Song of Solomon 5

Song of Solomon 5:1

I am come = I am coming. This is the shepherd’s suitable reply to her brief invitation.

spouse = betrothed, as in Son 4:8, Son 4:9, Son 4:10, Son 4:12.

I have gathered = I am gathering.

I have eaten = I am eating.

I have drunk = I am drinking. (The perfect tenses being used for the present. See Kautzsch’s Gesenius, 106.)

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

eat, O friends. The words of the court-ladies, encouraging the Shulamite and her beloved (masculine). See Structure on previous page.

Song of Solomon 5:2

I sleep = I was asleep, or sleepy.

waketh = kept awake.

it is. Supply “it was”.

my beloved. Hebrew masculine.

that knocketh = he is knocking (masculine).

my love = my friend. Feminine. Hebrew. ra’yah, as in Son 1:9, Son 1:15; Son 2:2, Son 2:10, Son 2:13; Son 4:1, Son 4:7; Son 5:2; Son 6:4.

Song of Solomon 5:3

I have put off. She quotes (Son 5:3) the reply her shepherd lover gave in her dream.

defile = soil.

Song of Solomon 5:4

put in his hand, &c. = withdrew his hand. Hebrew “sent away his hand from the hole”. So the Septuagint and Rashbam.

my bowels were moved for him = my heart was disquieted within me.

for him. Many codices read “within me”.

Song of Solomon 5:5

I (emph.): i.e. I immediately arose.

Song of Solomon 5:6

my soul = I (emph.) Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

he spake = when he was speaking of it.

Song of Solomon 5:7

went about: i.e. the patrol.

the city. She is still in Jerusalem and away from her country home. (See the notes, p. 920.)

took away my veil. This was gross insult to an Eastern woman.

Song of Solomon 5:8

I charge = I adjure.

you. See note on Son 2:7.

sick of love = love-sick.

of = with. love. Same word and sense as in Son 2:7; Son 3:5, and Son 8:4.

Song of Solomon 5:9

What is . . . ? The speakers are the court-ladies, replying to the conclusion of her dream. dost so charge us? = hast so adjured us?

Song of Solomon 5:10

My beloved. The Shulamite describes him further to them. See Structure (above).

the chiefest among ten thousand = distinguished or conspicuous above thousands. Hebrew “signalized as by a banner”.

Song of Solomon 5:11

bushy = flowing, waving, or curled.

Song of Solomon 5:12

rivers = channels, or gorges. Hebrew. ’aphikim. See note on 2 Samuel 22:16.

washed = bathed: i.e. the doves.

fitly set = set as gems in a ring.

Song of Solomon 5:13

a bed of spices = a raised bed of balSamaritan Pentateuch Some codices, with Septuagint, read “beds of balsam”.

dropping = distilling.

sweet smelling = liquid.

Song of Solomon 5:14

as gold rings = like golden cylinders.

set with the beryl = adorned with gems of Tarshish (alluding to the nails, of which great care was taken)

bright = polished.

Song of Solomon 5:15

marble = white marble.

sockets = bases.

countenance = aspect.

excellent = choice.

Song of Solomon 5:16

mouth = voice, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6.

altogether lovely = fervently cherished, or desired. Hebrew. mahmad. Occurs only here in this book.

This = Such.