Bible Commentaries
Song of Solomon 5

Verse 1

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

spouse = betrothed, as in Song of Solomon 4:8 , Song of Solomon 4:9 , Song of Solomon 4:10 , Song of Solomon 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.

Verse 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 Song of Solomon 1:9 , Song of Solomon 1:15 ; Song of Solomon 2:2 , Song of Solomon 2:10 , Song of Solomon 2:13 ; Song of Solomon 4:1 , Song of Solomon 4:7 ; Song of Solomon 5:2 ; Song of Solomon 6:4 .

Verse 3

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

defile = soil.

Verse 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".

Verse 5

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

Verse 6

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

he spake = when he was speaking of it.

Verse 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.

Verse 8

I charge = I adjure.

you. See note on Song of Solomon 2:7 .

sick of love = love-sick.

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

Verse 9

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

Verse 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".

Verse 11

bushy = flowing, waving, or curled.

Verse 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.

Verse 13

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

dropping = distilling.

sweet smelling = liquid.

Verse 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.

Verse 15

marble = white marble.

sockets = bases.

countenance = aspect.

excellent = choice.

Verse 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.