Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
Verse 1. I am. The spouse compares herself to a lily, as she is the fairest flower on the bed, ( Calmet.) or Christ may here speak. Worthington. Isa. 11:1. Orig.—He praises himself first, that his spouse may hear her own eulogy. Menochius.
As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
Verse 2. Thorns. The bridegroom enhances the praise of his spouse. The Church, surrounded by infidels and persecutors, maintains her beauty and station. Heretics, and so forth are no better than thorns. Orig. Calmet.—The Church excels all other societies. In her communion the innocent are preferred before sinners, and among the former, the blessed Virgin surpasses all.
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Verse 3. As. The Church praises Christ, resting secure under his protection. Worthington.
He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.
Verse 4. Cellar. This was not under ground. Homer (Od. b. 237.) places the wine near the nuptial bed. Calmet.—In me. Hebrew “he brought me to the banquetting-house, and his banner over me was love.” Prot. Bible.—He has shewn me the greatest tenderness. Only the religion of Christ lays before us our duties to God, to ourselves, and neighbours. Calmet. Saint Thomas Aquinas ii. 2. q. 26. Bible.—The holy Spirit came on the assembled disciples, who were deemed to be drunk, and Christ nourishes the pious soul with the wine of his own blood. Menochius.
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.
Verse 5. Flowers. Hebrew “bottles.”—Languish. Septuagint “am wounded.” Bible.—Those who enter upon the paths of virtue, are often deprived of consolations. Calmet.—They must support themselves by reflecting on the words and sufferings of Christ. Saint Ambrose ps. cxviii. ser. 5. Boss.
His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.
Verse 6. Hand. After peace comes affliction: grace is followed by glory. Proverbs 3:16. Calmet.
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
Verse 7. I. Christ permits not his Church to be persecuted, till she be able to bear it. Worthington.—Roes. Septuagint “armies and power;” the angels and apostles, who have spread the gospel through the world. It would seem that the Jewish women loved hunting, ( Calmet.) like those of Phœnicia and Lacedæmon. Æneid. i. They were going to sing, ( Calmet.) the morning epithalamium, (Theocrit. xviii.) after the first night of the marriage. The second meeting takes place, verse 8, 17. Bible.
The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
Verse 8. The. Feeling the protection of Christ, the Church preacheth boldly the truth against pagans and heretics. Worthington.—She knows the voice of the shepherd, (John 8:47 and 10:2) and keeps at a distance the wolves in sheep’s clothing, or pretended reformers, who would scatter the flock.—Hills. She sees him returning in the evening with the utmost speed of a stag, as the Hebrew implies. Calmet. 2:9 and 8:14.
My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
Verse 9. Hart, (Proverbs 5:18) which is swifter that the dogs. Xenoph. Cuneg.—This animal is said to destroy serpents, as Christ did the power of the devil. Theod.—Wall. Under the old law, Christ was only seen in figure. He manifested himself in the new. Yet our sins separate him from us. Isaiah 59:2. He is concealed in the sacred mysteries, ( Calmet.) and his humanity keeps from our sight the glory of his divinity, which alone can impart full content. Saint Ambrose Saint Bernard—He shewed a glimpse of it at his transfiguration, and by his miracles. Menochius.
My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
Verse 10. Arise. He sings under the window, to verse 16.—My dove, is taken from the Septuagint Calmet.—Christ invites his spouse to approach, though he shews not himself as yet; and orders his pastors to root out heresies. verse 12. Worthington.—She is ever faithful, and rejoices in him. 2 Corinthians 11:2. Matthew 9:15. Ephesians 5:26. Calmet.
For behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
Verse 11. Winter. The rigour and darkness of the old law give place to that of light and love. Orig.—After persecution had ceased, pruning became more necessary. Calmet.—The Israelites and the world were redeemed in spring, and the ceremonies of the law were abolished at the same season. Menochius.
The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Verse 12. Pruning. Prot. “singing of birds.” Bible.—But the former version is better. Septuagint Sym. and so forth—Turtle. Which returns in spring. Isaiah 8:9. Calmet.—It denotes the preaching of the gospel, (Saint Cyril ador. 15.) or rather the sighs of a holy soul in exile.
The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give out their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
Verse 14. Rock. Wild pigeons retire thither. Varro, 3:7. Κοιλην εισεπτατο πετρην. Il. 20. Ser. xlviii. 28. Calmet.—Holy souls seek protection in the wounds of their Saviour. Saint Gregory Saint Bernard ser. lxi.—Wall. In the holy Scriptures, which defend the Church. She is brought to light for the edification of all. Menochius.
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.
Verse 15. Foxes. They hurt vines, (Theoc. 5.) and denote false prophets. Ezekiel 13:4. Saint Augustine Ps. lxxx.—For. Hebrew “and our vines of Semadar.” verse 13. Calmet.—Foxes breed in spring, and greatly infested the country. Judges 15:4.
My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
Verse 16. Feedeth. “His flock.” Septuagint He still retains the fragrancy of lilies. As married people are two in one flesh, (Ephesians 5:31.) Christ and his Church are irrevocably united. Calmet.—She reposes in him. Worthington.
Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.
Verse 17. Break. Or “yield a refreshing air,” (aspiret) in the morning, ( Bible.) and evening, when she begs he will return, (Theod.) as she could not enjoy his company in the day-time. Calmet. 1:1 and 4:6.—Bether. Or the lower Bethoron, near Jerusalem. These short visits in the night, shew the vicissitudes of comfort and dryness in the most perfect. Those who are still addicted to their passions, and to the world, can have no pretensions to such favours, which amply repay any passing desolation. Saint Bernard ser. lxxiv. Calmet.