Brief view of the subject in initials, 2-4. Salient points of the history during the Withdrawal of the King, 5—14; with hints of prosperity and establishment, 15-17.

CHAPTER II.

A complex parallel in the form of epanodos* begins with this chapter, and ends at iii. 5. It contains an initial view of the Gentile Church, 1-7. A representation of the lone Jewish Church, 8, 9. The call to the Church generally by the preaching of the Gospel, 10-13, which verses form the centre of the epanodos. The lone Gentile Church is represented at 14, 15, as the lone Jewish at 8, 9. The Gentile Church and Jewish are both among the shadows at 16, 17; the latter waiting for the first coming of Christ, and the former for His second

CHAPTER III.

17

26

43

Initial view of the Jewish Church, 1-5. Corresponding to that of the Gentile, ii. 1-7. The calling and reception by Christ of the elect Gentiles, 6, and their union with the Jews in the Christian Church, follows the incarnation of Christ represented at verse 4. This complex union, natural and spiritual, human and divine, constitutes the espousals of the Song, 4—11

CHAPTER IV.

The double united Church of Jew and Gentile, built up together in one body, is described as the Fair Love, *See Note E.

56.

1-5. The Withdrawal of the King, 6.

The perfecting
The history

of the Church in beauty at His return, 7.
of the Spouse, or lone Gentile Church, is given in
three parallels marked by "Lebanon," 8-11; 12—15;
v. 2-15. These are included in the longer parallel
marked by the "Lilies," iv. 5—vi. 3;—a parallel
identical with the era of the Withdrawal of the King

CHAPTER V.

The third parallel marked by Lebanon, 2—15. The trials of the Spouse are represented, 2-8.

She is seen

conferring with the Daughters, and publishing the
glory of her Beloved, 9-16

CHAPTER VI.

67

84

The search for the Beloved, and close of the era of the Lilies, 1-3. The reconstitution of the Church is represented in three parallels, vi, 4—13; vii. 1-9 and 10-13. The Church appears with some of her former features and added glory, vi. 4-7. (See iv. 1—3). The Spouse is pre-eminent among the Churches and converts, 8, 9. Conversion of the Jews and their union with the Gentile Church symbolised, 10-13 . 97

CHAPTER VII.

The Church in her latter glory seen to be the same as in her primitive, 3 (See iv. 5). But far more glorious, 1–9. The part taken by the Church in these events, with hints of further increase, 10-13

CHAPTER VIII.

The conversion of the heathen world to Christ is shown in three parallels, 1—5; 8—10; 11, 12. The first is last, and the last first, in order of time. The prayer at the 14th verse takes us again to the central point, iv. 7.

. 106

117

THE SONG OF SOLOMON.

The Song is here shown in one view. The order of the words in Hebrew, being regulated by the strict laws of parallelism, is preserved as much as possible. The vocabulary of our own English Bible is adhered to, except on a few occasions, which will be noticed. The words in italics, added by our translators, are sometimes omitted.

An endeavour has been made to distinguish the speakers. The Bridegroom or Beloved of the Song, supposed to represent Christ, is marked B. The loved One who represents the Church is marked I., II., or III., as the ancient Jewish, the Christian, Gentile, or the double-united Church of Jew and Gentile is supposed to be the speaker. D. marks the Daughters, or visible professing Churches.

2

3

i. 1.

THE SONG OF SONGS, WHICH IS SOLOMON'S.

(I.) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,
For better are thy loves' than wine.

Because of the savour of thy good ointments:
Ointment poured forth is thy Name:

Therefore the virgins love thee.

4

(I.)

Draw me (III.), after thee we run:

(II.) Hath brought me, the King, into his chambers:

6

7

9

10

11

12

(III.) We will be glad and rejoice in thee:

We will remember thy loves' more than wine:
The upright love thee.

5 (II.) Black am I, but comely,

O ye daughters of Jerusalem,

As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
Look not upon me because I am black:
Because the sun hath looked on me:
My mother's children were angry with me:
They made me keeper of the vineyards;
My vineyard, mine own,2 have I not kept.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,
Where thou feedest,

Where thou makest to rest at noon:
For why should I be as one veiled'

By the flocks of thy companions?

(B.) If thou know not, O thou fairest among women,
Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock,
And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.

To a company of horses in the chariots of Pharaoh,
I have compared thee, O my love!

Comely are thy cheeks with rows, 3

Thy neck with chains.

Borders of gold we make for thee
With studs of silver.

(II.) While the King is in his circle,3

My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

1 Margin of English Bible.

2 Young's Translation.

3 Or in the circlet.

4 Or a circlet. It is the same word in the Hebrew.

5 So rendered by Davidson and Young.

renders the word circuit or revolution.

See Parkhurst, who