Charles Ellicott Commentary Song of Solomon 4

Locks. —Hebrew, tsammah, found elsewhere only in Song of Solomon 6:7 and Isaiah 47:2. The derivation, and the existence of cognate Arabic words, leave no doubt that it means veil. So, in Isaiah 47:2, the Septuagint understood it, though here they have given the strange and meaningless translation, “out of your silence,” which the Vulgate has still further mystified into “from that which lies hid within,” a rendering which has been a fruitful source of moral allusion to the more hidden beauties of the soul. If the veil was worn in ancient times in Palestine, as by Eastern ladies now, covering the lower part of the face, but allowing the eyes to be seen, the description is very appropriate.

That appear. —Marginal reading, that eat of; Hebrew, galash: only here and in the corresponding passage, Song of Solomon 6:5. The word has had a variety of most contradictory interpretations. The Authorised Version follows the Septuagint, and has the support of Ewald’s great authority. The marginal eat of rests only on the existence of cognates in Syriac and Arabic = obtained, collected (see Lee’s Hebrew Dictionary), which would rather point to such a rendering as, “which they obtain from mount Gilead.” The Vulgate, quae ascenderunt, is followed by some commentators, though the bulk give the exactly opposite: “come down,” or “run down,” or “hang down from.” In such a difficulty only the context can decide, and any translation suggesting the dark hair flowing in masses round the shoulders is allowable.

At the same time, from a tendency of the author to accumulate, and sometimes to confuse, his figures (Song of Solomon 4:12; Song of Solomon 4:15; Song of Solomon 5:12–13), probably here it is the long, soft, delicate, generally black hair of the Oriental goat which is compared to that of the lady, as well as the general appearance presented by the whole flock suspended on the mountain side.

Your teeth ... — that is, white as newly washed sheep. The word translated shorn is only used as a synonym for sheep, as we see by comparison with Song of Solomon 6:6. The only other place where it is found is 2 Kings 6:6, where it is used of cutting wood.

Bear twins. — The Hebrew word means “to make double.” But this may either be “to produce twins,” as in the text, or “to make pairs,” or “to occur in pairs,” a rendering which makes much better sense. The perfect and regular rows of teeth are exactly paired, upper to lower, like the sheep coming two and two from the washing, with none missing its mate.

Speech.—Rather, mouth, as the parallelism shows.

Thy temples...—Rather, like a piece of pomegranate thy cheeks behind thy veil. (See Note to Song of Solomon 4:1).

“The pomegranate brings to my mind the blushes of my beloved, when her cheeks are covered with a modest resentment” (Persian Ode, quoted by Ginsburg from Sir William Jones).

For the pomegranate, see Exodus 28:34. It naturally supplied to the Eastern poet the image for which the Western poet goes to the apple.

“Her cheeks like apples which the sun has reddened” (Spenser).

Tower of David. —This is not likely to be identified, when even the towers of Phasaelus and Hippicus, minutely described by Josephus, cannot be found. The structure at the north-west angle, known since the Crusades as the “Tower of David,” is Herodian. No clue would be given by the words in the text, “built for an armoury,” even if it were certain that this is their right rendering. The Septuagint regards the Heb. thalpiôth as a proper name.

Rabbinical authority is in favour of “as a model for architects,” but most modern commentators, though differing as to the etymology, agree in giving the sense of the English Version, which the context seems to require. (Compare to Ezekiel 27:11: They hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.) The shields and targets made by Solomon for the house in the forest of Lebanon may have suggested this addition to an image which is repeated in Song of Solomon 7:7, and, indeed, is too common to need remark. “Her snowy neck like a marble tower” (Spenser). “Her neck is like a stately tower” (Lodge).

Until the day break.—See Note, Song of Solomon 2:17. Until the day breathe = when evening comes. Commentators have tried to identify the mountain of myrrh and hill of frankincense, but these only carry on the thought of Song of Solomon 4:5 under another figure. We have come to another break in the poem, the end of another day, and, as before, though the metaphor is changed, the curtain falls on the complete union of the bridegroom with his bride.