Matthew Poole and continuators on Song of Solomon 7:5

5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel , and the hair of thine head like purple , the king is held in the galleries .

Which may signifie the Churches Mind or Understanding, which is seated in the head.

Which is upon thee, or above the rest of thy Body.

Eminent and pleasant to the Eye and fruitful as Mount Carmel was, as hath been formerly noted. Which may note that her Mind was adorned and replenished with knowledge and other excellent Gifts of the Holy Ghost. Or, as others render it, like crimson or purple, which is called Carmel, 2 Chr. 2. 7. & 3. 14. because those fishes, out of which they had their purple, were taken in the Sea bordering upon Mount Carmel. And so the same thing is repeated in the next clause in other words.

Which colour was anciently much esteemed, and commended as by sacred, so also by prophane Writers.

In which he walketh, and having once espied thee, is captivated by thee, and unable or unwilling either to depart, or to take off his Eyes from thee, as if he were fast bound and chained to thee. The galleries may note either the Ordinances, or rather the Churches, in which Christ walketh, Rev. 2. 1. in which Christ and Believers converse together.

Marginal references: Or, crimson.; Heb. bound.