Matthew Poole and continuators on Song of Solomon 6

1 WHither is thy beloved gone , O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside ? that we may seek him with thee .

These are the words of the daughters of Ierusalem, last mentioned, whom this full and pathetical description of the Bridegrooms Excellency had inflamed with Love to him.

To wit, from thee, as thy words imply, v. 6, 8. where dost thou use to look for him, and to find him when thou hast lost him?

O thou who art well acquainted with all the places both of his usual abode, and of his diversion, inform us who are ignorant of them. d We ask not with any evil design, but only because we desire an interest in him.

Marginal references: Ch. 1. 8.

2 My beloved is gone down into his garden , to the beds of spices , to feed in the gardens, and to gather lillies .

The Spouse had hitherto been at a loss for her beloved, but having diligently sought him, and enflamed both her own and others Affections with Love to him by her just commendations, now at last she meets with a gracious Answer from God, directing her where to find him, which also comes very seasonably, not only for her own relief & comfort, but also for the benefit of others, who enquired after him. The garden seems to signifie the Church Catholick, and the gardens, as it follows here, as also the beds, may note the particular Assemblies of the faithful, in which Christ affordeth his Presence, and his blessing.

In which the Gifts and Graces of Gods Spirit, which are fitly compared to Spices, or aromatical Flowers, do appear and grow.

To refresh and delight himself, or to gather the flowers and fruits of it, as men use to do in their gardens.

Which may note either 1. Particular Believers, whom Christ gathereth to himself in his Church, who are compared to Lillies, Cant. 2. 2. Or 2. The Prayers and Praises tendered to him by his People in the publick Congregations, and all their gracious dispositions & actions.

4 Thou art beautiful, O my love , as Tirzah , comely as Jerusalem , terrible as an army with banners.

These are the words of Christ, who had now again manifested himself to his Church, whereby he declares, that though he had for a season hid his Face from her, yet still he retained a sincere and fervent Affection to her, and that notwithstanding her manifold infirmities she was yet beautiful in his Eyes.

A very pleasant City, as its very name signifies, and therefore made the Royal Seat of the Kings of Israel; of which see 1 Kin. 14. 17. & 15. 21, 33 & 16. 6, &c.

Which was beautiful both for its scituation, Ps. 48. 2. and for its goodly buildings, especially the Temple. See Lam. 2. 15.

Either 1. To strangers, whom by her grave and Majestick looks and carriage she affrights from rude or bold attempts, whereas some Women invite others to familiarity with them by their loose and wanton carriage. Or 2. To her Enemies, whom God will certainly destroy.

5 Turn away thine eyes from me , for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead .

For I can scarce bear the Lustre of them. It is a poetical and amatorious Expression, signifying how beautiful the Church was in Christs Eyes, and how passionately he loved her.

This clause, and the whole following verse are repeated from Ch. 4. 1, 2. And this repetition is not vain nor absurd, but very agreeable to the nature of a Pastoral and Song of Love, as being an effect and testimony of vehement Affection, and besides it confirms what was said before, and sheweth that the Churches miscarriage and Christs desertion of her upon it, had not made him change his Opinion of her, or Affection to her.

Marginal references: Or, they have p[illegible: 1+ letters]ssed me up.

7 As a piece of a pomgranate are thy temples within thy locks .

This also is repeated from Ch. 4. 3.

8. There are threescore queens, and fourscore Concubines , and virgins without number.

A certain number for an uncertain. The sense seems to be this, There are many beautiful Queens and Concubines in the World, in the Courts of Princes, and particularly in Solomons Court, but none of them is to be compared with my Spouse, and my heart is set upon none of them, but only upon my Spouse, as the following verse declareth. Or, the Queens and Concubines may note the particular Congregations which are called by Christs name, and the Virgins may signifie the particular Believers or Professors; all which do make up one Catholick Church, as it follows. Compare the notes on Psal. 45. 10, 14, 15.

Either 1. Which wait upon the Queens and Concubines. Or 2. Which were reserved as a Nursery, out of which Queens and Concubines were to be taken.

9 My dove, my undefiled is but one ; she is the only one of her mother , she is the choice one of her that bare her: the daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queen and the concubines, and they praised her .

The only beloved of my Soul, my only Spouse, in comparison of whom I despise all others.

Of Ierusalem above, which is the Mother of us all, Gal. 4. 26. Or, if this seem to confound the Mother & Daughter, the words may be thus rendred, she is as the only one of her mother, i. e. she is as dear & pretious to me as onely Children use to be to their Parents, and especially to their Mothers. So there is only a defect of the note of similitude, which is frequently understood, as hath been formerly noted and proved by undeniable instances.

Called Virgins, v. 8.

