The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 172

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER vn ~ is of a light texture. We must not expect to find a symbolical meaning for a.II the Ver. 1.-B:ow beautiful are thy feet in details of such a description. The general sa.ndals, O prince's daughter! The joints of intention is to set forth the beauty and glory thy thigh.I are like jewels, the work of the of the bride. The Church of Christ is most hands of a OUJllling workman. To the ladies delightful in his sight when it is most full who are looking on the bride appears simply of activity and life, and every portion of it noble and royal. The word naudhib which is called forth into manifest excellence. is used, tmnsl.&ted "prince's daughter,'' ".A.rise, shine," is the invitation' addressed means " noble in disposition,'' and so in to the whole Church, "shake thyself from birth and rank, as in l Sam. ii. 8 ; Ps. cxiii. the dust," "put on thy beautiful garments," 8 ; so in eh. vi. 12, " the princely people." be ready for thy Lord. The description, which is perfectly chaste, Ver. 2.-Thy navel is like a round goblet, is intended to bring before the eye the lithe wherein no mingled wine is wanting : thy and beautiful movements of an elegant belly is like a heap of wheat set about dancer; the bendings of the body, full of with lilies. It IIIUSt be re!Jlembered that activity and grace, are compared to the ladies a.re speaking of one who is in the &Willging to and fro of jewelled omam~nt-s ladies' apartment. There is nothing indeli- made in chains. The cunning workman or c:ate in the description, though it is scarcely 1<rtist is one who is master of that which Western. The" round goblet;" or basin, with ubides beautiful ]QI$, like, J'r;J;, "whose truth- mixed wine, i.e. wi.ne with w:ater or BllOW ful work can be trusted." The description mixed with it, is intended to convey the passes from the thighB or loins to the middle idea of the shape of the lovely body with part of the body, because in the mode of its fiesh colour appearing through the semi• dancing prevailing in the F:a~ the breiu;t transparent clothing, o.nd moving gi·acefully o.nd tb0 body are raised, and the ou.tlines of like the diluted wine in the glass goblet. th1, form appeai through the cioi.hing, whk,h The U41,Vel ii. wferie4 to simply as the centrQ OH, VII. 1--13.] THE SONG OJ!' SOLOMON. 163