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SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER 4
Christ commendeth his church for her beauty, Son_4:1-7. He calleth her to go with him, Son_4:8, manifesting his love and affection for her, Son_4:9. A further commendation of her, Son_4:10-15. She prayeth for the effectual operation of his Holy Spirit on her to make her fruitful, Son_4:16.
These and the following words are evidently spoken by the Bridegroom to and concerning his spouse.
Thou art fair, not in thyself, but by my beauty, being clothed with my righteousness, and adorned with all the graces of my Spirit, which I acknowledge to be in thee.
Thou art fair; he repeats it, both to confirm the truth of his assertion, and to show the sincerity and fervency of his affection to her.
Thou hast dove’s eyes; thou art harmless, chaste, &c., as appears by thine eyes, which commonly discover the temper of the mind or person. See more of this phrase Son_1:15. And whereas the beauty of the spouse is here described in her several parts, we need not labour much about the application of each particular to some distinct member or grace of the church, this being the chief design of this description of a bride which is beautiful in all points, to show that completeness and absolute perfection which the church hath in part received, and shall more fully receive from Christ in the future life. Yet because the church is a body, consisting of divers members, and enriched with variety of gifts and graces, I know no reason but the several parts of this description may have a more special regard to one or other of them. And so her eyes may here note, either,
1. Her teachers, who are instead of eyes to her, as the phrase is, Num_10:31, whence they are called seers and guides, &c. Or,
2. The disposition of her mind or heart, which is compared to the eye, Mat_6:22,23, and is oft discerned in the eye.
Within thy locks; which being decently composed, make the eyes appear more amiable: withal this intimates the modesty of her looks; her eyes are not wanton, and wandering, or lofty, but sober, and humble, and confined within their proper bounds, looking directly upon her husband, not looking asquint upon other lovers, nor minding other Gods or Christs. If the eyes signify teachers, the locks may note the people assembled together to hear their teachers, to whom they are a great ornament when they thrive by his teaching.
Thy hair; the hair of thine head, which is a great ornament to the female sex, 1Co_11:15. This hair may signify either,
1. The inward thoughts and meditations; or rather,
2. The outward conversation and visible fruits of holiness, which do greatly adorn the professors and profession of religion, as hair doth the head, as is implied, 1Ti_2:9,10 1Pe_3:3-5.
As a flock of goats; which are comely and orderly in going, Pro_30:29,31, and afford a goodly prospect. Or rather, as the hair (which word is here to be understood, as appears both from the comparison itself, and from divers places where goats are put for goats’ hair, as it is in the Hebrew text, Exo_25:4 26:7 35:26) of a flock of goats, which in these parts was of extraordinary length, and thickness, and softness, and comeliness, and much more like to the hair of a man or woman than the hair of our goats is, as is evident both from Scripture, as Gen_27:16 1Sa_19:13; and from the testimony of other ancient writers, as Apulcius, Martial, &c.
That appear from Mount Gilead; that feeding there, or coming down thence, or going up thither, show themselves evidently to those who stand below it, or near them. Or, as it is rendered in our margin, and by others, that eat, or graze of, or upon. He mentions it as a very fruitful place, and fit for the breeding of all sorts of cattle, as is manifest from Num_32:1 Jer 1 19 Mic 7:14; and especially of goats, partly because it was a hilly and woody, country, and partly because it abounded with resinous, and oily, and gummy trees, as appears from Gen_37:25 Jer_8:22 46:11, wherewith the goats are much delighted, as Dioscorides observes. And some affirm that the hair of these goats was commonly of a yellow colour, as may seem probable from 1Sa_19:13,16, compared with 1Sa_16:12, and from Son_7:5; which also was in ancient times esteemed a beauty in men or women, as the learned know.