8. threescore—indefinite number, as in Song of Solomon 3:7. Not queens, c., of Solomon, but witnesses of the espousals, rulers of the earth contrasted with the saints, who, though many, are but "one" bride (Isaiah 52:15 Luke 22:25; Luke 22:26; John 17:21; 1 Corinthians 10:17). The one Bride is contrasted with the many wives whom Eastern kings had in violation of the marriage law (1 Corinthians 10:17- :). read more
9. Hollow professors, like half wives, have no part in the one bride. only one of her mother—namely, "Jerusalem above" ( :-). The "little sister" ( :-) is not inconsistent with her being "the only one"; for that sister is one with herself ( :-). choice— (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). As she exalted Him above all others (Song of Solomon 5:10), so He now her. daughters . . . blessed her— (Isaiah 8:18; Isaiah 61:9; Ezekiel 16:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:10). So at her appearance after Pentecost... read more
10. The words expressing the admiration of the daughters. Historically ( :-). as the morning—As yet she is not come to the fulness of her light ( :-). moon—shining in the night, by light borrowed from the sun; so the bride, in the darkness of this world, reflects the light of the Sun of righteousness ( :-). sun—Her light of justification is perfect, for it is His (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 4:17). The moon has less light, and has only one half illuminated; so the bride's sanctification is as... read more
A Dream. His Beauty and hers2-7. Another dream of hers, with a painful ending. The accumulation (Son 5:2) of names of endearment reminds us of the frequent repetition, by a Palestinian bridegroom during the wedding dance, of Yâ halâli, Yâ mâli, ' O my property, 'Omy possession!'2. Heavy dew falls, especially during spring and in the second half of the night. The Spanish poet whom Longfellow translated had in his mind our passage and Revelation 3:20 :'Lord, what am I, that, with unceasing... read more
A Dream. His Beauty and hers2-7. Another dream of hers, with a painful ending. The accumulation (Song of Solomon 5:2) of names of endearment reminds us of the frequent repetition, by a Palestinian bridegroom during the wedding dance, of Yâ halâli, Yâ mâli, ’ O my property, ’Omy possession!’2. Heavy dew falls, especially during spring and in the second half of the night. The Spanish poet whom Longfellow translated had in his mind our passage and Revelation 3:20:’Lord, what am I, that, with... read more
A Dialogue. Her Loveliness10-13. A dialogue between these ladies and her. They compare her to the dawn, stooping down to look on the earth from the sky. It is still common in Arabic poems to address the beloved as 'Moon,' or 'Full moon'!11, 12. She tells of her visit to the nut-garden, where, ere she was aware of it, her soul, i.e. her desire, set her in the chariots of Ammi-nadib. The precise meaning of this expression cannot be determined. The general sense appears to be that she was sunk in... read more
(8) There are threescore queens.—Presumably a description of Solomon’s harem (from comp. with Song of Solomon 8:11-12), though the numbers are far more sober than in 1 Kings 11:3. Probably the latter marks a later form of the traditions of the grand scale on which everything at the court of the monarch was conducted, and this, though a poetic, is a truer version of the story of his loves. The conjunction of alamôth with concubines, pilageshîm (comp. παλλακή, pellex), decides for translating it... read more
(9) My dove . . . is but one.—“While the monarch’s loves are so many, one is mine, my dove, my perfect one: one, the delight of her mother, the darling of her who bore her.” It is impossible not to see in this a eulogy on monogamy, which, in practice, seems always to have been the rule among the Jews, the exceptions lying only with kings and the very rich. The eulogy is made more pronounced by putting an unconscious testimony to the superiority of monogamy into the mouths of the “queens and... read more
(10) Who is she.—This verse is supposed to be spoken by the admiring ladies. The paragraph mark in the English Version should rather be at the beginning of the next verse. (Comp.—“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!Arise, fair sun,” &c—Romeo and Juliet.)But the poet heightens his figure by combining both the great lights of heaven with the dawn, and putting the praise in the mouth of “the meaner beauties of the night,” who feel their own... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Song of Solomon 6:10
Song of Solomon 6:10. Who is she that looketh forth— Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, dazzling as all the starry hosts? The gradation of images so naturally leads to the interpretation here given, that it seems impossible that the passage could have had any other meaning. A little attention to the original will abundantly shew the propriety of the meaning here assigned. See the New Translation, and Robertson's Thesaurus, p. 860, &c.—Here... read more