In this chapter an account is given of an adventure of the church, in quest of her beloved; of the time when, and places where, and the persons of whom she sought him; and of her success upon the whole; with a charge she give to the daughters of Jerusalem, Song 3:1–5; by whom she is commended, Song…

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth The day being not yet broke, the night of Jewish darkness still on the church, and the shadow of the ceremonial law as yet stretched upon her; and having some knowledge of Christ by types and prophecies, desires more, and seeks it in the use of…

I will rise now Perceiving she had taken a wrong method, and therefore unsuccessful, she fixes on another; and, in the strength of divine grace, determines to pursue it, and “now”, at once, immediately, without any delay, “rise” from her bed of sloth and ease, and forego her carnal pleasures, in…

The watchmen that go about the city found me By whom are meant the ministers of the Gospel; who are called watchmen, as the prophets were under the Old Testament, ; in allusion to watchmen in cities; and are so called in regard to themselves, it being their duty to watch over themselves; and to…

It was but a little that I passed from them Either a small moment of time, as the Targum and Aben Ezra; or a little distance of place, that is, from the watchmen or ministers, from whom she passed; not through disrespect to them, much less contempt of them; nor because she received no benefit at…

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem Which are either the words of Christ, adjuring the young converts not to disturb the church; who had now Christ in her arms, taking repose with him, being wearied with running about in search of him: or they are the words of the church; who having…

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness This is said by the daughters of Jerusalem, adjured in ; who, upon the happy meeting of Christ and his church, saw a greater glory and beauty in her than they had seen before; and therefore put this question, not as ignorant of her, but as admiring at…

Behold his bed which is Solomon’s Not Solomon the son of David, and penman of this song, but a greater than he, the antitype of him; so it is interpreted of the Messiah by many Jewish writers [[15]]: they were both sons of David and sons of God, and kings and preachers in Jerusalem.

They all hold swords Or a “sword” [[16]]; the word is singular, which designs the word of God, called the sword of the Spirit, and said to be sharper than a twoedged sword, ; which everyone of the ministers of the Gospel hold in their hands; and which denotes not only their apprehension, but their…

King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. ] The word translated chariot is only used in this place; some render it a bride chamber [[19]]; others a nuptial bed [[21]], such as is carried from place to place; it is used in the Misnah [[22]] for the nuptial, bed, or open chariot, in…

He made the pillars thereof of silver The truths and doctrines of the Gospel are the “pillars” of it; which, like pillars, are solid and substantial, and continue firm and immovable, and are of great use to support the children of God under the several trials and exercises they are attended with;…

Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion The same with the daughters of Jerusalem; the reason of the variation is, because Christ, here so gloriously described, is King of Zion, and they his subjects; these the church observing, being intent on looking at the bed and chariot she had described, calls them…