16:33).

nose--or, face.

tower of Lebanon--a border-fortress, watching the hostile Damascus. Towards Jesus Christ her face was full of holy shame (see on

So 4:1;

So 4:3);

towards spiritual foes, like a watchtower

(Hab 2:1; Mr 13:37; Ac 4:13),

elevated, so that she looks not up from earth to heaven, but down from heaven to earth. If we retain "nose," discernment of spiritual fragrance is meant.

5. upon thee--the headdress "upon" her.

Carmel--signifying a well-cultivated field

(Isa 35:2).

In

So 5:15

He is compared to majestic Lebanon; she here, to fruitful Carmel. Her headdress, or crown

(2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 5:4).

Also the souls won by her

(1Th 2:19, 20),

a token of her fruitfulness.

purple--royalty

(Re 1:6).

As applied to hair, it expresses the glossy splendor of black hair (literally, "pendulous hair") so much admired in the East

(So 4:1).

While the King compares her hair to the flowering hair of goats (the token of her subjection), the daughters of Jerusalem compare it to royal purple.

galleries--(so

So 1:17,

Margin;

Re 21:3).

But MAURER translates here, "flowing ringlets"; with these, as with "thongs" (so LEE, from the Arabic translates it) "the King is held" bound

(So 6:5; Pr 6:25).

Her purple crowns of martyrdom especially captivated the King, appearing from His galleries

(Ac 7:55, 56).

As Samson's strength was in his locks

(Jud 16:17).

Here first the daughters see the King themselves.

6. Nearer advance of the daughters to the Church

(Ac 2:47; 5:13,

end). Love to her is the first token of love to Him

(1Jo 5:1,

end).

delights--fascinating charms to them and to the King

(So 7:5; Isa 62:4,

Hephzi-bah). Hereafter, too

(Zep 3:17; Mal 3:12; Re 21:9).

7. palm tree--

(Ps 92:12).

The sure sign of water near

(Ex 15:27; Joh 7:38).

clusters--not of dates, as MOODY STUART thinks. The parallelism

(So 7:8),

"clusters of the vine," shows it is here clusters of grapes. Vines were often trained (termed "wedded") on other trees.

8. The daughters are no longer content to admire, but resolve to lay hold of her fruits, high though these be. The palm stem is bare for a great height, and has its crown of fruit-laden boughs at the summit. It is the symbol of triumphant joy

(Joh 12:13);

so hereafter

(Re 7:9).

breasts--

(Isa 66:11).

the vine--Jesus Christ

(Ho 14:7,

end;

Joh 15:1).

nose--that is, breath; the Holy Ghost breathed into her nostrils by Him, whose "mouth is most sweet"

(So 5:16).

apples--citrons, off the tree to which He is likened

(So 2:3).