Westminster Annotations, Song of Songs – Isaiah
ANNOTATIONS On the Book of CANTICLES.
The ARGUMENT.
THis was the most excellent of Solomons one thousand and five Songs, mentioned, 1 Kings 4. 32. and it alone remains upon record in sacred Writ. Herein, under the type of Solomon and his Queen, is set out the mutuall affection of Christ and his Church: the vicissitudes also of Christs manifesting of himself to, or hiding his affection from his Church in this world: with her earnest desire to be fully joyned to him, by an everlasting Marriage in heaven. Which are the speeches of the Bridegroom, and which of the Bride, will appear in the Notes. This Song, then, cannot but be pleasing to them who believe in Christ here, and long to be joyned with him for ever hereafter: which, whoso doth not, let him not read it; for he will get no good by it.
CHAP. I.
Vers. 1. THe song of songs] A most excellent song.
V. 2. Let him kisse me] This is spoken in the person of the Church, or of the faithfull soul, enflamed with the desire of more inward familiarity with Christ, whom she loveth, and which she manifesteth hereby.
with the kisses of his mouth] Let him refresh me with his gracious promises.
for thy love is better then wine] Chap. 4. 10. The tokens of thy love will make me more glad, then wine doth them that drink it, psal. 104. 15.
thy love] Heb. thy loves.
V. 3. Because of the savour] The feeling of thy great benefits, the comfort whereof spreads it self, John 12. 3.
thy Name is as ointment poured forth] The knowledge of thee.
do the virgins love thee] They that are pure in heart and conversation, Revel. 14. 4.
V. 4. Draw me] The faithfull confesse, that they cannot come to Christ except they be drawn.
we will run after thee] I and my maidens: the Church with her members.
Draw me, we will run after thee] Joh. 6. 44.
into his chambers] Meaning, the secret joy, that is not known unto the world.
the upright love thee] Or, they love thee uprightly. Heb. men of uprightnesses: that is, the most upright.
V. 5. I am black] Either in regard of her own defects, or troubles from others.
O ye daughters of Jerusalem] Termed virgins, v. 3.
as the tents of Kedar] As the tents of the Arabians the sons of Kedar, which were black without, but full of treasure within: or, as Solomons curtains, that had precious stones and jewels within.
V. 6. Look not upon me] Look not upon me with contempt, because of my outward appearance.
the sun hath looked upon me] God hath afflicted me, Matth. 13. 6, 21.
my mothers children were angry with me] False brethren have wronged me, 2 Cor. 11. 26. Gal. 2. 4.
they made me the keeper of the vineyards] They put me to hard and base services, Matth. 20. 12. 2 Kings 25. 12. so that I was forced to neglect my own charge.
V. 7. O thou whom my soul loveth] The Spouse being in trouble, or in danger of seduction, desireth to know where she may be safe under her husbands protection.
where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon] In time of trouble and danger, when the sun shines hottest, Matth. 13. 6, 21.
as one that turneth aside] Or, as one that is vailed.
by the flocks of thy companions?] Meaning, false prophets, who made themselves shepherds like Christ, 2 Cor. 11. 13. Rev. 2. 2.
V. 8. If thou know not] Christ speaketh to his Church, bidding them that are ignorant to observe the steps of the faithfull, and go to his ministers to learn.
V. 9. to a company of horses in, &c.] In regard of comelines.
V. 10. with rowes of jewels] For thy spirituall beauty and excellency, there is no worldly treasure to be compared unto thee.
V. 11. We will make thee borders of gold] I, and the Father, and the holy Ghost, will make thee yet more glorious.
V. 12. my spikenard sendeth forth, &c.] When the Church enjoys Christ in his ordinances, she brings forth good works, pleasing to him, delightfull to her self, and profitable to others.
V. 13. A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloved unto me] As a sweet nosegay to comfort me.
he shall lie all night betwixt my brests] I desire to enjoy him perpetually, Isai. 26. 9.
