This chapter begins with an ardent wish of the church for a free and intimate converse with Christ; declaring what she would do to him, and for him, should she have such an interview with him, Song 8:1, Song 8:2; what familiarity should be between them, Song 8:3; charging the daughters of Jerusalem…

O that thou wert as my brother Or, “who will give thee as a brother to me?” [[15]] an usual form of wishing, . The church here not only requests that Christ would be like a brother to her, but appear to be really one, and to act the part of one towards her; with whom she might as freely converse as…

I would lead thee, and bring, thee into mother’s house The general assembly and church of the firstborn is mother to the church visible, to particular churches and believers, where they are born, educated, and brought up; for which they have a great affection, as persons usually have for the place…

His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. ] That is, when she should have the presence of Christ in her mother’s house.

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. ] The phrase, “by the roes and by the hinds of the field”, used in ; is here omitted; not as if the charge was less vehement and earnest here, for the form of expostulation seems rather to express…

(Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness? &c.] Which words are spoken by the daughters of Jerusalem, occasioned by her charge to them, by which they were excited to look more earnestly at her, whom Christ had indulged with so much nearness to him; at which they express their surprise, and…

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm, &c.] These are still the words of the church, speaking to Christ as she walked along with him, as the affixes in the Hebrew text show; in which she desires to have a fixed abiding place in his heart; to continue firmly in his love, and to…

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it The love of the church to Christ, which is inextinguishable and insuperable, by the many waters and floods of wicked and ungodly men; neither by their flattery and fair promises; nor by their cruel edicts, force and persecution; by…

We have a little sister Which seems to be the Gentile church, so called by the Jewish church; for as the church catholic, or universal, with respect to its parts, is called a mother, as often in this Song; so these parts, with respect to each other, as the Jewish and Gentile churches, may be called…

If she be a wall Built upon a sure foundation; and firmly established in her faith on Christ, and love to him; and is constant therein, and stands as a wall against the attacks of enemies [[1]]; we will build upon her a palace of silver; though at first but as a side wall, yet should become a…

I am a wall The words of the little sister, or Gentile church; either wishing she was what was supposed, and desiring to be in a well settled state, “O that I was a wall!” or as asserting [[3]] that she was in such a state, well walled; God was a wall of fire about her; salvation was appointed as…

Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon The little sister, or Gentile church, goes on to give an account of the success of the Gospel, the planting of churches, and the establishment of the interest of Christ in the Gentile world, together with the advantages that accrued to Christ from it; for not…

My vineyard, which is mine, is before me These are either the words of Christ, asserting and confirming his right and property in his vineyard, the church; and which he distinguishes from and prefers to all others; and which being said to be before him denotes his exact knowledge of every vine in…

Thou that dwellest in the gardens These are the words of Christ to the church, describing her by her habitation, and may be rendered, “O thou, inhabitress of the gardens” [[8]]; the word used being in the feminine gender, which determines the sense of it, as belonging to the church: but the…

Make haste, my beloved These are the words of the church, to Christ, calling him her “beloved”; a title often used in this Song, see (Song 1:13, Song 1:14) ; and is continued to the last; for Christ was still the object of her love; and she had now a comfortable sense of her interest in him, and…