Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. VIII.

1 O That thou wert as my brother a 1.1 that sucked the breasts of my mother b 1.2; when I should find thee without c 1.3, I would kiss thee d 1.4, yea, † 1.5 I should not be despised e 1.6.

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee f 1.7 into my mo∣thers house g 1.8, ‖ 1.9 who would instruct me h 1.10: I would cause thee to drink of * 1.11 spiced wine of the juice of my pom∣granate i 1.12.

3 * 1.13 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me k 1.14.

4 * 1.15 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, † 1.16 that ye stir not up, nor awake my love until he please l 1.17.

5 (* 1.18 Who is this that cometh up from the wilder∣ness m 1.19, leaning upon her beloved n 1.20?) I raised thee up o 1.21 under the apple-tree p 1.22; there thy mother brought thee forth q 1.23, there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm r 1.24: for love s 1.25 is strong as death t 1.26, jealousie u 1.27 is † 1.28 cruel x 1.29 as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire y 1.30, which hath a † 1.31 most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: * 1.32 if a man would give all the sub∣stance of his house for love, it would utterly be con∣temned z 1.33.

8 We a 1.34 have a little sister b, and she hath no breasts c 1.35: what shall we do for our sister d 1.36 in the day when she shall be spoken for e 1.37?

9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar f 1.38.

10 I am a wall g 1.39, and my breasts like towers h 1.40: then was I in his eyes, as one that found † 1.41 favour i 1.42.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon k 1.43, he let out the vineyard unto keepers: every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver l 1.44.

12 My vineyard m 1.45 which is mine n 1.46, is before me o 1.47: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand p 1.48, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred q.* 1.49

13 Thou that dwellest r 1.50, in the gardens s 1.51, the com∣panions t 1.52 hearken to thy voice u 1.53: * 1.54 cause me to hear it x 1.55.

14 † 1.56 * 1.57 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices y 1.58.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Most intimate, and free, and familiar with me, as Brethren and Sisters commonly are.
• b 1.2

  That came out of the same womb, and sucked the same breasts, and consequently were Brother and Sister by Father and Mother too; for such are most dear to one a∣nother. See Gen. 43. 29. Deut. 13. 6. Heb. Sucking the breasts, &c. So she wisheth that he were as a little sucking Brother, with whom she might innocently and inoffensively delight her self, as Sisters do with such a Brother. The Church here expresseth her passionate desire of a stricter Union, and closer Communion with Christ than yet she had attained. And in particular, these may be the breathings of the ancient Jewish Church after Christs Incarnati∣on, whereby he was to be their Brother, Rom. 8. 29. Heb. 2. 11, 12. and a sucking Infant.
• c 1.3

  In the open streets; I might then express my Affections to thee, and kiss thee openly without any scandal or contempt. Or, without, i. e. come forth from the Fa∣thers bosom into the World, Ioh. 16. 28.
• d 1.4

  I would demonstrate my Reverence, and Subjection, and Affection to thee, of all which kissing was a token in those times and places, as hath been oft ob∣served in divers foregoing Texts.
• † 1.5

  Heb. they should not des∣pise me.
• e 1.6

  Then should I not be ashamed or censured, as if I had done an indecent or immodest action, be∣cause such Expressions of Love are usual amongst persons so nearly and dearly related.
• f 1.7

  With joy and triumph, as the Bridegroom was usually brought to the Brides house. See Psal. 45. 15, 16.
• g 1.8

  Either 1. My Mo∣thers in Law, my Husbands Mother, as the custom was, Gen. 24. 67. Iudg. 12. 9. Or 2. My own Mothers; to shew her extraor∣dinary Respect and Affection to him. In the mystical sense both come to one; for the universal Church was in some sort both his and her Mother.
• ‖ 1.9

  Or, thou houldest.
• h 1.10

  To wit, how I should behave my self towards thee. Or, where she did instruct or educate me.
• * 1.11

  Prov. 9. 2.
• i 1.12

  I would give thee the best entertainment which the House affords. My Gifts and Graces should all be employed to serve and glorifie thee.
• * 1.13

  Ch. 2. 6.
• k 1.14

  The same expressions are used, ch. 2. 6. The sense is, He would not despise me for my forwardness in shewing my affections to him, as men commonly do in like cases, but would kindly accept of my Love, and return Love for it.
• * 1.15

