Bible Commentaries
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible
Song of Solomon 8
Royal rank and splendor are grown wearisome. The king once called her “sister” and “sister-bride.” Would he were indeed as a “brother,” her mother‘s own child whom she might meet, embrace, and welcome everywhere without restraint or shame. Her love for him is simple, sacred, pure, free from the unrest and the stains of mere earthly passion.
Who would instruct me - Or, thou shouldest teach me Isaiah 54:13. Some allegorists make the whole passage Song of Solomon 7:118:2 a prayer of the synagogue for the Incarnation of the Word, like Song of The bride now turns to and addresses the chorus as before (marginal reference).
That ye stir not up - literally, as in the margin. For “my love” read as before love. The omission of “the roes and hinds” here is noticeable. Hebrew scholars regard this charge here and elsewhere Ezekiel 20:35, in the latter day, and the former words Song of The scene changes from Jerusalem to the birthplace of the bride, where she is seen coming up toward her mother‘s house, leaning on the arm of the great king her beloved. Who is this - Compare and contrast with Song of
The bride says this as she clings to his arm and rests her head upon his bosom. Compare John 13:23; John 21:20. This brief dialogue corresponds to the longer one Isaiah 65:24; Isaiah 62:3-4.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 under the New.
(a) Love is here regarded as an universal power, an elemental principle of all true being, alone able to cope with the two eternal foes of God and man, Death and his kingdom.
“For strong as death is love,
Tenacious as Sheol is jealousy.”
“Jealousy” is here another term for “love,” expressing the inexorable force and ardor of this affection, which can neither yield nor share possession of its object, and is identified in the mind of the sacred writer with divine or true life.
(b) He goes on to describe it as an all-pervading Fire, kindled by the Eternal One, and partaking of His essence:
“Its brands are brands of fire,
A lightning-flash from Jah.”
Compare Deuteronomy 4:24.
(c) This divine principle is next represented as overcoming in its might all opposing agencies whatsoever, symbolized by water.
(d) From all which it follows that love, even as a human affection, must be reverenced, and dealt with so as not to be bought by aught of different nature; the attempt to do this awakening only scorn.
A brief dialogue commencing with a question and answer probably made by brothers of the bride concerning a younger sister who will soon be old enough to be asked in marriage. The answer is given in the form of a parable: “If she be a wall,” i. e., stedfast in chastity and virtue, one on whom no light advances can be made, then let us honor and reward her. This fortress-wall shall be crowned as it were with a tower or battlement of silver. But “if she be a door,” light-minded and accessible to seduction Proverbs 7:11-12, then let us provide against assailants the protection of a cedar bar or panel.
Song of The poem having opened with the song of a chorus in praise of the king Song of
Add Comment
Comments