Ch. VI. Ver. 11-13. Bridegroom. Into the garden of nuts I went down, Virgin 1. Virgin 2. Virgin 1. To examine the fruits of the valley: If the pomegranates blossomed. Ere I was aware, my soul placed me Return, return, that we may behold thee. As it were the chorus of two bands. In the first lines of this paragraph the Bridegroom, after relating the commendations the spouse had received from her own sex, adds, that when he left her to go alone into his garden, she so occupied his mind, that he instantly as it were turned back, and seeing her at a distance flew to meet her. Then her heart seems to misgive her, and she withdraws, upon which the chorus of virgins calls on her repeatedly to turn again, and wait for his approach. Such appears to me the general outline of the drama; but there are difficulties in the meaning of particular words, not so easy to be explained. What for instance was the garden of nuts? and why go down among the nuts in the valley to examine the vines and pomegranates, which generally grew upon the hills? That the word is rightly rendered nuts, I am inclined to believe on the authority of the Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Targum, and the majority of Jewish as well as Christian exposi tors. That these grew in the valleys may easily be admitted. It appears also, from authorities produced by Mr. HARMER, that the eastern gardens are generally planted in low situations; for the conveniency of water, and JOSEPHUS tells us that the nut tree (though a cúrious exotic in that country) flourished in Galilee, near the lake of Genesareth, along with plants of a warmer region'. What particular species of nut be here intended, the wall-nut, the filberd, &c. is hardly worth dis'cussion; but Dr. SHAW, who votes for the former, tells us that these trees begin to be very shady and pleasant by the time the vines blos som. 1 Whether Amminadib be taken for the pro See Poli Synop. and Gill in loc. But Mr. Parkhurst, following the derivation of the word (n for 11), explains it of a garden pruned or cultivated: hortus putatos,' Tremel lius: Putationis vel tonsionis, Jun. Piscator. See Castell. Lex. Hept. in 18. 2 Joseph. de bell. Jud. lib. iii. chap. 35. The celebrated Song of Ibrahim, says also, I went down to admire the "beauty of the vines.' 3 This verse is remarkably obscure and doubtful; for, 1. the MS. and versions so vary as to make the reading of the original very doubtful. Twenty MSS. and one edition, read (y) Amminadib in one word: five of these MSS. and two editions, point the word so as to determine it to be the proper name. Many other MSS. read it in one word, with the insertion of a second yod, y. The most antient versions also consider it as the name of an individual. LXX, aquala Apivadal: Vulgate, Quadrigas Aminadab: Tigu rine, Currus Aminadib.'-On the other hand, it must be confessed, the general current of the copies, both MSS. and printed, runs for the division of this word into two the chariots of my willing, noble, or princely people.' So 6 y, well as in the attainments and experience of believers. 2. Christ's plants flourish in an humble situation-in the valley-by the brook side'. It is in the moist soil of repentance, watered by the influences of the Spirit, that the Christian graces flourish best-that believers grow most rapidly in divine knowledge and experience. 6 3. The Lord condescends to visit these humble spots: Thus saith the high and lofty one, he that inhabiteth eternity, to that man will I look, that is poor, and contrite, and trembleth at my word.' 4. The Lord so tenderly loves his church and people, that he is ever ready to fly to their assistance. The Beloved is represented in the beginning of the section as absent-and long did the church seek him in vain, because she sought him in improper ways. But no sooner does she recollect that he was gone down into his garden, and attempts to seek him there, than (like the father of the prodigal, who saw his son at a great distance, and ran to receive him) he flew to meet the object of his affections with the utmost ardour. 5. Those who truly seek the Lord are sometimes afraid to meet him: their hearts misgive them, and notwithstanding all his promises, they conclude the Lord will not receive such unworthy creatures. So the LXX render it, yevaa 78 Xauappou, the shoots ⚫ of the brook;' and the same word in the Heb. (3) is both a valley and a stream, because, in the rainy seasons, streams are formed by torr ents in the valleys. 6. The bride, the Lamb's wife, bears his name and character upon her. She is a Shulamite, an inhabitant of Jerusalem-the city of peace, because the Lord, when he writeth up the people, will record that this and that man, the members of his church, were born there. She is Solima, the bride of the true Solomonthe Prince of peace, and therefore (at least in our translation) she bears the name 'Jehovah "our righteousness' upon her'. 7. The church is an object of admiration to all around her. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the chorus of two bands.' Some writers have explained these two bands of the Jews and Gentiles as united in one chorus-One song of praise to God and to the Lamb. Others explain the image of an union and co-operation in their exertions; and one ingenious writer, of a variety of perfections and excellencies, which, though seemingly opposite and inconsistent, unite, harmonize, blend, like two corresponding choirs. Either of these ideas may usefully occupy our meditations, or they may be joined without confusion or absurdity. Jer. xxxiii. 16. S s SECTION XI. Ch. VII. Ver. 1-9. 1st Virgin. How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, The cincture of thy loins is like jewellery, Thy clasp a round goblet, which wanteth not Thy body a heap of wheat, encompassed with Thy breasts are like twin fawns of the roe: Thine eyes are as the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim : Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon, Looking towards Damascus. Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, And the tresses of thy head like the Porpura. 2d Virgin. The king is detained in the galleries. Bridegroom. How beautiful and how pleasing art thou, O love, for delights! Spouse. This thy stature is like the palm-tree, I will clasp its branches: And thy breasts shall be to me as clusters of the vine, And the odour of thy breath like citrons. Also thy mouth is as the best wine, Which is sent to those whom I love for their integrity; And causeth the lips of them who are asleep to murmur. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. THE scene here is commonly supposed to be that of the virgins dressing the bride in the morning in order to receive the bridegroom, |
