valiant--([Jos 5:13], ). Angels guarding His tomb used like words ([Mr 16:6]).
of Israel--true subjects, not mercenaries.
8. hold--not actually grasping them, but having them girt on the thigh ready for use, like their Lord ([Psa 45:3]). So believers too are guarded by angels ([Psa 91:11]; [He 1:14]), and they themselves need "every man" ([Ne 4:18]) to be armed ([Psa 144:1], 2; [2Co 10:4]; [Ep 6:12], ; [1Ti 6:12]), and "expert" ([2Co 2:11]).
because of fear in the night--Arab marauders often turn a wedding into mourning by a night attack. So the bridal procession of saints in the night of this wilderness is the chief object of Satan's assault.
9. chariot--more elaborately made than the "bed" or travelling litter ([So 3:7]), from a Hebrew root, "to elaborate" [Ewald]. So the temple of "cedar of Lebanon," as compared with the temporary tabernacle of shittim wood ([2Sa 7:2], [6, 7]; [1Ki 5:14]; [6:15-18]), Jesus Christ's body is the antitype, "made" by the Father for Him ([1Co 1:30]; [He 10:5]), the wood answering to His human nature, the gold, His divine; the two being but one Christ.
10. pillars--supporting the canopy at the four corners; curtains at the side protect the person within from the sun. Pillars with silver sockets supported the veil that enclosed the holy of holies; emblem of Jesus Christ's strength ([1Ki 7:21]), Margin, "silver," emblem of His purity ([Psa 12:6]); so the saints hereafter ([Re 3:12]).
bottom--rather, "the back for resting or reclining on" (Vulgate and Septuagint) [Maurer]. So the floor and mercy seat, the resting-place of God ([Psa 132:14]) in the temple, was gold ([1Ki 6:30]).
covering--rather, "seat," as in [Le 15:9]. Hereafter the saints shall share His seat ([Re 3:21]).
purple--the veil of the holiest, partly purple, and the purple robe put on Jesus Christ, accord with English Version, "covering." "Purple" (including scarlet and crimson) is the emblem of royalty, and of His blood; typified by the passover lamb's blood, and the wine when the twelve sat or reclined at the Lord's table.
paved--translated, like mosaic pavement, with the various acts and promises of love of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ([Zep 3:17]; [1Jo 4:8], ), in contrast with the tables of stone in the "midst" of the ark, covered with writings of stern command (compare [Joh 19:13]); this is all grace and love to believers, who answer to "the daughters of Jerusalem" ([Joh 1:17]). The exterior silver and gold, cedar, purple, and guards, may deter, but when the bride enters within, she rests on a pavement of love.
11. Go forth--([Mt 25:6]).
daughters of Zion--spirits of saints, and angels ([Is 61:10]; [Zec 9:9]).
crown--nuptial ([Eze 16:8-12]), (the Hebrews wore costly crowns or chaplets at weddings), and kingly ([Psa 2:6]; [Re 19:12]). The crown of thorns was once His nuptial chaplet, His blood the wedding wine cup ([Joh 19:5]). "His mother," that so crowned Him, is the human race, for He is "the Son of man," not merely the son of Mary. The same mother reconciled to Him ([Mt 12:50]), as the Church, travails in birth for souls, which she presents to Him as a crown ([Php 4:1]; [Re 4:10]). Not being ashamed to call the children brethren ([He 2:11-14]), He calls their mother His mother ([Psa 22:9]; [Ro 8:29]; [Re 12:1], ).
behold--([2Th 1:10]).
day of his espousals--chiefly the final marriage, when the number of the elect is complete ([Re 6:11]).
gladness--([Psa 45:15]; [Is 62:5]; [Re 19:7]). Moody Stuart observes as to this Canticle (So 3:6-5:1), the center of the Book, these characteristics: (1) The bridegroom takes the chief part, whereas elsewhere the bride is the chief speaker. (2) Elsewhere He is either "King" or "Solomon"; here He is twice called "King Solomon." The bride is six times here called the "spouse"; never so before or after; also "sister" four times, and, except in the first verse of the next Canticle [So 5:2], nowhere else. (3) He and she are never separate; no absence, no complaint, which abound elsewhere, are in this Canticle.