As more beautiful and worthy than themselves, which was so evident that they were forced to confess it.

10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning , fair as the moon , clear as the sun , and terrible as an army with banners ?

These are the words either 1. Of the Bridegroom: Or 2. Of the Queens and Concubines last mentioned, as praising of her. And they are either words of enquiry, or rather of Admiration and commendation, who, i. e. what manner of person is this, how excellent and glorious! And so this pronoun, who, is understood, Psal. 24. 8. Mark 4. 41. compared with Mat. 8. 27.

As the morning light, which coming after the darkness of the night is very pleasant and amiable, which also suddenly spreadeth it self from the East to the West.

To wit, when it is full, and walking in brightness, as the Phrase is, Iob 31. 26. But withal he seems to intimate that the Church, like the Moon, may have her Eclipses, and be in darkness for a time.

Without any such spots or dark specks as are i[illegible: 1+ letters] the Moon. Which is to be understood in the same sense, that she is said to be without spot, or wrinkle, or bl[illegible: 1+ letters]mish, Eph. 5. 27. which she is partly by Gods gracious acceptation of her as such in Christ, and through his Righteousness; and partly because she shall be such in the future Life.

See above, v. 4.

11 I went down into the garden of nuts , to see the fruits of the valley , and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomgranats budded .

To wit, when I went away from thee. So this is an account of the reason of his former departure from her. Or, I am come down to visit thee, my garden, Cant. 4. 12. Either way these are the words of the Bridegroom.

In which Nuts and other fruits are planted. By Nuts may be meant either 1. Ordinary Nuts, and so this is supposed to intimate the mean and contemptible condition of the Church in her outward Estate, and that her sweetness is all inward and spiritual. Or 2. Aromatical Nuts, to wit, Nutmegs, and so this notes how acceptable the Church and her Productions are to Christ.

Which being low, and well watered, is most fruitful.

What beginnings or appearances there were of good fruits or works among Believers, whether their Practices answered their Professions.

Marginal references: Or, almonds.; Ch. 7. 12.

12 Or ever I was aware , my soul made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib .

I was surprized with a sudden and vehement desire of enjoying my Spouse, which is to be understood figuratively, and so as to agree with the Majesty and Omnisciency of Christ.

I made my self; which may signifie Christs activity in stirring up his Affections to the Church; or I was made; for the active Phrase is oft understood passively; and the Soul is commonly put for the Person.

Eager in my desire, and swift in my motion towards the Church. Amminadib is supposed to be some eminent Charioteer then well known, and famous for his speed in driving Charets. But this clause with the former is otherwise rendred, both in the margent and by others, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew words, my soul set me on the chariots of my willing (or, as others, noble or princely) people, i. e. which mine and the Brides friends had prepared to bring me to the Bride with more expedition, into which I ascended with all my Soul, as longing to come to my Bride.

Marginal references: Heb. I knew not.; Or, set me on the chariots of my willing people.

13 Return , return , O Shulamite , return, return, that we may look upon thee : what will you see in the Shulamite? as it were the company of two armies .

Christ recalls his Spouse, who as when Christ was gone she pursued after him, so now when Christ was coming or come to her, she was ready to wander & go a[illegible: 1+ letters]tray from him, according to the common and corrupt disposition and custom of Mankind, and therefore he seeks to stop or to reclaim her, and to oblige her to return to her first Love, and to repent more throughly than she had yet done.

This word is here repeated four times to signifie both Christs passionate Love to her, and earnest desire of her return, and her backwardness to it, which made so many calls necessary

This title signifies either 1. One born in, or belonging to Ierusalem, called also Salem, Ps. 76. 2. Or 2. The Wife of Solomon, thus called after her Husbands name, see Isa. 4. 1. And as Christ is called by the name of Solomon, ch. 3. 7, 9, 11. so the Church is fitly described by the title of Solomons Wife.

That I and my companions, and friends may contemplate thy Beauty.

But what do you, my friends expect to discover in her; Christ proposeth the question, that he may give the following answer; and that they should take special notice of this as a very remarkable thing in her.

Whereby he intimates that this one and onely Spouse was made up of the whole multitude of Believers.

Either 1. Opposite one against the other; and so this may note the conflict between the Flesh and Spirit, which is in all the faithful in this Life. Or 2. Confederate together, and so this may signifie either 1. The recollection and Union of Jews and Gentiles which shall one day be under Christ as their common head, Eph. 2. 15. Or 2. The safety and strength of the Church, which is compared to an army with banners, above v. 4, 10. and here to a numerous Host distributed into two Armies. Wherein also there may be an allusion to that story, Gen. 32. 1. where this very word, here rendred, two armies, is used.

Marginal references: Or, of Mahanaim.