Albert Barnes Commentary Song of Solomon 7
Albert Barnes Commentary
Song of Solomon 7
Albert Barnes Commentary
Song of Solomon 7
"How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince`s daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skilful workman." — Song of Solomon 7:1 (ASV)
Thy feet with shoes - Or, your steps in the sandals: the bride’s feet are seen in motion in the dance. “Joints” might be rendered as circling movements.
Prince’s daughter - Or, daughter of a noble; the bride is of honorable, though not of kingly, birth.
Like jewels - The image suggested is that of large, well-formed pearls or other jewels skillfully strung or linked together.
"Thy body is [like] a round goblet, [Wherein] no mingled wine is wanting: Thy waist is [like] a heap of wheat Set about with lilies." — Song of Solomon 7:2 (ASV)
Or, “Your lap is like a moon-shaped bowl where mixed wine never fails.” The wine in the bowl rising to the brim adds to the beauty of the vessel and gives a more pleasing image to the eye. Some interpret this as, “your girdle is like a moon-shaped bowl,” or that it “bears a moon-shaped ornament” .
Set about with lilies—The contrast is one of colors, with the flowers perhaps representing the purple of the robe. “The heap of wheat is not seen because it is covered by the lilies.”
"Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; Thine eyes [as] the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus." — Song of Solomon 7:4 (ASV)
A tower of ivory - The allusion is to a particular tower, likely one built by Solomon (1 Kings 10:21).
Fishpools in Heshbon - The original Hebrew may simply mean "pools." Among the ruins south of Heshbon, a number of deep wells cut into the rock and a large reservoir of water still remain.
This simile aptly describes the appearance of a large, clear, liquid eye (compare Song of Solomon 5:12).
Gate of Bath-rabbim - This could refer to several things: perhaps the gate facing Rabbath-Ammon on the north side of the city, though this location does not align with the wells mentioned previously. Alternatively, it could mean the gate of the city "full of people" (Lamentations 1:1), or it might be an expression indicating the gate was a place of numerous gatherings.
Nose - The word translated as "nose" might be better rendered as "face" or "brow."
The tower of Lebanon - This could possibly be "the house of the forest of Lebanon" or a part of it, which Solomon built early in his reign (1 Kings 7:2; 1 Kings 9:19). Another possibility is that it refers to a watchtower David erected to intimidate Damascus after his war with Hadadezer (2 Samuel 8:6).
"Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, And the hair of thy head like purple; The king is held captive in the tresses [thereof]." — Song of Solomon 7:5 (ASV)
Compare this with Song of Solomon 5:15. The marginal reading suggests “Carmel” is the name of a color, equivalent to “carmine” (rendered “crimson” in 2 Chronicles 2:7, 14; 3:14). This interpretation is favored by the parallelism with “purple,” but removes a beautiful image.
Purple - A deep violet-black.
The king... - Rather, “A king is bound in the tresses or windings of your hair.” These last words indicate the king’s approach.
"How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, And thy breasts to its clusters. I said, I will climb up into the palm-tree, I will take hold of the branches thereof: Let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the smell of thy breath like apples, And thy mouth like the best wine, That goeth down smoothly for my beloved, Gliding through the lips of those that are asleep. I am my beloved`s; And his desire is toward me." — Song of Solomon 7:6-10 (ASV)
A brief dialogue: Song of Solomon 7:6–9 are spoken by the king, while the end of Song of Solomon 7:9 and all of Song of Solomon 7:10 are spoken by the bride.
Song of Solomon 7:6 is a general sentiment:
How fair, and what a charm you have,
O love, among delightful things!
Compare to Song of Solomon 2:7 and Song of Solomon 8:6–7.
In Song of Solomon 7:7, the king now addresses the bride. This your stature — He compares her to a palm, vine, and apple tree for her noble form and pleasant fruit, and the words of her mouth to the sweetest wine.
In Song of Solomon 7:9, the bride interrupts the king and finishes his sentence: For my beloved, that goes down sweetly — She means that the wine goes down smoothly or pleasantly for her beloved. Compare to Proverbs 23:31.
In Song of Solomon 7:10, the bride declares: His desire is toward me — All his affection has her as its object. The bride then proceeds to exercise her power over his loving will.
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