Bible Commentaries

I am the rose of Sharon: i.e. I am a mere wild-flower of the plains: a flower found in great profusion: disclaiming her lover's compliment.

the = a.

As the lily = As a lily: the shepherd, taking up her word in his reply.

thorns. See note on 2 Kings 14:9.

my love = my friend. Hebrew. ra"yah. See note on Song of Solomon 1:9. Feminine again, showing that it is the shepherd who is speaking.

daughters = damsels. Hebrew. banoth, feminine plural of beyn, a son.

the apple tree. Occurs only six times in Scripture: four times in this book (Song of Solomon 2:3, Song of Solomon 2:5; Song of Solomon 7:8; Song of Solomon 8:5); once in Proverbs (Song of Solomon 25:11); and once in Joel (Song of Solomon 1:12); three times for the tree, and three times for the fruit. Probably the orange tree.

the trees of the wood: i.e. the wild trees.

my beloved. Masculine. Showing that it is the Shulamite speaking.

his = its.

banqueting house = vine-arbour or vineyard-bower.

his banner over me was love = he overshaded me with love; degel, from dagal, to shade; then an ensign because of the shade it gives and protection which it ensures.

love. Hebrew. "ahabah (feminine) See note on Song of Solomon 2:7.

Stay = Strengthen,

flagons = grape-cakes.

comfort = refresh.

of = with.

doth embrace = will embrace.

I charge = I adjure. you. This and the verbs here are Masculine. It is not uncommon to find this: but when we do, we find true feminity has been lost.

roes = gazelles.

stir not up = excite not. Hebrew. "ur (in the Hiphil).

awake = incite. Hebrew. "ur (in the Piel) = not to rouse from sleep, but to excite the passions. See Isaiah 42:13. Proverbs 10:12.

my love = my feelings or affection (feminine)

till he = till she. It is Feminine, to agree with love, "ahabah = love never used in the abstract, as in Song of Solomon 3:10, and Song of Solomon 8:4 (a person). This is an appeal to the court-ladies not to try and incite her affection for Solomon.

voice = sound: e.g. footsteps (Genesis 3:8).

my beloved. Masculine. Showing that the Shulamite is the speaker.

he: emphatic = this (very one).

cometh = came.

skipping = bounding.

standeth = there he was standing.

looketh forth = looked through.

shewing himself = he glanced.

the rain. The first or early rains come about the end of October or beginning of November; and the wet season, i.e. the last or latter rains, in March or beginning of April.

on the earth = in the fields.

voice: i.e. cooing.

turtle = turtle-dove. A migratory bird (Jeremiah 8:7).

putteth forth = sweetens or ripens.

with the tender grape = blossoms.

give = they give.

my love = friend. Hebrew. ra"yah, as in Song of Solomon 2:2. See note on Song of Solomon 1:9. Feminine. Showing that the shepherd is speaking to the Shulamite.

secret places of the stairs = the hiding places of the cliff.

Take us = Catch for us. The Shulamite here quotes the words of her brothers (p. 923).

the . . . the. No Art. here in the Hebrew.

vines have tender grapes = vineyards are in bloom.

My beloved. Masculine. Showing the Shulamite as the speaker.

he feedeth = he who feedeth.

Until the day break = When the day cools. This is clear from the words which follow.

turn = return.

Bether = separation. See note on Song of Solomon 8:14.