
Text -- The Song of Songs 2:17 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Sos 2:17 - -- Until the morning of that blessed day of the general resurrection, when all the shadows, not only of ignorance, and sin, and calamity, but even of out...
Until the morning of that blessed day of the general resurrection, when all the shadows, not only of ignorance, and sin, and calamity, but even of outward administrations, shall cease.

Wesley: Sos 2:17 - -- Return to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears f...
Return to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears from the following verse. Which sudden change is very agreeable to the state of God's people in this world, where they are subject to frequent changes.

Wesley: Sos 2:17 - -- A place in the land of promise, where it seems those creatures were in great abundance.
A place in the land of promise, where it seems those creatures were in great abundance.
JFB: Sos 2:17 - -- Is the image of the present world (Rom 13:12). "Behold men as if dwelling in subterranean cavern" [PLATO, Republic, 7.1].
Is the image of the present world (Rom 13:12). "Behold men as if dwelling in subterranean cavern" [PLATO, Republic, 7.1].

JFB: Sos 2:17 - -- Rather, "breathe"; referring to the refreshing breeze of dawn in the East; or to the air of life, which distinguishes morning from the death-like stil...
Rather, "breathe"; referring to the refreshing breeze of dawn in the East; or to the air of life, which distinguishes morning from the death-like stillness of night. MAURER takes this verse of the approach of night, when the breeze arises after the heat of day (compare Gen 3:8, Margin, with Gen 18:1), and the "shadows" are lost in night (Psa 102:11); thus our life will be the day; death, the night (Joh 9:4). The English Version better accords with (Son 3:1). "By night" (Rom 13:12).

JFB: Sos 2:17 - -- Mountains of Bithron, separated from the rest of Israel by the Jordan (2Sa 2:29), not far from Bethabara, where John baptized and Jesus was first mani...
Mountains of Bithron, separated from the rest of Israel by the Jordan (2Sa 2:29), not far from Bethabara, where John baptized and Jesus was first manifested. Rather, as Margin, "of divisions," and Septuagint, mountains intersected with deep gaps, hard to pass over, separating the bride and Jesus Christ. In Son 8:14 the mountains are of spices, on which the roe feeds, not of separation; for at His first coming He had to overpass the gulf made by sin between Him and us (Zec 4:6-7); in His second, He will only have to come down from the fragrant hill above to take home His prepared bride. Historically, in the ministry of John the Baptist, Christ's call to the bride was not, as later (Son 4:8), "Come with me," but "Come away," namely, to meet Me (Son 2:2, Son 2:10, Son 2:13). Sitting in darkness (Mat 4:16), she "waited" and "looked" eagerly for Him, the "great light" (Luk 1:79; Luk 2:25, Luk 2:38); at His rising, the shadows of the law (Col 2:16-17; Heb 10:1) were to "flee away." So we wait for the second coming, when means of grace, so precious now, shall be superseded by the Sun of righteousness (1Co 13:10, 1Co 13:12; Rev 21:22-23). The Word is our light until then (2Pe 1:19).
Clarke: Sos 2:17 - -- Until the day break - Literally, until the day breathe; until the first dawn, which is usually accompanied with the most refreshing breezes
Until the day break - Literally, until the day breathe; until the first dawn, which is usually accompanied with the most refreshing breezes

Clarke: Sos 2:17 - -- The shadows flee away - Referring to the evening or setting of the sun, at which all shadows vanish
The shadows flee away - Referring to the evening or setting of the sun, at which all shadows vanish

Clarke: Sos 2:17 - -- The mountains of Bether - Translated also mountains of division, supposed to mean the mountains of Beth-horon
There was a place called Bithron, 2Sa ...
The mountains of Bether - Translated also mountains of division, supposed to mean the mountains of Beth-horon
There was a place called Bithron, 2Sa 2:29, on the other side of Jordan; and as the name signifies Partition, it might have had its name from the circumstance of its being divided or separated from Judea by the river Jordan
With this chapter the second night is supposed to end.
TSK -> Sos 2:17