  Ch. 2. 7. & 3. 5.
• † 1.16

  Heb. why should ye stir up, or why, &c.
• l 1.17

  This verse is here repeated again from ch. 2. 7. & 3. 5. where see the Explication of it.
• * 1.18

  Ch. 3. 6.
• m 1.19

  These words are repeated from ch. 3. 6. of which see the notes there. This and the next clause are the words either 1. Of the Daughters of Ierusalem, or the Friends of the Bride and Bridegroom, admiring and congratulating this happy conjunction: Or 2. Of the Bridegroom, who proposeth the Question, that he may give the Answer here following.
• n 1.20

  Which implies both great freedom and familiarity, and fervent affection, and dependance upon him. If these be the Bridegrooms words, he speaketh of himself in the third Person, which is usual in the Hebrew Language.
• o 1.21

  When thou wast falln, and laid low, and wert dead in trespasses, and in the depth of misery, I revived thee.
• p 1.22

  Under my own shadow; for she had compared him to an apple-tree, and declared, that un∣der the shadow of that Tree she had both delight and fruit, Cant. 2. 3. which is the same thing with this raising up.
• q 1.23

  Under that Tree, either the Universal or the Primitive Church did conceive and bring thee forth.
• r 1.24

  These are undoubtedly the words of the Bride. The sense is, Let thy Mind and thy heart be constantly set upon me, let me be engraven upon the Tables of thine Heart. He seems to allude to the engraven Tablets which are frequently worn upon the Breast, and to the signet on a mans arm or hand, which men prize at a more than ordinary rate, as appears from Ier. 22. 24. Hag. 2. 23. and which are continually in their sight.
• s 1.25

  My Love to thee, from whence this desire proceeds.
• t 1.26

  Which conquers every living thing, and cannot be resisted nor vanquished.
• u 1.27

  Or, zeal; my ar∣dent Love to thee, which also fills me with Fears and Jealousies, lest thou shouldest bestow thine affections upon others, and cool in thy Love to me, or withdraw thy, Love from me: for true Belie∣vers are subject to these passions.
• † 1.28

  Heb. hard.
• x 1.29

  Heb. hard, grievous and ter∣rible, and somtimes ready to overwhelm me, and swallow me up; and therefore have pity upon me, and do not leave me.
• y 1.30

  It burns and melts my heart like fire.
• † 1.31

  Heb. flame of the Lord.
• * 1.32

  Pro. 6. 35.
• z 1.33

  It is the nature of Love in general, and of my Love to thee, that it cannot be taken off, neither by Terrors and Afflictions, which are commonly signified in Scripture by waters and floods, Psal. 32. 6. & 42. 7. and elsewhere; nor by temptations and al∣lurements. Nothing but the presence and favour of the beloved person can quiet and satisfie it. And therefore do not put me off with other things, but give me thy self, without whom, and in comparison of whom I despise all other persons and things.
• a 1.34

  These are manifestly the words of the Bride, still continuing her speech. The present Church, which was that of the Jews, speaks of another future Church, which was to consist of the Gen∣tiles, which she calls little, because she was the younger Sister, and then scarce had a being; and she calls her her Sister, partly be∣cause she was so in the purpose of God, their common Father, though at present she was a stranger to him; and partly to inti∣mate that the Gentile-Church should be admitted to the participa∣tion of the same priviledges with that of the Jews.
• c 1.35

  No grown and full Breasts, as Virgins have when they are ripe for Marriage, Ezek. 16. 7. This signifies the present doleful estate of the Gen∣tiles, which as yet were not grown up into a Church Estate, and wanted the milk or food of Life, as for itself, so also for its Mem∣bers.
• d 1.36

  Teach us to know and perform our duty to them, which is to embrace them with sincere and fervent affections, to promote their coming in to Christ, and to rejoice in it, and not to envy it, and murmur at it, as the Jews did in the days of Christ, and of his A∣postles.
• e 1.37

  To wit, for bringing her into the state of Matrimony: when Christ, and his Apostles, and others the first Ministers of the Gospel, who were Members of the Jewish Church, did speak and act for the conversion of the Gentiles.
• f 1.38