Chapter 4
[So 4:1-16].
1. Contrast with the bride's state by nature ([Is 1:6]) her state by grace ([So 4:1-7]), "perfect through His comeliness put upon her" ([Eze 16:14]; [Joh 15:3]). The praise of Jesus Christ, unlike that of the world, hurts not, but edifies; as His, not ours, is the glory ([Joh 5:44]; [Re 4:10], ). Seven features of beauty are specified ([So 4:1-5]) ("lips" and "speech" are but one feature, [So 4:3]), the number for perfection. To each of these is attached a comparison from nature: the resemblances consist not so much in outward likeness, as in the combined sensations of delight produced by contemplating these natural objects.
doves'--the large melting eye of the Syrian dove appears especially beautiful amid the foliage of its native groves: so the bride's "eyes within her locks" ([Lu 7:44]). Maurer for "locks," has "veil"; but locks suit the connection better: so the Hebrew is translated ([Is 47:2]). The dove was the only bird counted "clean" for sacrifice. Once the heart was "the cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Grace makes the change.
eyes--([Mt 6:22]; [Ep 1:18]; contrast [Mt 5:28]; [Ep 4:18]; [1Jo 2:16]). Chaste and guileless ("harmless," [Mt 10:16], Margin; [Joh 1:47]). John the Baptist, historically, was the "turtledove" ([So 2:12]), with eye directed to the coming Bridegroom: his Nazarite unshorn hair answers to "locks" ([Joh 1:29], 36).
hair ... goats--The hair of goats in the East is fine like silk. As long hair is her glory, and marks her subjection to man ([1Co 11:6-15]), so the Nazarite's hair marked his subjection and separation unto God. (Compare [Jud 16:17], with [2Co 6:17]; [Tit 2:14]; [1Pe 2:9]). Jesus Christ cares for the minutest concerns of His saints ([Mt 10:30]).
appear from--literally, "that lie down from"; lying along the hillside, they seem to hang from it: a picture of the bride's hanging tresses.
Gilead--beyond Jordan: there stood "the heap of witness" ([Ge 31:48]).
2. even shorn--the Hebrew is translated ([1Ki 6:25]), "of one size"; so the point of comparison to teeth is their symmetry of form; as in "came up from the washing," the spotless whiteness; and in "twins," the exact correspondence of the upper and lower teeth: and in "none barren," none wanting, none without its fellow. Faith is the tooth with which we eat the living bread ([Joh 6:35], ). Contrast the teeth of sinners ([Psa 57:4]; [Pr 30:14]); also their end ([Psa 3:7]; [Mt 25:30]). Faith leads the flock to the washing ([Zec 13:1]; [1Co 6:11]; [Tit 3:5]).
none ... barren--([2Pe 1:8]). He who is begotten of God begets instrumentally other sons of God.
3. thread--like a delicate fillet. Not thick and white as the leper's lips (type of sin), which were therefore to be "covered," as "unclean" ([Le 13:45]).
scarlet--The blood of Jesus Christ ([Is 6:5-9]) cleanses the leprosy, and unseals the lips ([Is 57:19]; [Ho 14:2]; [He 13:15]). Rahab's scarlet thread was a type of it ([Jos 2:18]).
speech--not a separate feature from the lips ([Zep 3:9]; [Col 4:6]). Contrast "uncircumcised lips" ([Ex 6:12]). Maurer and Burrowes translate, "thy mouth."
temples--rather, the upper part of the cheek next the temples: the seat of shamefacedness; so, "within thy locks," no display ([1Co 11:5], [6, 15]). Mark of true penitence ([Ezr 9:6]; [Eze 16:63]). Contrast [Jr 3:3]; [Eze 3:7].
pomegranate--When cut, it displays in rows seeds pellucid, like crystal, tinged with red. Her modesty is not on the surface, but within, which Jesus Christ can see into.
