The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 174

nbstrnct "love·• is plainly here used for tbo Version is supported by some critics ns tho concrete," 0 loved ono." It is just possible best, "causing the lips of those tlmt nro thnt the menning me.y be-How d0lightful asleep to speak." Dclitzsoh adheres to this. is the enjoyment of love I but the bodily The LXX. renders it thus: /1e11vouµhos dc>scription which follows suggests that the x«~«rC µov 1e11l cllioiia-.v, "accommodating "°nrds are add1·essed directly to Shule.mith. itself to my lips 11.lld teeth." So Symmachus, ~-e certainly have in 1 Cor. xiii. an apostolio .,.,,• .,.,,.,81µ,vos. Jerome, Labiisque et dentilnts npostrophe to love, whioh Delitzsch calls illiUII ad ruminandum. Luther strangely the Apostle Paul's spiritual song of songs. renders, "which to my friend goes smoothly But it would be somewhat irrelevant here. down and speaks of tbo previous year" The king is deeply moved as he watches (pointing Cl'lt' e.s 0•1~:). Another rendering the beo.utiful figure before him, and delights is, " which comes unawares upon the lips in the thought that so lovely a creature is of the sleepers." Somo think it refers to his own. The rapture which he pours out the smacking of the lips after wine. "Gene- mav be taken either as e. recollection of rous wine is e. figure'l'of the love-responses how he was captivated in the pa.st, or the of the boloved, sipped in, as it were, with past may be used for the present, as it fre- pleasing satisfaction, which hover a.round quently is in Hebrew. The meaning is the the sleepers iu delightful dreama, and fill some in both cases. The palm tree may be tl,em with he.llucinations." Another read- selected on account of its elegance, but it is ing substitutes "the ancient'' for "them commonly employed in Eastern poetry as that are asleep." The general meaning the emblem of love. The mystical writers roust be wine that is very good a.nd easily use it to denote the Divine n,anifestation. ta.ken, or which one who is a. good judge The comparison of the breasts to clusters of wine will praise. It is possible that of grapes is quite natural, but no doubt there is some slight corruption in the text. reference is intended to the fruit e.s luscious The pa.ssa.ge is not to be rendered with and refreshing. Both. the palm and the absolute certainty. Delitzsoh a.nd others vine in the East are reD1e.rkable for the think tha.t it is e.n interruption of the abundance and beauty of their fruits. In bride's, but they ha.ve little support for the case of the palm-" da.rk brown or that view. The bride begins to speak at golden-yellow clusters, which crown the ver. 10. summit of the stem e.nd impart a wonderful Ver. 10.-I am my beloved's, and his bee.nty to the tree, especially when seen in desire is towards me. So in eh. vi. 3 and the evening twilight." The palm and the ii. 16. It seems possible that a portion of vine are both employed in Scripture in the bride's speech may have dropped out close connection with the Church. " The -"My.beloved is mine "-or she may wish righteous shall flourish es the palm tree; " to adopt the language of Gen. iii. 16, e.nd " The vine brought ont of Egypt" (Ps. represent herself as a trne wife, whose hus- lxxx.), and the "vineyard of the beloved" band is wrapt up in her love. By "desire" (Isa. v.), and the" true vine," to which the is intended the impulse of love, n~11t1i;,, from Lord J csns Christ compares himself, re- mind us the.t the illustration was perfectly a root p1w, "to move or impel." The familiar e.raong the J ewe ; e.nd we can thought seems to be this-As my beloved is scarcely doubt that the reference in this full of worshipping affection, and I am case would be understood. The Lord wholly bis, let his love have free course, and delightetb in those "fruits of righteous- let us retire together away from e.ll the ness" which come forth from the life and distractions and artificiality of the town lo¥e of his people. They are the true life to the simplicity and congenial enjoy- adornment of the Church. The people of ments of the country, which a.re so much God a.re never so beautiful in the eyes of more to my taste. The more real a.nd fer- tlieir Saviour as when they a.re covered vent the religious emotions of the soul and with gifts and graces in their active expres- the spiritual life of the Ohurch, the more sion in the world. Then it is that he him- natural and simple will be their expression. self fills bis Church with his presence. We do not require any profuse ceremonies, The ninth verse is somew he.t dillicul t to any extravagant decorations, any compli- explain. The words a.re no doubt still in cated e.nd costly religious services, in order the lips of the king. There is no change to draw forth in the Christian Ohurch the of speaker until ver. 10, when Shulamith highest realization of the Saviour's fellow- rep! ies to the king's adoring address. Gins- ship. We want the Christianity we profess burg says, "Her voice is not merely com- to take possession of us, body and soul. 1,an,d to wine because it is sweet to every- And so it will be as Christians learn more body, but to such wine as would be sweet of Christ. to a friend, and on the,t account is more Vers. 11, 12.-Come, my beloved, let us valuable and pleasant." The Authorized go forth mto the field; let us lo~ge in the CUI. vn. 1-13.] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 1G:3