V. 14. as a cluster of camphire] A plant of sweet savour which grew sometimes among the vines; of which there was store at En-gedi, or, the best kinde grew there. Of the place, see Josh. 15. 62. 2 Chron. 20. 2. camphire] Or, cypres.
V. 15. Behold, thou art fair, my love] Chap. 4. 1. and 5. 12.
thou art fair] Christ accepts his Church, and commendeth her beauty, in respect of the graces he had given her, Eph. 5. 26, 27.
my love] Or, my companion.
V. 16. yea pleasant] She attributes more to Christ, then he did to her.
our bed is green] She allureth him to dwell with her, having prepared her heart as a comfortable lodging for him.
rafters] Or, galleries.
CHAP. II.
Vers. 1. I Am the rose of Sharon] Christ is sweet and beautifull to his.
V. 2. so is my love among the daughters] Thus Christ preferreth his Church above all other assemblies, as a lilie above thorns.
V. 4. As the apple-tree among the trees] The Spouse testifieth her great affection toward her husband, but her strength to expresse it faileth her; and therefore she desireth comfort, and obtaineth it.
I sate down] Heb. I delighted and sate down, &c.
I sate down under his shadow] Christ gives shelter and pleasant fruit to his, and is as much better then others, as an appletree is better then an unfruitfull tree.
taste] Heb. palate.
V. 4. to the banqueting-house] Into the Scriptures, or the society of Gods saints in the publike assembly.
banqueting-house] Heb. house of wine.
his banner over me was love] He drew me to the knowledge of him, by his love shewed to me. A metaphor from souldiers, who are called together to their own company by an ensigne, Isai. 11. 10, 12.
over me] Or, toward me.
V. 5. Stay me with flagons] Ye ministers, stay me with Gods promises, and the comforts of his word.
comfort me with apples] Heb. straw me with apples.
V. 6. His left hand is under my head, &c.] Chap. 8. 3. Alluding to their feasts, when they lay on the ground; so that if any fainted, they put one hand under them to lift them up, and gave them some comfortable potion with the other.
his right hand doth embrace me] OnelyOnly Christs embraces can cure us in our trances. It seems he was now gone, and she thereupon falling into a trance, being by his ministers recovered, and taking rest, he suddenly coming in, and finding her asleep, forbids her attendants to awake or disturb her, v. 7. But she hearing his voice, awakes of her self, v. 8. So Christ soon comes to his Church in trouble, and she soon apprehends his coming, psal. 63. 8. and 73. 23. Or it may be the Churches speech, forbidding her attendants to disturb her Spouse, when he is at rest with her.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me] Or, let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand embrace me.
V. 7. I charge you] Heb. I adjure you.
I charge you, O ye daughters of, &c.] Chap. 3. 5. and 8. 4.
by the roes] As ye love the creatures in which ye delight, and would not have them perish. he] Or, she.
V. 8. he cometh] She speaketh like one not quite awake: she thinks she hears him a great way off.
leaping] Overcoming all difficulty great and small.
V. 9. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart] Verse 17.
he looketh forth at the windows] Or, …e looketh in thorow the windows, as one yet without the door: he was neerer now then before on the mountains, yet not so neer as he will be, 1 Cor. 13. 12.
shewing] Heb. flourishing.
V. 10. My Beloved spake] By the inspiration of his Spirit.
and come away] Draw neerer toward me, and toward heaven.
V. 11. the winter is past] The troubles of the world are over, and heavenly joys are neer.
V. 12. The flowers appear] These are signes of spring approaching, to which Christs comfortable accesse to his Church is likened, Jer. 8. 7. Matth. 24. 32.
V. 14. that art in the clefts of the rock] Hidden because of persecution.
sweet is thy voice] The voice of thanksgiving from thee, which pleaseth me well.
V. 15. Take us the foxes] Christ speaks to his ministers and magistrates to destroy false teachers, who seduce weak Christians.
V. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his] Chap. 6. 3. and 7. 10.
he feedeth among the lilies] The preaching of the word is pleasant.
V. 17. Ʋntill the day break] Chap. 4. 6. Send forth light. She prays Christ to be with her in all her troubles in the night of this world.
like a roe, or a young hart] Chap. 8. 14.
of Bether] Or, of division.
CHAP. III.
Vers. 1. BY night] Heb. …n the nights.
By night on my bed, &c.] The Church could not sleep night after night, because of Christs absence.
V. 2. in the broad ways I will seek him] When we cannot finde comfort our selves in Christ, we must seek for it by advice from others.
V. 3. The watchmen that go about the citie, found me] The watchmen here, are such as should have directed her to her Bridegroom.
V. 4. untill I had brought him into my mothers house] The Spouse speaks like a virgin, accounting the publike assembly her mother, Gal. 4. 26.
V. 5. I charge you, O ye daughters, &c.] Chap. 2. 7. and 8. 4.
till he please] See Notes on chap. 2. 7. he] Or, she.
V. 6. Who is this that cometh out of, &c.] Chap. 8. 5.
out of the wildernesse] Christ admires at the Church, coming out of the wildernesse of the world toward the heavenly Canaan, to seek him, so soon as she awakes.
pillars of smoke] An allusion to the incense offered in the law, psal. 141. 2. so sweet are the prayers of the saints to Christ.
with all] Or, better then all.
V. 7. threescore valiant men are about it] Christ not onelyonly forbids men to disturb the rest of his Spouse, but also sets his angels about her, to guard her, as she here confesseth.
V. 8. in the night] Heb. in the nights: that is, nightly.
V. 9. a chariot] Or, a bed.
a chariot of the wood of Lebanon] All that follows, serves to set out Christs glory.
V. 10. for] Or, by.
V. 11. O ye daughters of Zion] All ye that are of the number of the faithfull, behold Christs glory, and rejoyce at it.
CHAP. IIII.
Vers. 1. BEhold, thou art fair, my love] Chap. 1. 15. and 5. 12.
thou art fair, my love] Christ coming suddenly, findes his Church ready to entertain him.
thou hast doves eyes] Because he delighteth in his Church, he commendeth all that is in her.
thy hair is as a flock of goats] He hath respect to the multitude of the faithfull, which are many in number.
flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead] Chap. 6. 5, 6.
that appear from] Or, that eat of, &c.
V. 3. Thy lips are like a threed of scarlet] Thin and red, which is the grace of the lips.
V. 5. Thy two brests are like two young roes] Chap. 7. 3.
which feed among the lilies] In pleasing pastures, as being full of fair flowers.
V. 6. Ʋntill the day break] Chap. 2. 17.
break] Heb. breathe.
I will get me to the mountain of myrrhe] I will retire to heaven, till the wedding-day come.
V. 7. Thou art all fair, my love] Ephes. 5. 27.
V. 8. Come with me from Lebanon] These mountains were bordering on the land of Canaan. Christ calls her from the world, the seat of cruell men, to heaven.
my spouse] Now she is without spot, v. 7. she is fit to be Christs Spouse.
and Hermon] Deut. 3. 9.
V. 9. ravished my heart] Or, taken away my heart.
my sister] By my Incarnation, and by adoption of thee.
with one of thine eyes] With one glance of thine eyes, tho… hast gotten my heart.
with one chain of thy neck] By my graces which I have given thee; not by thy naturall parts. He made his Church beautifull, and loves his own gifts in her.
neck] Heb. necks: that is, of both sides of thy neck.
V. 10. how much better is thy love then wine!] Chap. 1. 2.
the smell of thine ointments then all spices!] Thy graces, and the exercises of them.
V. 11. Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honey-comb] They are full of thanksgiving, which is pleasing to God.
like the smell of Lebanon] Which had cedars, frankincensetrees and vines on it, yeelding sweet savour, Hos. 14. 6, 7.
