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2.Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn,1 Which came up from the washing;

Whereof every one bear twins,—and none is barren among them. 3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet,-and thy speech is comely: Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. 4 Thy neck is like the tower of David+-builded for an armoury, Whereon there hang a thousand bucklers,—all shields of mighty men. 5 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, Which feed among the lilies.

6 "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,5

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I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense."
Thou art all fair, my love;-there is no spot in thee.

and Hermon,

8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon:
Look from the top of Amana, 7-from the top of Shenir
From the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
9 Thou hast ravished my heart, " my sister, my spouse;
Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes,
With one chain of thy neck.

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10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse!

How much better is thy love than wine!

☛ And the smell of thine ointments than all spices! 11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb :

Honey and milk are under thy tongue;

-a fountain sealed.8

And the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. 12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse ;-a spring shut up,13 Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,

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with pleasant fruits;

Camphire, with spikenard,-spikenard and saffron; Calamus and cinnamon,-with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15 A fountain of gardens,— -a well of "living waters,-and streams from Lebanon."

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Awake, 10 O north wind; and come, thou south;

Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. 11

P Let my beloved come into his garden,—and eat his pleasant fruits.

I am come into my garden,-" my sister, my spouse:

I have gathered my myrrh with my spice;

I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;

I have drunk my wine with my milk.

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▪ Eat, 12 0 * friends;-drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

The bride's unkindness, repentance, and reconciliation.

I SLEEP, 13 but my heart waketh:

It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying,

1 This figure represents the whiteness and completeness of the teeth.

2 Rather, the place of speech;' i. e. thy mouth.

3 Or, 'cheeks.' Their ruddy hue is compared to the beautiful red colour which the pomegranate presents when divided.

4 This was probably a lofty and elegant tower, built of white lime-stone. It was customary on the outside of towers to hang shields (Ezek. xxvii. 10, 11). This allusion is suggested by the bride's necklace of jewels.

5 See note on ch. ii. 17.

6 Hills on which aromatic shrubs grew abundantly. 7 Amana,' or 'Abana,' was probably the name of a part of Shenir or Hermon, from which the river of the same name flowed to Damascus. See Deut. iii. 9; 2 Kings v. 12. On these hills lions were formerly found, and the Syrian panther (or 'leopard') still roams.

8 In vers. 12-15, the personal charms of the bride are compared to a garden with its choicest productions, and to a spring with its refreshing streams, which were indispensable to a garden. These may be described as being 'enclosed' and 'sealed,' with reference either to the bride's modesty and chastity, or to the strict seclusion in which her husband would keep one whom he so much loved. In those parts of the East where this seclusion is practised, the ladies speak of it rather as a proof of the high estimation in which they are held, and a mark of affectionate care, than as an unkind restraint upon them.

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9 Like one of those mountain streams which diffuse life, fertility, and beauty where they flow.

10 The bride replies to her husband's praises, desiring that he may have the fullest enjoyment of that which he so much admires.

11 The breezes diffuse the fragrance which hang heavily about the plants.

12 Coming out of the bride's apartments to the guests at the marriage feast, the bridegroom bids them join him in festivity.

13 Part III. contains (perhaps in a dream) the bride's confession of her unkindness to her husband, and her complaint of her anxious and disappointing search for him, in which she was ill-treated by the night-guards of the city (ch. v. 2-8). She describes the object of her affection, and the place where she hopes to find him (v. 9— vi. 3). There she is welcomed again by him; and a scene of mutual endearment ensues, in which Solomon gives her a name derived from his own; and she again, overcome by her various emotions, falls asleep (vi. 4-viii. 4). This is, perhaps, the most affecting portion of the poem; representing the church as having lost its 'first love' (Rev. ii. 4), but as awaking to a sense of its guilt and loss, seeking the restoration of its holy joy, and received again into favour according to the promise of Divine mercy (Hos. xiv.) The church in its various branches, throughout the different periods of its existence, has afforded too many illustrations of this sin.

s Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled:

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For my head is filled with dew,-and my locks with the drops of the night.

3 I have put off my coat;-how shall I put it on?

I have washed my feet;—how shall I defile them?

4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door,1
Aud my bowels were moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved;-and my hands dropped with myrrh,2
And my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone:

*My soul failed when he spake:

'I sought him, but I could not find him;

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I called him, but he gave me no answer.

7 The watchmen that went about the city found me,

They smote me, they wounded me;✦

The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

8 PI charge you, Q daughters of Jerusalem,

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If ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 5

O thou fairest among women?

What is thy beloved more than another beloved,—that thou dost so charge us? 'My beloved is white and ruddy,- -"the chiefest among ten thousand.

His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters,

Washed with milk, and fitly set.7

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices,—as sweet flowers:

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His lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl:

His belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. 8

15 His legs are as pillars of marble,-set upon sockets of fine gold:

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His countenance 10 is as Lebanon,-excellent as the cedars.

16 His mouth is most sweet:-yea, he is altogether lovely.

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This is my beloved,—and this is my friend,-O daughters of Jerusalem.
Whither is thy beloved 11 gone,-O thou fairest among women?

