Bible Commentaries

Song of Solomon 2:1-2. I am the rose of Sharon — These are the words of the bridegroom. He compares himself to the rose and lily, for fragrancy and beauty. Sharon was a very fruitful place, and famous for roses. As the lily among thorns — Compared with thorns, which it unspeakably exceeds in glory and beauty; so is my love — So far doth my church, or people, excel all other assemblies. The title of daughter is often given to whole nations. These are Christ’s words, to which the spouse makes the following reply.

Song of Solomon 2:3. As the apple-tree — Whose fruit is very pleasant and wholesome; among the trees of the wood — Which are barren. I sat down under his shadow — I confidently reposed myself under his protection. His fruit was sweet to my taste — The benefits which I received by him, namely, remission of sins, faith, grace, and assurance of glory.

Song of Solomon 2:4-6. He brought me to the banqueting-house — The places in which believers received the graces and blessings of Christ. His banner over me — By the lifting up whereof I was invited to come to him, and to list myself under him; was love — The love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel. Stay me — Or, support me, keep me from fainting. The spouse speaks this to her bride-maids, the daughters of Jerusalem: or to the bridegroom himself: with flagons — With wine, which is a good cordial: with apples — With odoriferous apples, the smell whereof was grateful to persons ready to faint. By these metaphors understand the application of the promises, and the quickening influences of the Spirit. His left hand — No sooner did I cry out for help, but he was at hand to succour me.

Song of Solomon 2:7. I charge you — This is spoken by the bride. By the roes — By the example of those creatures, which are pleasant and loving in their carriage toward one another; that ye stir not up, nor awake — That you do not disturb nor offend him; till he please — Never, as this word until, in such phrases, is commonly used. For neither can sin ever please him, nor can the church bear it, that Christ should ever be offended, or that her sweet fellowship with him should be interrupted.

Song of Solomon 2:8. The voice of my beloved — Christ’s voice, the word of grace revealed outwardly in the gospel, and inwardly by the Spirit of God. Behold, he cometh leaping — She saith, leaping and skipping, to denote that Christ came readily and swiftly, with great desire and pleasure; and adds, upon the mountains and hills, to signify Christ’s resolution to come in spite of all difficulties.

Song of Solomon 2:9. My beloved is like a roe — In swiftness. He is coming to me with all speed, and will not tarry a moment beyond the proper season. He standeth behind our wall — And while he doth, for wise reasons, forbear to come, he is not far from us. Both this and the following phrases may denote the obscure manner of Christ’s manifesting himself to his people, under the law, in comparison of his discoveries in the gospel. He looketh forth at the window — This phrase, and that, through the lattice, intimate that the church does indeed see Christ, but as through a glass, darkly, as it is said even of gospel revelations, (1 Corinthians 13:12,) which was much more true of legal administrations.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13. My beloved spake — Invited me outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his Spirit. Rise up, my love — Shake off sloth, and disentangle thyself more fully from all the snares of this world. And come away —

Unto me, and with me; follow me fully, serve me perfectly, labour for a nearer union, and more satisfying communion with me. The winter is past — Spiritual troubles, arising from a deep sense of the guilt of sin, the wrath of God, the curse of the law; all which made them afraid to come unto God. But, saith Christ, I have removed these impediments, God is reconciled; therefore cast off all discouragements and excuses, and come to me. The flowers appear on the earth — The communications of God’s grace, the gifts, and graces, and comforts of the Holy Spirit, are vouch- safed unto, and appear in, believers, as buds and blossoms do in the spring. The time of singing is come — When birds sing most freely and sweetly, as they do in spring. And the voice of the turtle is heard — This seems particularly to be mentioned, because it not only gives notice of the spring, but aptly represents the Spirit of God, which even the Chaldee paraphrast understands by this turtle, which appeared in the shape of a dove, and which worketh a dove-like meekness, and chastity, and faithfulness, in believers. The fig-tree putteth forth her figs — Which it shoots forth in the spring; and the vines, &c., give a good smell — Which, though not strong, is pleasant and grateful.

Song of Solomon 2:14. O my dove — So the church is called, for her dove-like temper, and for her dove-like condition, because she is weak, and exposed to persecution, and therefore forced to hide herself in rocks; in the secret places of the stairs — In the holes of craggy and broken rocks, which resemble stairs. Let me see thy countenance — Be not afraid to appear before me; let me hear thy voice — Thy prayers and praises. For sweet is thy voice, &c. — Thy person and services are amiable in my sight.

Song of Solomon 2:15. Take us — The bridegroom gives this charge to his bridemen or friends. By whom he understands those magistrates and ministers to whom, under Christ, the custody of the vineyards, of the churches, principally belongs. These he commands to take the foxes, to restrain them from doing this mischief; the foxes — The disturbers of the vineyard, or the church, namely, seducers or false teachers; the little foxes — This he adds for more abundant caution, to teach the church to prevent errors and heresies in the beginnings; that spoil the vines — Which foxes do many ways, by gnawing and breaking the little branches and leaves, by digging holes in the vineyards, and so spoiling the roots; for our vines have tender grapes — Which are easily spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.

Song of Solomon 2:16. My beloved is mine — These are the words of the bride, who, having come to him upon his gracious invitation, now maketh her boast of him. He feedeth among the lilies — Abideth and refresheth himself among his faithful people, who are compared to lilies, Song of Solomon 2:2.

Song of Solomon 2:17. Until the day-break — Until the morning of that blessed day of the general resurrection, when all the shadows, not only of ignorance, and sin, and calamity, but even of all ordinances, and outward administrations, shall cease. Turn, my beloved — Return to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears from the following verse. Which sudden change is very agreeable to the state of God’s people in this world, where they are subject to frequent changes; be thou like a roe — In swiftness; make haste to help me; upon the mountains of Bether — A place in the land of promise, where it seems those creatures were in great abundance.