V. 12. A garden] Full of fine flowers and fruits.
enclosed] Heb. barred. Kept safe by God, and keeping her fruit for Christ and his.
aspring shut up] Full of waters of heavenly instruction and consolation, John 4. 14. and 7. 37. kept safe, and reserved for peculiar use, Matth. 27. 65, 66. Exod. 19. 5. Tit. 2. 14.
V. 13. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates] The faithfull, psal. 92. 13.
with pleasant fruits] Good works, Joh. 15. 8, Phil. 1. 11.
with spikenard] Heb. spikenards: that is, divers kindes of spikenard: the chief is mentioned, v. 14.
V. 15. A fountain of gardens] Jer. 2. 13. My sister is so, v. 12.
V. 16. O north-winde] Christs commands his Spirit to breathe upon his Church.
that the spices thereof may flow out] That the fruits may be many, and ripen well.
let my beloved come into his garden] Seeing Christ commends the fruit, the Church desires he would come eat of it.
CHAP. V.
Vers. 1. I Am come into my garden] No sooner doth the Church wish for Christ, but he comes.
I have gathered my myrrhe] I have taken pleasure in thy works done by my grace.
eat, O friends] O saints and angels, rejoyce in the prosperity of the Church militant, Luke 15. 7.
yea, drink abundantly, &c.] Or, and be drunken with loves.
V. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh] I am carried away with worldly cares, yet my heart thinks on Christ still.
that knocketh] By the motions of his Spirit.
Open to me] By receiving those motions.
my undefiled] Christ counts his Church pure, though she have weaknesses.
my head is filled with dew] He hath suffered many hard things to come to her.
V. 3. how shall I put it on?] She defers admittance of him, upon excuse of pretended inconveniences, Prov. 24. 33.
V. 4. and my bowels were moved] When Christ reveals himself more neerly, the Churches tender affection begins to work towards him.
for him] Or, (as some reade) in me.
V. 5. my hands dropped with myrrhe] Entertaining of Christ carries sweetnesse with it.
my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrhe, upon] Or, the myrrhe passed over my fingers, upon.
sweet-smelling] Heb. passing, or running about.
V. 6. my soul failed when he spake] My neglect of his speech troubled me when he was gone.
when] Or, because.
V. 7. The watchmen that went about the citie] Isa. 62. 6. Governours use her hardly, by Gods just judgement, for neglecting Christ. See Notes on chap. 3. 3.
from me] Heb. from on me.
V. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem] I give you in charge by oath what ye shall say to him; to wit, That I am sick of love.
that] Heb. what.
V. 9. What is thy beloved more then another] Men naturally see not the excellencie that is in Christ more then in others.
O thou fairest] The Church is beautifull in persecution.
V. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy] She describeth Christs beauty, to encrease her own and others affection to him.
the chiefest] Heb. a standard-bearer.
the chiefest among ten thousand] One that may bear a standard among them, as most worthy to be admired.
V. 11. His head is as the most fine gold] She describerh Christ to be of perfect beauty and comelinesse.
bushy] Or, curled.
V. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of doves] Chap. 1. 15. and 4. 1.
washed with milk] Heb. washing: that is, as doves washing themselves in milk-white streams.
fitly set] Heb. set in fulnesse. As jewels set in a ring, neither too far out nor in.
his head is as Lebanon] As the trees of Lebanon, psal. 29. 6.
excellent as the cedars] Heb. chosen: For excellent things are chosen before others.
CHAP. VI.
Vers. 1. THat we may seek him with thee] The faithfull, hearing Christ so commended, desire to seek him with the Church.
V. 2. My beleved is gone into his garden] Jerusalem being on an hill, they went down to the gardens: so Christ comes down from heaven spiritually into the congregation.