Whither is thy beloved turned aside?— that we may seek him with thee.

My beloved is gone down into his garden,

To the beds of spices,-to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine:-he feedeth among the lilies.

4 'Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, 12

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6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing,

Whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.

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7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.

1 Through which a person might thrust his arm to open the door. He naturally expected to be able to unfasten the door; but it appears to have been purposely secured by an additional fastening.

2 To her repentant feelings the dew (ver. 2) which her husband's hands had left on the door seemed like the choicest myrrh.

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3 Probably this means, 'I was out of my senses when he spoke: I acted foolishly in not admitting him. 4 They treated me as an abandoned woman. thing is intimated by the taking away of the veil, which is one of the greatest indignities that can be inflicted on a woman in Eastern countries.

5 This inquiry of the daughters of Jerusalem, suggested by the bride's passionate adjuration to them, is skilfully introduced by the poet, to lead to the description which immediately follows.

6 In the following descriptions, it must be remembered that, whilst those parts of the person which custom exposed to view are described, as to those parts which custom conceals it is only the dress which is referred to. In this verse the comparison is evidently incongruous if applied

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7 Rather, 'His eyes are doves by streams of water, washed with milk, dwelling in fulness.' This latter clause applies to the doves. The whole is meant to depict the soft, loving expression of the full, dark eyes.

8 Rather, His body is shining ivory, wrapped with sapphires; referring to the white robe of royalty, and the bright-coloured girdle.

9 Or, pedestals;' denoting the richly ornamented sandals.

10 Rather, 'his aspect; a bold and noble metaphor, to represent the manly dignity of his appearance. 11 This inquiry leads towards the scene of recon

ciliation.

12 See note on 1 Kings xiv. 17.

13 This figure, which is carried out in the next verse, represents the power of the bride's charms in captivating the hearts of those who beheld her. The praises which follow are the same as in ch. iv. 1-3.

8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines,

And virgins without number.

9 'My dove, my undefiled is but "one ;--she is the only one of her mother, She is the choice one of her that bare her.

The daughters saw her, and blessed her;

Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

10 y Who is she that looketh forth as the morning,

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Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? 11 I went down into the garden of nuts- to see the fruits of the valley, And to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.

12 Or ever I was aware,-/my soul made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib.2 Return, return,3 O Shulamite ; 4-return, return,

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That we may look upon thee.

"What will ye see in the Shulamite ?

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As it were the company of two armies.

How beautiful are 'thy feet with shoes,7- O prince's daughter!

The joints of thy thighs are like jewels,

The work of the hands of a cunning workman.

2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor;8

Thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

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4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory;

Thine eyes like the fishpools 10 in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim :

Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.

5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel,

And the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. 12

6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

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7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, 18-and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 14 8 'I said, I will go up to the palm tree,-I will take hold of the boughs thereof: Now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine,

And the smell of thy nose like apples;

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9 And the roof of thy mouth 15 like the best wine

-For my beloved, 16 that goeth down sweetly, Causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

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10 I am my beloved's,—and his desire is toward me.

11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages.

12 Let us get up early to the vineyards;-let us see if the vine flourish,

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Whether the tender grape 17 appear, and the pomegranates bud forth:

There will I give thee my loves.

13 The mandrakes 18 give a smell,

And at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old,
Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

8 Oh that thou wert as my brother, 19-that sucked the breasts of my mother!
When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee;
Yea, I should not be despised.

1 Not one of Solomon's numerous wives deserved the praise which is given to the espoused: even they unite in extolling her superior beauty (ver. 10). The bridegroom then justifies these praises by telling his own ardour of feeling when he saw her approach (11, 12).

2 Or, As the war chariots of my noble people.' 3 She is on the point of retiring, when he entreats her to come back.

4 Rather, 'Shulamith;' the female name corresponding with the name of Solomon (see note on ch. v. 2), and having the same signification-the peaceable' or 'peaceful' one. In giving the bride this name, which she immediately adopts and repeats, the bridegroom intimates that their union is still unbroken. See Isa. iv. 1. This incident beautifully illustrates the free and ready forgiveness and restoration of the backsliding but repentant church.

5 That is, 'I, and the daughters of Jerusalem,' supposed to be in attendance.

6 Rather, 'Why would ye look upon Shulamith as upon a troop of dancers?' . e. Would you gaze upon me as men gaze upon dancing girls?

7 Or, sandals.' As in the former instance (ch. v. 11

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-16), so here, it is the dress, and not the person, which is described.

8 Or, mixed wine.' The clasp of the under girdle appears to have consisted of a brilliant red jewel set in gold.

9 Or, 'body.' A sheaf bound with a garland of red lilies well represents the shape of the bride's dress when bound with a crimson embroidered shawl, such as ladies in the East tie round the waist.

10 That is, moist, dark, and sparkling.

11 This may refer to the glossy brightness of the hair, but most probably to the head-dress of purple.

12 Rather, The king is captivated by the flowing locks,' which hang from under the purple head-dress. 13 Upright, graceful, and stately.