  This seems to be Christs Answer to the foregoing question of the Jewish Church concerning their Sister Church of the Gentiles, for which they were very solicitous. Christ therefore engageth himself to take care of her, and to provide for her, as the matter doth require, and as suits best with her condition. If the Gentiles when they are converted shall be like a Wall, strong and firm in Faith, stedfast against all Assaults and Temptations, for a Wall in Scripture use signifies strength, Isa. 26. 1. Ier. 15. 20. and else∣where; We, my Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost, as the prin∣cipal Builders, and my Ministers as workers with, and under us, will build upon her a palace of silver, will add more strength and beauty to her, will enlarge and adorn her, make her more amiable in mine Eyes, and more visible and glorious in the Eyes of the World: And if she be as a Door, which is weaker than a Wall, and where the Enemy doth or may break in upon her, if she be weak in Faith, and somtimes overcome by the tempter, yet we will not therefore reject and forsake her, but we will enclose or (as many o∣thers render the word) strengthen or fortifie her with Boards of cedar, which are not only beautiful, but also strong, and durable. If she be sincere, and open the door of her Heart to me, though she be weak, I will come into her, and make her stronger.
• g 1.39

  These seem to be the words of the Jewish Church to Christ, O Lord, by thy Grace I am what thou wouldst have my Sister to be, a Wall, and therefore do humbly beg and hope, that according to thy promise to her in that case, thou wiltst build upon me a Palace of Silver.
• h 1.40

  Which stand out from and above the Wall, and are an ornament and defence to it. Of the Churches Breasts see before, ch. 4. 5. & 7. 3, 7.
• † 1.41

  Heb. peace.
• i 1.42

  When by his Grace I was made a wall, he was well-pleased with me, and with his own workman∣ship in me.
• k 1.43

  A place not far from Ierusalem, where Solomon had, as it seems, a noble vineyard.
• l 1.44

  Whereby he signifies both the vast extent of the Vineyard which required so many keepers, and its singular fertility which afforded so great a Rent.
• m 1.45

  My Church, which is oft compared to a vineyard, and is here opposed to Solomons▪vineyard. It is much doubted and disputed whether this verse be spoken by Christ or by the Spouse; the first clause seems to agree best to the former, and the following clause to the latter. Possibly the difficulty may be reconciled by ascri∣bing the first clause to Christ, and the latter to the Spouse: such interlocutions being familiar in this Book, and in other Writings of this kind.
• n 1.46

  This Repetition is not idle, but very emphatical, to shew that Christ had a more eminent and special title to his Vine∣yard, the Church, than Solomon had to his Vineyard, because it was purchased not by his Money, but by his Blood, and because it was his, not only for the short time of this present Life, as Solo∣mons was, but to all eternity.
• o 1.47

  Is under my own Eye and Care, and is not wholly committed to the Care and Management of o∣thers, as Solomons was; I the Lord do keep it night and day, as we read Isa. 27. 3. I am with it to the end of the world, Mat. 28. 20.
• p 1.48

  These are the Churches return to Christ, who is here called Solomon, as he was, ch. 3. 9, 11. as elsewhere he is called David. Dost thou, O Christ, keep thine own Vineyard, which Solomon did not? Then surely it is meet that thou shouldst receive, and thou shalt receive as large a Revennue from thy Vineyard, as he did from his.
• * 1.49

  p Though the chief Revennue belongeth, and is justly given to thee, yet thy Ministers, who serve thee in thy Vineyard, shall have, and are allowed by thee to receive; some encouragement for their service. See 1 Cor. 9. 7.
• r 1.50

  The Hebrew word is of the feminine gender, which plainly sheweth that Christ speaks here to his Spouse, being about to depart from her for a season, as the next verse sheweth.
• s 1.51

  Not in the Wil∣derness of the World, for Believers are chosen, or called out of the World, Joh. 15. 19. but in the Church, the Garden of God, which God hath fenced and appropriated to himself. He saith, Gardens, because of the many particular Congregations, into which the Church is divi∣ded.
• t 1.52

  The friends of the Bride and Bridegrom.
• u 1.53

  Diligently observe all thy words and carriages towards me, and all the trans∣actions between thee and me.
• * 1.54

  Ch. 2. 14.
• x 1.55

  When I am gone from thee, let me hear thy Prayers, and praises, and the preaching of my Gos∣pel to the World.
• † 1.56

  Heb. flee away.
• * 1.57

  Rev. 22. 17, 20.
• y 1.58

  Seeing we must part for a time, make haste, O my beloved Bridegroom, and speedily finish the work which thou hast to do in the World, that so thou maist take me to thy self, that I may live in thine everlasting embraces. The words of this verse are borrow∣ed from ch. 2. 17. where they are explained.