John Gill Commentary Song Of Solomon 2:15

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom." — Song Of Solomon 2:15 (ASV)

Take us the foxes Of which there were great numbers in Judea; see (Judges 15:4) ; these words are directed not to angels or civil magistrates, but to ministers of the word. Whether the words are Christ's or the church's is not easy to determine; some think they are the words of the church, who had hitherto been relating what Christ said to her. Having neglected her vineyard (Song of Solomon 1:6), and now stirred up by Christ to a greater care of it, she expresses her concern for its flourishing. Therefore, she calls upon her attendants and companions to assist in taking and destroying those which were harmful to it.

But rather they seem to be the words of Christ continued, since they not only show the care of his vines, the churches, but also express power and authority over those they are spoken to. Perhaps they may be the words of them both jointly, since the church, with Christ and under him, has a right to stir up her officers to do their work and fulfil their ministry, which they have received from Christ for her service.

By foxes may be meant false teachers, to whom the false prophets of old were compared (Ezekiel 13:3, Ezekiel 13:4). Foxes are crafty and subtle creatures, malignant and mischievous, hungry and voracious, full of deceit and dissimulation, are of an ill smell, and abominably filthy. So false teachers walk in craftiness, use good words and fair speeches, and thereby deceive the hearts of the simple. Their doctrines are pernicious, their heresies damnable, and they bring destruction on themselves and others.

They are hungry after worldly substance, are greedy of it, and can never have enough; they devour widows' houses and make merchandise of men to enrich themselves. They put on sheep's clothing, transform themselves into angels of light, and mimic the voice of Gospel ministers, using their phrases and expressions so that they may not be easily discovered. They are abominable in their principles and practices and are to be shunned by all good men.

Now ministers of the Gospel are ordered to take these: to detect them, refute their errors, and reprove them sharply for them. After proper steps are taken, they are to reject them, cast them out of the vineyards (the churches), and keep them out. Even the little foxes; heresies and heretics are to be nipped in the bud, before they increase to more ungodliness. Otherwise, errors which may seem small at first soon grow larger, spread themselves, and become fatal to the churches.

that spoil the vines; as foxes do by gnawing the branches, biting the bark, making bare the roots, devouring the ripe grapes, and infecting all with their noxious teeth and vicious breath^F24. So false teachers make divisions and schisms in churches; they disturb their peace, unsettle some, and subvert others. They sap the foundation of religion and corrupt the word of God. Therefore, they are by all means to be taken, and the sooner the better; for our vines [have] tender grapes: or "flowers"; (See Gill on Song of Solomon 2:13).

The "vines" are the churches; the "tender grapes," or "flowers," are young converts, which Christ has a particular regard unto (Isaiah 40:11, 42:3). These, having but a small degree of knowledge, are more easily imposed upon and seduced by false teachers. Therefore, for their sakes, they should be carefully watched and vigorously opposed, since otherwise a promising vintage is in danger of being spoiled.

Christ, in this address, intimates that not only he and the church, but his ministers also, have an interest in the vines and tender grapes, as they indeed do (see Song of Solomon 8:11, Song of Solomon 8:12). Therefore, they should be the more concerned for their welfare. Hence he calls them "ours"; interest carries a powerful argument in it.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: Vid. Theocrit. Idyll. 1. v. 48, 49. & Idyll. 5. v. 112, 113. So soldiers are compared to foxes, because they eat the grapes in the countries they come into, Aristoph. Equites, Acts 3. Sc. 1. p. 350.