The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 87

tho lo.dies or inhabila.nts of Jerusalem, or it speo.re's 'Antony o.nd Cleopatra,' in which ho mo.y be regarded as the exclo.mo.tion of the describes the lovely Egyptian in her bargo wlwlo population going out to see the "like a burnished throne," lying "in her splendid sight-a gorgeous procession coming pavilion (cloth of gold, of tissue)," with the towards the city. "Who is this coming?" smiling cupids on each side, while Fl~)I, feminine); that is, '' Who is this lady " ... from the barge, coming?" There could be no difficulty in A stmnge invisible perfume hits the sense discerning that it was a bridal procession Of the adjacent wharfs." which is seen. Ouriosity always asks," Whut (Act ii. so. 2.) bride is this?" "Who is she f" not," Who is he?" A maiden from Galileo is being con- The word mitlah, "a bed, or litter," cornea ducted to Jerusalem; the procession natur- from a root "to stretch out," and is also ally passes through the valley of the Jordan used of a bier (see 2 Sam. iii. 21). The (Ghor). There is splendour and majesty in the idea is that of a portable bed, or sitting- sight. It must be some one coming to the cushion, hung round with curtains, after royal palace. The cense1·s of frankincense arc the manner of the Indian palanquin, such as being swung to and fro and filling the air with is still fonnd in the Turkish cai:ques or the fragrant smoke. Columns of dust and smoke Venetian gondolas. It was, of course, roye.l, from the burning incense rise up to heaven, belonging to Solomon, not to any nobleman and mark the line of progress before and or privo.te person; hence its magnificence. after. "The spices of Arabia" were famous The bearers are not named_ The body- at all times. Hence the names of the per- guard, consisting of sixty chosen men, form- fumes are Arabic, as murr, levona, and the ing an escort, were one-tentll part of the travelling spice-merchant, or trader, was whole royal guard, e.s we see from 1 Sam. Arabic (cf. the Arabic elixir). We can xxvii. 2; xxx. 9. Delitzsch suggests that in scarcely miss the typical colouring in such the mention of the number there may be a a representation-the wilderness, typical of reference to the twelve tribes of Iarael-60 bondage and humiliation, sin and misery, being a multiple of 12. The term," mighty out of which the bride is brought; the men," is explained in the next verse as w11.r- 011 ward progress towards a glorious des- riors, that is, men "held fast by the sword " tination '(see Isa. xl. 3; Hos. i. 16; Ps. (:l~Q :t~), i.e., according to Hebrew idiom, lxviii. 8). The Church must pass through men practised in the nse of the sword; so it the wilderness to her royo.l hom<l, o.nd the is explained by some; but others take it as soul must be led out of the wilderness of sin meaning that they "ho.ndle the sword; " e.nd unbelief into everlasting union with hence our Revised Version. her Lord. Ver. 8.-They all handle the sword, and Ver. 7.-Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; are expert in war: every man hath his sword three soore mighty men are about it, of the upon his thigh because of fear in the night. mighty men of Israel. The litter, or pahm- The guard of warriord round the Ii tter secure.I quin, is easily recognized. The word is the bride from any sudden alarm as she mittah, which is literally " bed," or "litter," travelled through the wilderness, o.nd so garn but in the ninth verse we have another word, her quiet rest. The journey from Shunem appiTyon, which is a mo1·e stately word, "the to Jerusa.lem would be o.bout fifty miles in o. royal ca.r." It is the bringing home of the direct course, and it was therefore necessary bride which is described. In the forty-fifth to pass at least one, if not two, nights on the psalm the idea. seems to be that the bride- way; the course being through u. wild and groom betook himself to the house of the solitary region. The Church of God may Lo parents and fetched his bride, or that she often co.lied to po.ss through dangers an,l was brought to him in festal procession, a.nd enemies, but he that loveth her will provide he went forth to meet her (see I Maco. ix. against her destruction-she shall have rest 89). That wus the prevo.iling custom, as we in the love of. her Lord_ He will surrouml see in the pare.hie of the ten virgins (Ma.tt. her with his strength. "My peace I give xxv. 1-13). In this case, however, there is unto thee "-provided by me, coming from a va.st difference in rank between the bride myself, the fruit of my self-sacrificing love. o.nd bridegroom, and she is brought to him. Vera. 9, 10.-King Solomon made him.sell 'fhe long journey through the wilderness is a palanquin of the wood of Lebanon.. He iriipliod in the mention of the body-guard made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom (qf. Isa. iv. 6; xxv, 4). The intention evi- thereof of gold, the seats of it of purple, the dently is to show how dear the bride was to midst thereof being paved with love, from Solomon. His mighty men were chosen to the daughtere of J'ertllle.lem. The pa!tmquiu defend her. So the Church is surrounded is dosm·ibcd, that the attention may be kept with armies of guardian attendants, Her fixed awhile on the bridal procession, which, Lord is tho Lord of hosts. 'fhe description of course, forms the kernel of the wl,uio rewinds l'B. of the exquisite lines in Shoke- poem, as reprcscntlllg the perfect uniun of 7G 'ril:H SONG OF SOLOMON. ton. m. 1-11.