V. 4. as Tirzah] A fair and strong city, the seat of Jeroboams kingdom, 1 Kings 14. 17.
V. 5. Turn away thine eyes from me] This declareth the exceeding love of Christ toward his Church.
V. 8. There are threescore queens] It seems that Solomon writ this book of Canticles before he had his full number of wives; for he had many more after.
and virgins, &c.] To attend on the queens, psal. 45. 14.
V. 9. my undefiled is but one] Christ commends his Church above all other societies: and they commend her also.
she is the onelyonly one, &c.] As dear as an onelyonly childe, Jer. 31. 20.
V. 10. terrible as an army, &c.] Though the beginning of the Church was small, yet afterwards it grew to a great number.
V. 12. Or over I was aware] Christ coming to see the good works of his people, is like a young man suddenly ravished with the beauty of a virgin.
CHAP. VII.
Vers. 1. HOw beautifull are thy feet with shoes] He describeth the comely beauty of the Church in every part, which is to be understood spiritually.
V. 5. the king is held in the galleries] The king being in his galleries, and seeing thee come by, stands still, as if he were bound, to gaze on thee. See how Christ delights in the beauty of his Church.
V. 9. for my beloved] They are the words of Christ; but he speaketh as if the Church spake, to shew her great affection, that had dedicated all her good things to him.
sweetly] Heb. straightly.
V. 11. let us go forth into the field] Into the countrey. She speaks like a citizens wife, weary of the close air of the citie, and perswading her husband to go with her to his countreyhouse to take pleasure.
V. 12. Let us get up early to the vineyards] Let us rise betimes, that we may spend the more time together in our delights.
if the vine flourish] Let us look whether the people called bring forth any fruit.
there will I give thee my loves] Divers tokens of it, or plentifull demonstration of my affection to thee.
V. 13. The mandrakes, &c.] See the Notes on Gen. 30. 4.
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. O That thou wert as my brother] The Church desires such an inward and entire familiarity and amity with Christ, as a sister hath with a brother.
yea I should not he despised] Men would not contemn me, as now they do in thine absence or, they would take no exception to my familiar conversing with thee, in whom there is so much excellency: or, my love should not be rejected by thee, v. 7.
V. 2. bring thee into my mothers house] Into the publike assemblies, where I should receive instruction from thee.
I would cause thee to drink of spi…ed wine] She would, by the exercise of her graces received from him, give him all pleasing contentment, chap. 4. 16. Col. 1. 10.
V. 4. that ye stir not up, nor] Heb. why should ye stir up, or why, &c.
V. 6. Set me as a seal upon thine heart] The Spouse desireth to be joyned with Christ in love for ever, and never more to be parted from him; and that she might be as a signet precious to him, and always in his sight, Jer. 22. 24. Hag. 2. 24. Isa. 49. 16.
love is strong as death] No affection more forcible, or that can lesse be forced.
V. 7. Many waters cannot quench love] No troubles can hinder or abate hearty love to a party, nor no treasure can make him love us heartily. True love is free, and cannot be purchased.
V. 8. We have a little sister] The Church of the Jews speaks this to Christ in the behalf of the Gentiles.
hath no brests] No means to nourish her children to God yet.
V. 9. we will build upon her] Thou, by the ministers preaching; and I, by my Spirit. It is the answer of Christ to the Churches request, v. 8.
V. 11. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-ham…n] This is Gods vineyard, mentioned, Isai. 5. 1. Matth. 21. 33.
he let out the vineyard unto keepers] That dresse it, and look to the fruits of it, Luke 20. 9.
V. 12. is before me] I have a care of it, Isa. 27. 3.
thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand] The main rent is ready for thee.
those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred] There is also an allowance for the ministers.
V. 13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens] Christ speaks to his Church here upon earth, whose voice her attendants hearken to in the ministery of the word, and desires to hear her likewise speaking to him by invocation, chap. 2. 14.
V. 14. Make haste, my beloved] She being encouraged by his gracious invitation, v. 13. makes her humble request to him to return to her with all speed, Rev. 22. 17, 20.