4. neck--stately: in beautiful contrast to the blushing temples ([So 4:3]); not "stiff" ([Is 48:4]; [Ac 7:51]), as that of unbroken nature; nor "stretched forth" wantonly ([Is 3:16]); nor burdened with the legal yoke ([La 1:14]; [Ac 15:10]); but erect in gospel freedom ([Is 52:2]).
tower of David--probably on Zion. He was a man of war, preparatory to the reign of Solomon, the king of peace. So warfare in the case of Jesus Christ and His saints precedes the coming rest. Each soul won from Satan by Him is a trophy gracing the bride ([Lu 11:22]); (each hangs on Him, [Is 22:23], ); also each victory of her faith. As shields adorn a temple's walls ([Eze 27:11]), so necklaces hang on the bride's neck ([Jud 5:30]; [1Ki 10:16]).
5. breasts--The bust is left open in Eastern dress. The breastplate of the high priest was made of "two" pieces, folded one on the other, in which were the Urim and Thummim (lights and perfection). "Faith and love" are the double breastplate ([1Th 5:8]), answering to "hearing the word" and "keeping it," in a similar connection with breasts ([Lu 12:27], ).
roes--He reciprocates her praise ([So 2:9]). Emblem of love and satisfaction ([Pr 5:19]).
feed--([Psa 23:2]).
among the lilies--shrinking from thorns of strife, worldliness, and ungodliness ([2Sa 23:6]; [Mt 13:7]). Roes feed among, not on the lilies: where these grow, there is moisture producing green pasturage. The lilies represent her white dress ([Psa 45:14]; [Re 19:8]).
6. Historically, the hill of frankincense is Calvary, where, "through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself"; the mountain of myrrh is His embalmment ([Joh 19:39]) till the resurrection "daybreak." The third Canticle occupies the one cloudless day of His presence on earth, beginning from the night ([So 2:17]) and ending with the night of His departure ([So 4:6]). His promise is almost exactly in the words of her prayer ([So 2:17]), (the same Holy Ghost breathing in Jesus Christ and His praying people), with the difference that she then looked for His visible coming. He now tells her that when He shall have gone from sight, He still is to be met with spiritually in prayer ([Psa 68:16]; [Mt 28:20]), until the everlasting day break, when we shall see face to face ([1Co 13:10], ).
7. Assurance that He is going from her in love, not in displeasure ([Joh 16:6], ).
all fair--still stronger than [So 1:15]; [So 4:1].
no spot--our privilege ([Ep 5:27]; [Col 2:10]); our duty ([2Co 6:17]; Jude 23; [Jas 1:27]).
8. Invitation to her to leave the border mountains (the highest worldly elevation) between the hostile lands north of Palestine and the Promised Land ([Psa 45:10]; [Php 3:13]).
Amana--south of Anti-Libanus; the river Abana, or Amana, was near Damascus ([2Ki 5:12]).
Shenir--The whole mountain was called Hermon; the part held by the Sidonians was called Sirion; the part held by the Amorites, Shenir ([De 3:9]). Infested by the devouring lion and the stealthy and swift leopard ([Psa 76:4]; [Ep 6:11]; [1Pe 5:8]). Contrasted with the mountain of myrrh, &c. ([So 4:6]; [Is 2:2]); the good land ([Is 35:9]).
with me--twice repeated emphatically. The presence of Jesus Christ makes up for the absence of all besides ([Lu 18:29], ; [2Co 6:10]). Moses was permitted to see Canaan from Pisgah; Peter, James, and John had a foretaste of glory on the mount of transfiguration.