The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 50

in that CR.Be. Rather it is thorn-plants or "banner" ( ;~) is from a root" to cover," that lmshes (choach); sec 2 Kings xiv. 9. The which covers the slu\ft or standard ; the daughters; i.e. the young damsels. 'l'he panmis, "the cloth," which is fastened to a \Yord "son" or "daughter" was commonly shaft (cf. pennon). Her n11tuml fear nnd so us~<l in Hebrew, the idea being that of bashfulness is overcome by the loving Eimplioity, iunooenoe, and gentleness. presence of the king, which oovers her \' l'r. 3. -As the apple tree among the trees weakness like a banner. Some versions of the wood, so is my beloved nmong the sons. ren<ier it as au imper11tive. There ouu be I sat down under his shadow with great no doubt of the meaniug thut the banner i& delight, and his fruit WRS sweet to my taste. the military b11nner, as the word is alw11ys That these are the words of the bride there so used (see Ps. xx. 6; Numb. i. 52; ii. 2). can be no doubt. Tl,e apple tree is noted Perhaps there is a reference to the grandeur for the frag-rance of its blossom and the and militnry strength in which the young 18Wec·tness of its fruit; hence the name tap- bride felt delight 118 she looked up at her puacl,, from the root napl,ach, "to breathe young husband in his youthful beauty and sweetly." The trees of the wood or forest mauly vigour. The typical eignifioauce is are speciully referred to, because they are very easily discovered. It would be straining generally wild, and their fruit sour and it too much to see any allusion to the rituRl rough, and many have no fruit or flower. of the Christian sacraments; but whether The Chalilce renders," citron;" Rosenmiiller we think of the individual soul or of the and othnrs, "quince." The word is rare people of God regarded collectively, such (see ProY. UY. 11; Joel i. 12). It is some- delight in the rich provisions of Di vine times the tree itself, at other times the fruit. love, and in the tender guardiauship'of the It occurs in JJroper names, e..s (Josh. xii. 17), Saviour over those whom he has called to "The King of Tappnah," etc., and that himself, belong to the simplest facts of shows that it was very early known in believing experience. Palestine. It occurs frequently in the Ver. 5.-Stay me with raisins, comfort Talmud. The word is masculine, while me with apples : for I am sick of love. "lily" is feminine. "I sat with delight" is A gain the intensive forn1 of the verb is expreBsed in true Hebrew phrase, "I de- chosen. She is almost sinking; she cries . lighted and sut," the intensity of feeling out for comfort. The food for which sue being expressed by the pie! of the verb. longs is the grape-cakes - the grapes By the shadow is intended both protection sufficiently dried to be pressed together as and ref~Lment; by the ·fruit, enjoyment. cakes, which is very 1·efreshing and __ reviv- Perhaps we may go further, and say there ing; not raisins as we know them, but iB here a symbolical representation of the with more of the juice of the grape in them. spiritual life, as both that of trust and So date-cakes are now offered to travellers in participation. The greatuess and goodness the East. " Refresh me ; for I am in a state of the tree of life protects and coyers the of deep agitation because of the inteusity sinner, while the inner nature and Divine of my love." Ginsburg thinks the cakes virtue of the SaYiom comes forth in deli- BJ'e . baked by the fire, the word being cious fruits, in his character, wor<ls, ministry, derived from a root "to burn." The trRns- and epiritnal gifts. If there is any truth in lation, "flagons of wine," in the Authorized the typical view, it must be found in such Version, follows the rabbinical exposition, passages a.s this, where the m~taphor is so but it is quite unsupported by the critics. l!!imple a.ml apt, and he.s been mcorpora~ed Love-sickness· is common in Eastern coun- with all religions language as the vehicle tries, more so than with us in the colder of faith and love. Hymnology abounds in hemisphere. Perhaps the appeal ~f the BUch ideas and analogies. bride is meant to be general, not imme- Ver. 4.-Re brought me to the banqueting- diately directed to the king, as if a kind of house, and his banner over me was love ; exclamation, and it may be connected with literally, to the house of t}i,e wine. Not, as the previous idea of the banner. The some," the house .of the vines "-that is, the country maiden is dazzled with the splen- vineyard. The Hel,rew word yayin corre- dour and majesty of the king. She gives sponds with the lEthiopic wain, and has run up, as it were, in willing resignation of tilrough the Indo-Europeau languages. The herself, the rivalry with one so great and meaning is-To the place where he royally glorious in the expression of love nnd entertains bis friends. Hence the reference praise; she sinks back with delight and which immediately follows to the protection ecstasy, calling upon e.ny around to sup- with which the king overshadows his be- port her, and Solomon himself nnswers the loved. He covers me there with his fear- appeal and puts hie loving arm around her inspiring, awful banner, love, which, be- and h~lds up her head, and gives her the caUJ;e of its being love, ie terrible to all sweetest and tenderest embraces, which enemies. The word which is used for renew her strength. We know that in the on. rr. 1-17.J THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 3J