Song 5:1-3 | JFB | STEP | . 1. Answer to her prayer ( ; ). am come-- already ( ); "come" ( ). sister ... spouse-- As Adam's was created of his flesh, out of his opened side, there being none on earth on a level with him, so the bride out of the pierced Saviour ( ). have gathered ... myrrh-- His course was already complete; the myrrh, &c. ( ; 26:7-12; ), emblems of the indwelling of the anointing Holy Ghost, were already gathered. spice-- literally, "balsam." have eaten-- answering to her "eat" ( ). honeycomb-- distinguished here from liquid "honey" dropping from trees. The last supper, here set forth, is one of espousal, a pledge of the future marriage ( ; ). Feasts often took place in gardens. In the absence of sugar, then unknown, honey was more widely used than with us. His eating honey with milk indicates His true, yet spotless, human nature from infancy ( ); and after His resurrection ( ). my wine-- ( )--a cup of wrath to Him, of mercy to us, whereby God's Word and promises become to us "milk" ( ; ). "My" answers to "His" ( ). The myrrh (emblem, by its bitterness, of repentance), honey, milk (incipient faith), wine (strong faith), in reference to believers, imply that He accepts all their graces, however various in degree. eat-- He desires to make us partakers in His joy ( , 2; ; ). drink abundantly-- so as to be filled ( ; as ). friends-- ( ). Canticle IV.-- (So 5: )--From the Agony of Gethsemane to the Conversion of Samaria.

‏ Song of Solomon 5:1-3

CHAPTER 5

1. Answer to her prayer (Is 65:24; Re 3:20).

am come--already (So 4:16); "come" (Ge 28:16).

sister ... spouse--As Adam's was created of his flesh, out of his opened side, there being none on earth on a level with him, so the bride out of the pierced Saviour (Ep 5:30-32).

have gathered ... myrrh--His course was already complete; the myrrh, &c. (Mt 2:11; 26:7-12; Joh 19:39), emblems of the indwelling of the anointing Holy Ghost, were already gathered.

spice--literally, "balsam."

have eaten--answering to her "eat" (So 4:16).

honeycomb--distinguished here from liquid "honey" dropping from trees. The last supper, here set forth, is one of espousal, a pledge of the future marriage (So 8:14; Re 19:9). Feasts often took place in gardens. In the absence of sugar, then unknown, honey was more widely used than with us. His eating honey with milk indicates His true, yet spotless, human nature from infancy (Is 7:15); and after His resurrection (Lu 24:42).

my wine--(Joh 18:11)--a cup of wrath to Him, of mercy to us, whereby God's Word and promises become to us "milk" (Psa 19:10; 1Pe 2:2). "My" answers to "His" (So 4:16). The myrrh (emblem, by its bitterness, of repentance), honey, milk (incipient faith), wine (strong faith), in reference to believers, imply that He accepts all their graces, however various in degree.

eat--He desires to make us partakers in His joy (Is 55:1, 2; Joh 6:53-57; 1Jo 1:3).

drink abundantly--so as to be filled (Ep 5:18; as Hag 1:6).

friends--(Joh 15:15).

Canticle IV.--(So 5:2-8:4)--From the Agony of Gethsemane to the Conversion of Samaria.

2. Sudden change of scene from evening to midnight, from a betrothal feast to cold repulse. He has gone from the feast alone; night is come; He knocks at the door of His espoused; she hears, but in sloth does not shake off half-conscious drowsiness; namely, the disciples' torpor (Mt 26:40-43), "the spirit willing, the flesh weak" (compare Ro 7:18-25; Ga 5:16, 17, 24). Not total sleep. The lamp was burning beside the slumbering wise virgin, but wanted trimming (Mt 25:5-7). It is His voice that rouses her (Jon 1:6; Ep 5:14; Re 3:20). Instead of bitter reproaches, He addresses her by the most endearing titles, "my sister, my love," &c. Compare His thought of Peter after the denial (Mr 16:7).

dew--which falls heavily in summer nights in the East (see Lu 9:58).

drops of the night--(Psa 22:2; Lu 22:44). His death is not expressed, as unsuitable to the allegory, a song of love and joy; So 5:4 refers to the scene in the judgment hall of Caiaphas, when Jesus Christ employed the cock-crowing and look of love to awaken Peter's sleeping conscience, so that his "bowels were moved" (Lu 22:61, 62); So 5:5, 6, the disciples with "myrrh," &c. (Lu 24:1, 5), seeking Jesus Christ in the tomb, but finding Him not, for He has "withdrawn Himself" (Joh 7:34; 13:33); So 5:7, the trials by watchmen extend through the whole night of His withdrawal from Gethsemane to the resurrection; they took off the "veil" of Peter's disguise; also, literally the linen cloth from the young man (Mr 14:51); So 5:8, the sympathy of friends (Lu 23:27).

undefiled--not polluted by spiritual adultery (Re 14:4; Jas 4:4).

3. Trivial excuses (Lu 14:18).

coat--rather, the inmost vest, next the skin, taken off before going to bed.

washed ... feet--before going to rest, for they had been soiled, from the Eastern custom of wearing sandals, not shoes. Sloth (Lu 11:7) and despondency (De 7:17-19).