Song of Solomon 7
EdwardsSong of Solomon 7:1
Song of Solomon 7:1. “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter!” This is to signify the amiableness of her conversation, and that her conversation is not naturally amiable, but that this beauty of conversation is put upon her. And another thing implied is, that she was prepared for travel, as the people in Egypt were to have their shoes on their feet. Exodus 12:11. So the apostle directs that Christians should have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Ephesians 6:15. i.e. a preparation for travel according to the gospel, and by the gospel of peace. To the same scope is what follows - “The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hand of a cunning workman.” The joints, the knees, and hips, are especially the seat and means of motion in walking. When it is said, The joints of thy thighs are the work of a cunning workman, this may be explained by that of the apostle, Ephesians 2:10, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath fore-ordained that they should walk in them.” The whole body of the church is fitly joined together by joints and bands; the joints are kept firm, and fit for their proper motion and operation by mutual charity, holy love and union, and communion of saints.
Song of Solomon 7:2
Song of Solomon 7:2. “Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor.” The navel, according to the ancient notions they had of things, was the seat of health. Proverbs 3:8, “It shall be health to thy navel.” Job 40:16, “His force is in the navel of his belly.” So that the thing which is here most probably represented is the spiritual health of the church: her navel is compared to a goblet which wanteth not liquor, i.e. full of wine, that enlivening, invigorating liquor. The word signifies mixture or temperament, or wine mixed or tempered; that is, wine that is so prepared as to make it the most agreeable and wholesome; (see Proverbs 23:30; Proverbs 9:2); probably the same may be meant that is called spiced wine, in Son 8:2.
Song of Solomon 7:4
Song of Solomon 7:4. “Thine eyes are like the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim.” It seems there were two or more noted fish-pools near to the city of Heshbon, the chief city in the country of Moab, by one of the gates of that city, called the gate of Bath-rabbim, i.e. the gate of the house of the multitude, probably so called because at that gate was a house for the resort of the multitudes that resorted to these pools for the sake of the water of that pool, and fish which were caught there, and to wash themselves there; and perhaps these pools might be remarkable for the clearness of the water, and their fitness to exhibit a true and distinct image of the multitudes that resorted thither, wherein men might see themselves as they were, and might see the spots and filth which they would wash off, and wherein was a true representation of other things. So that the thing signified by the eyes of the spouse may be the spiritual knowledge and understanding of the church, by which she has a true knowledge of herself and her own pollutions, and also a true representation or idea of other things. And also hereby may be signified the benevolence and bountifulness of the eyes of a true saint, so that they as it were yield meat and drink to a multitude, as it is probable these fish-pools did. Proverbs 22:9. Son 7:4. “Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Damascus.” The tower of Lebanon, looking towards Damascus, was probably some tower built in Lebanon, on the frontier next to the kingdom of Damascus, to watch over that country, and for the defense of Israel from its inhabitants. By the account which history gives of Damascus, it was a magnificent city, and an exceeding pleasant, delightful place, like a mere garden of pleasure, and therefore, it is called the city of praise and joy, Jeremiah 49:25, and in Amos 1:5 is called Beth-Eden, or the house of Eden. Men of carnal minds would prefer the land to the land of Israel, that God calls the pleasant land, and the glory of all lands. Naaman, the Syrian, contemned the waters of Israel in comparison of Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus. And it seems their religion and worship was exceedingly pompous, tending much to please a vain carnal mind that savors the things of men more than the things of God. King Ahaz was greatly taken up with the curious fashion and workmanship of the altar he saw there, and he sent to Urijah the priest a pattern of it, that he might make one like it in the courts of God’s house, and chose rather to offer his sacrifice on this new altar than on the altar of the Lord. 2 Kings 16:10, etc. The nose is the organ of smelling; therefore here the church is commended for her spiritual scent, which was a good defense to her from corrupt doctrines, and false ways of worship of men’s invention, however specious and fair, and tending much more to please a carnal taste than the true religion of Jesus Christ. Pomp and magnificence, and the curious inventions of men, and the things which men’s wisdom teaches, please men of corrupt minds; but a true saint, through a spiritual taste or scent, nauseates those things, and is defended from them. This spiritual scent is the best defense from those things that would corrupt her mind from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Song of Solomon 7:5
Song of Solomon 7:5. “Thine head upon thee is like Carmel (or crimson, as it is in the margin), and the hair of thine head like purple.” If by head here be understood the eldership of the church; then her head is compared to Carmel, probably because Carmel was a very fruitful hill, and a high hill, whose fruits were seen at a distance, as Christ compares his disciples to a city set on a hill, whose works could not be hid. (See Note on chap. 4:1.) The hair is the fruit of the head, and may represent both the doctrine and conversation of faithful ministers, who know nothing, and savor of nothing either in their doctrine or life, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and so their preaching and walk is, as it were, colored with his blood. And this also may be signified by it, that the holy doctrine and conversation of ministers are a princely ornament to them, purple being the color of the robes of princes. But, perhaps, by the head of the spouse, here may be meant the doctrine which she holds, the doctrine of the gospel, which is represented as a glorious crown on her head in Revelation 12:1. This may be compared to Carmel, that fruitful hill, because it is the doctrine that is according to godliness or to crimson, because Jesus Christ and him crucified, or Christ’s shedding his blood, is the sum and substance of it.
Song of Solomon 7:7
Song of Solomon 7:7. “And thy breasts to clusters of grapes.” By her breasts here, most probably, is intended the grace of love, or spiritual complacency; affection to her husband and his children. The bosom is put for love; so Christ is said to be in the bosom of the Father. This agrees with that in Proverbs 5:19. “Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.” Christ’s love is compared to wine, Song chap. 1. And so is the love of the spouse, Son 4:10. “How much better is thy love than wine!” And here her breasts are compared to clusters of grapes. See No. 488.
Song of Solomon 7:8
Song of Solomon 7:8. “And the smell of thy nose like apples.” As by the roof of the mouth in the next verse, is not intended simply the roof of the mouth itself, as though that were exceedingly pleasant to the bridegroom, this being a part of the body that is hidden; but thereby is probably meant the speech which comes from the mouth: so here, by the nose, is not meant the nose itself, but the breath; so the bridegroom would hereby signify that the smell of her breath was sweet, her vitals being sound, and pure, and sweet, being made so by the food she ate, viz. apples, the food she from time to time desires to be refreshed with, it being the fruit that he yields, who is as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, whose fruit was sweet to her taste. Persons’ breath commonly smells of the food which they eat; thus the breath of the spouse is represented as smelling like apples.
Song of Solomon 7:9
Song of Solomon 7:9. “And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.” By the roof of the mouth is here probably meant his discourse, which is like excellent wine that goes sweetly down, and so refreshes and enlivens other saints whom here Christ calls his beloved, that it causes those of them that are asleep, and in the dullest frame, to speak; it enlivens their hearts and tongues in divine things.