Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

The sound of His name is to her as the sweet odor of balsam poured out of a vial. " In this may be discovered a prophecy uttered in the person of the bride concerning Christ, of what was to take place on the coming of our Lord and Saviour, that His name should be spread throughout the whole world, so as to be a sweet odor in every place, as the Apostle says : For we are the good odor of Christ in every place." Origen.

The love which young maidens conceived for the bridegroom, would not be stated by an earthly bride, who cannot bear that others should share her feelings of admiration and affection: but the

Cedar was the second son oflsmael. Gen. xxv.l3. The name may be here taken for the Nomadic Arabians generally, who dwelt in tents covered with black skins. The bride likens herself to them.

She is beautiful as the splendid pavilion of Solomon.

Her humble condition is insinuated. She was placed by her step-brothers in charge of vineyards, and thus exposed to the heat of the sun. By the refusal of the Jews to embrace the gospel, the church was under the necessity of taking charge of the gentiles.

Her own vineyard was neglected, that she might attend to the vineyards given her in charge. Grotius, however, thinks that the observance of celibacy, is meant by the keeping of the vineyard. The church was forced to abandon, in a great measure, Judea, which was originally the vineyard of God.

The terra contains an allusion tathe life of a courtesan. Sho intimates that her inquiries might expose her to be regarded in this light. The church begs Christ to manifest Himself, that she may not be as a wanderer, straying after false guides. £3 The pronoun in the text is considered redundant. " If thou know not" where I am at mid-day.

Rosenmiiller, with others, understands the term of rows of jewels, which hang down as orna- ments on her cheeks, like the trappings of the Egyptian mares just spoken of.

Her neck was to him as if it were adorned with a necklace of jewels. The Hebrew reads : ' amidst jewels ;' which supposes the necklace worn by her to have added to her beautiful appearance.

P. " Camphire." The plant or shrub, which the Arabs call AlHenna, and botanists style Lawsonia inermis, is believed to be meant. It grows in Palestine, Leeser : " A copher cluster."

Pure, chaste. The doves are said to look only on their mates.