Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 4 · Verse 2
VERS. 2.
Thy Teeth are like a …lock of Sheep, that are even ſhorn, which come up from the waſhing: whereof every one beare Twins, and none is barren among them.
CHriſt goes on in the commendation of his Spouſe, and that by propounding ſome other particulars. In this Verſe is introduced her Teeth, compared to a flock, towit, of Sheep, or Ewes, which is here to be underſtood, becauſe it is not expreſſed in the Hebrew.
This flock unto which the Teeth of the Spouſe are likened, is ſet forth in fowre particulars.
1. They are in good order like ſheep even ſhorn, &c.
2. They are cleanſed, which come up from the waſhing.
3. They are twinned, whereof every one beareth Twins.
4. They be not barren, none is barren among them.
Thy Teeth are like a flock of Sheep, &c.
The firſt commendations of the teeth is, that they are like a flock of Sheep that are even ſhorn, that is, that are made even, or equall, of the ſame ſize, that ſtand in good foreign Incidit praecidit, ſuccidit, decurtavit.order. The Hebrew word Ketſoboth, turned even, ſhorne, or, good order, of Ketſab, to cut, to ſize or make equall (as of one ſize the Cherubs were made in 1 Kings 6. 25.) it muſt ſignifie ſuch an even-neſſe, or good order, as followeth in things a like ſized and carved. And here (as a Rabbin obſerveth) it ſignifieth ſuch a flock of animalls, as are ſo orderly equall, as if one were cut or ſized by another. This is the firſt praiſe of theſe myſticall teeth of the Church, that they are cut of equall height, or of equall bigneſſe, not one longer then another, which would be unſeemly, and an hindrance to the well eating and chewing of her ſpirituall food. The ſecond commendation followeth.
Which come up from the waſhing.
Sheep that are newly waſhed are white and cleane, being cleanſed by water from filth and duſt. As it is a commendation to the teeth to be orderly proportioned and ſeated, ſo to be cleare and white as Lambs going up from the waſhing. It was a part of Judah's bleſſing, that his Teeth ſhould be white with milke, Gen. 49. 12. This terme of waſhing, whereby the Teeth are ſet out to be cleare, white, and beautious, ſeems to be taken from the ſacramentall waſhings of the Jewes, and may ſignifie the purity of that ſpirituall food, wherewith the Church is fed and nouriſhed: or elſe the cleanneſſe of the ſoule that receives ſuch ſpirituall food. The third commendation of the teeth followeth.
Whereof every one beare twins.
As fruifull Ewes ſometimes bring forth twins of equall bigneſſe, ſo the teeth are ſet in equall ranks one anſwerable to another. Some of the Rabbins read Mathimoth paſſively, to avoid tautoligie in the next foreign Gemmus fuit, congeminatus eſt.clauſe, thus, Every one whereof is twinned, or paired, that is, like as ſheep going from the waſhing by couples, whereby is plainly ſet forth the equall correſpondence of upper and lower teeth, each one orderly anſwering the other, as cut and ſized by couples. This may denote the unity and fellowſhip of believers, that feed on the ſpirituall food of Jeſus Chriſt. The Saints are fed and nouriſhed together by the heavenly Manna, even as Sheep goe up in couples from the waſhing. The fourth and laſt commendation of theſe teeth followeth.
And none is barren among them.
None is barren, or, as the word Shacculah, importeth, none amongſt them aborts, that is, brings forth before the time, or none is bereaved or robbed of the young, by miſcarrying, or the like. That which is barren is that which beareth not, as appears in Iſaiah 64. 1. Sing O barren thou that beareſt not, &c. but here the word ſignifieth either miſcarrying in the birth, or loſſe of that which is brought forth, by robberie, death or the like: ſo this denoteth the ſtedfaſtneſſe of every tooth in his place, after it is brought forth: as if it were ſaid, there is no tooth wanting in their order and place but even and ſtedfaſt, as ſheep yeilding twins, and never miſcarrying: ſo hath the Church her teeth.
Some underſtand theſe teeth, the paſtours and teachers of the Church, becauſe they were ſuch as did Cut and divide the word of truth aright unto the people, as the Apoſtle ſaith: but I rather underſtand it of the Churches judging, diſcerning, and applying the word of God, to the comfort and nouriſhing of her owne ſoul, feeding by faith upon the promiſes of God. The ſpirituall food of the ſoule is Chriſt, and therefore is called, The bread of life, that came downe from heaven, Joh. 6. And the word is called the food of our ſoules, the Apoſtle willeth us, As new borne babes to deſire the ſincere milke of the word, 1 Pet. 2. 2. And Paul telleth the Corinths, That they were carnall, even babes in Chriſt, and that he gave them milke to drinke, and not ſtrong meate, 1 Cor. 3. Now by the teeth of the Church is meant that eſteeme, diſcerning and applying of the word of God, that ſhe hath for her owne comfort and nouriſhment.
Hence Obſerve.
That the Saints doe comfortably feed on Chriſt and his word, as on the heavenly food of their ſoules.
It is ſaid in Pſal. 22. 26. The meeke ſhall eate and be ſatisfied, and in Pſal. 132. 15. the meeke and needy ſhall have enough. And Luke 1. 53. God filleth the hungrie with good things. that is, they ſhall be ſatisfied and filled with the good things of the Goſpel. And thus wiſedome inviteth the ſimple, To eate of her bread, and drinke of her wine, Prov. 9. 5. Thus Jeſus tels the Jews, that he was the bread of life, Joh. 6. now it is upon Chriſt, and on the ſweet promiſes, that the ſoule is nouriſhed; and it is the believer only can feed upon this ſpirituall food, judging and diſcerning it aright. So much for the commendation of the Churches teeth. It followeth.