14 Rather, of dates,' which are the fruit of the palm. 15 Or, And thy mouth is like,' etc.

16 The bride here abruptly interposes, and continues the discourse.

17 Rather, 'Whether the vine-blossom has opened.' 18 See Gen. xxx. 14, etc.

19 That is, as an infant child, whom she might caress in public as well as in private, without impropriety.

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house,

Who would instruct me:

I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine-of the juice of my pomegranate. 1 3 His left hand should be under my head,—and his right hand should embrace me.

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That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

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The bride's strong and unalterable love.

WHO is this 2 that cometh up from the wilderness, 3

Leaning upon her beloved?

I raised thee up under the apple tree:

There thy mother brought thee forth:

There she brought thee forth that bare thee.

6 Set me as a seal5 upon thine heart,-as a seal upon thine arm:

For love is strong as death;- jealousy is cruel as the grave:

The coals thereof are coals of fire,-which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,-neither can the floods drown it:

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t We have a little sister, 7—and she hath no breasts : 8

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If she be a wall, 10 we will build upon her a palace of silver:

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What shall we do for our sister-in the day when she shall be spoken for??

And if she be a door, 11-we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

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Then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

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11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers;

Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 13

12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me:

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Make haste, my beloved,

And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart
Upon the mountains of spices. 16

1 Among the Orientals, the sherbet made with pomegranate juice is particularly esteemed for its agreeable and cooling acidity.

2 In the fourth and concluding part, the bride appears, expressing her deep, constant, unchangeable love to her husband (ch. viii. 5-7), which leads her to leave her unwilling family, and give herself wholly to him (8-14). It can hardly be doubted that this is adapted to set before us the church purified from sin, freed from worldliness, and entirely devoted to the love and service of its Lord.

3 See note on ch. iii. 6.

4 Addressed to the bridegroom. 'I excited thy love;' i. e. first inspired thee with affection for me. The apple or quince tree was anciently regarded as peculiarly the tree of conjugal love.

5 Denoting intimate and inviolable union.

6 It is evident, from the connection, that the word jealousy' is only used here to express strong and intense love. Love is strong as death, inasmuch as it conquers all; and it is firm like the grave, which never relaxes its hold. Such a love the bride professes, and entreats her husband to cherish towards her.

7 The brothers of the bride (ch. i. 6), to whom the disposal of their sister belonged (see Gen. xxiv. 50), are now introduced, objecting to her marriage (vers. 8, 9); but she replies that she has arrived at maturity, and has pledged herself to Solomon (10-12). He then calls her;

A ch. 34

i Pro. & 2
& ch. 26

Ich 27; 32

ch. 3 6; Den 22 9-12

Pt. 3: I 1 4: 2 Car. 12 KB, Phili

• Ex. 28. 9-12, 91, 29. Is @ 16; Jer. 2 24; Hag 2 3; 1 Tim. 2 Is

p Ac. 20; 2 Car & 14, 15; Rev. 12. 1).

4 Pro. 6. 34.

Is (32; Ra 8. 2 -39.

s Pro. 6. 35.

Eze. 21 33; John
16: Ac. 15 14-07.
Re. 15 9-12
Ro. 10. 12-15
Zec. 6. 12-15, M
16 18, Eph. 22—
22.

y Ac. 14.7.

Deu. 7. 7, 8; Eph 1.3-6

a Ecc. 2. 4, 3

Mt. 21.33; Lk. 22.

e Pro. 4. 23; 1 Tim
4. 15, 16.

d P. 72 17-19: Ea
14 7-9; 1 Cce &
20; 2 Cor. 3. 12
1 Thes 2 19, 20; 1
Tim. 5. 17. 18.

Mt 13 ; AI;
John 14. 21-2

8 ch. 2 14: Jeba 14
13, 14: 157: 162
A Lk. 19. 12; Rev. 1.
17, 20

í ch. 2. 17.

and she responds, inviting him to take her to his home (13, 14). It is most likely that all this had taken place before, and is now related by the bride to show the determination and constancy of her affection.

8 She is not yet marriageable.

9 That is, when she shall be asked in marriage. 10 That is, if she be inaccessible-unwilling to receive suitors-we will ornament her in reward for her modesty. 11 That is, If she be disposed to give a ready reception to suitors, we will keep her in strict seclusion.

12 She replies to the brothers in their own style; and asserts that the modesty and reserve which rendered her inaccessible to the addresses of others would the more surely win the favour of her accepted suitor.

13 From Isa. vii. 23, this appears to have been the profit of the most productive vineyards.

11 That is, I take charge of it.

15 Or, Be thine the thousand, O Solomon, and two hundred to the keepers of its fruit.' The vineyard of Solomon seems to be introduced by way of contrast to that which the maiden regarded as her own vineyard namely, her personal attractions (comp. ch. i. 6). Solomon, she declares, is welcome to the profits of his vineyard She yields to him her affection disinterestedly and in return for his love.

16 These closing aspirations of the ancient church are echoed by the last inspired writer of the New Testament Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly' (Rev. xxii. 20).

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