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Sos 2:8-17
Barnes: Sos 2:8-17 - -- The bride relates to the chorus a visit which the beloved had paid her some time previously in her native home. He on a fair spring morning solicits...
The bride relates to the chorus a visit which the beloved had paid her some time previously in her native home. He on a fair spring morning solicits her company. The bride, immersed in rustic toils, refuses for the present, but confessing her love, bids him return at the cool of day. It is a spring-time of affection which is here described, still earlier than that of the former chapter, a day of pure first-love, in which, on either side, all royal state and circumstance is forgotten or concealed. Hence, perhaps, the annual recitation of the Song of Songs by the synagogue with each return of spring, at the Feast of Passover, and special interpretations of this passage by Hebrew doctors, as referring to the paschal call of Israel out of Egypt, and by Christian fathers, as foreshadowing the evangelic mysteries of Easter - Resurrection and Regeneration. The whole scene has also been thought to represent the communion of a newly-awakened soul with Christ, lie gradually revealing Himself to her, and bidding her come forth into fuller communion.
Voice - Better, "sound."Not a voice, but the sound of approaching footsteps is meant (compare "noise,"Isa 13:4).
Like a roe - Gazelle (compare Pro 5:19 note). The points of comparison here are beauty of form, grace, and speed of movement. In 2Sa 2:18; 1Ch 12:8, princes are compared to "gazelles."
Wall - The clay-built wall of the house or vineyard of the bride’ s family, different from the strong wall of a city or fortress Son 5:7; Son 8:9-10.
Looketh forth at the windows - The meaning evidently is, that he is looking in at, or through, the window from the outside. Compare Son 5:4 note.
Shewing himself - Or, peering. Some, taking the marginal rendering, imagine that the radiant face of the beloved is thus compared to some beautiful flower entangled in the lattice-work which protects the opening of the window, from where he gazes down upon the bride.
Arise, my friend, my beautiful one, and come away - The stanza begins and ends with this refrain, in which the bride reports the invitation of the beloved that she should come forth with him into the open champaign, now a scene of verdure and beauty, and at a time of mirth and mutual affection. The season indicated by six signs Son 2:11-13 is that of spring after the cessation of the latter rain in the first or paschal month Joe 2:23, i. e., Nisan or Abib, corresponding to the latter part of March and early part of April. Cyril interpreted Son 2:11-12 of our Lord’ s Resurrection in the spring.
The time of the singing ... - i. e., The song of pairing birds. This is better than the rendering of the ancient versions, "the pruning time is come."
The vines ... - The vines in blossom give forth fragrance. The fragrance of the vine blossom ("semadar"), which precedes the appearance of "the tender grape,"is very sweet but transient.
The secret places of the stairs - A hidden nook approached by a zig-zag path. The beloved urges the bride to come forth from her rock-girt home.
The bride answers by singing what appears to be a fragment of a vine-dresser’ s ballad, insinuating the vineyard duties imposed on her by her brethren Son 1:6, which prevent her from joining him. The destructive propensities of foxes or jackals in general are referred to, no grapes existing at the season indicated. Allegorical interpretations make these foxes symbolize "false teachers"(compare Eze 13:4).
Feedeth among the lilies - Pursues his occupation as a shepherd among congenial scenes and objects of gentleness and beauty.
Until the day break - Or, rather, until the day breathe, i. e., until the fresh evening breeze spring up in what is called Gen 3:8 "the cool"or breathing time of the day.
And the shadows flee - i. e., Lengthen out, and finally lose their outlines with the sinking and departure of the sun (compare Jer 6:4). As the visit of the beloved is most naturally conceived of as taking place in the early morning, and the bride is evidently dismissing him until a later time of day, it seems almost certain that this interpretation is the correct one which makes that time to be evening after sunset. The phrase recurs in Son 4:6.
Mountains of Bether - If a definite locality, identical with Bithron, a hilly district on the east side of the Jordan valley 2Sa 2:29, not far from Mahanaim (Son 6:13 margin). If used in a symbolic sense, mountains of "separation,"dividing for a time the beloved from the bride. This interpretation seems to be the better, though the local reference need not be abandoned.
Poole -> Sos 2:17
Poole: Sos 2:17 - -- Until the day break, and the shadows flee away until the morning of that great and blessed day of the general resurrection and judgment, when all the...
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away until the morning of that great and blessed day of the general resurrection and judgment, when all the shadows, not only of ignorance, and sin, and calamity, but even of all ordinances and outward administrations, shall cease, and make way for the immediate enjoyment of my Beloved. And this clause may be joined either,
1. With the foregoing words; and so the sense is, Christ doth and will abide with his church as long as this life and world lasts; which agrees with Christ’ s promises of being with his church to the end of the world, Mat 28:20 . But neither that nor this place imply that Christ will then forsake his people, but only secures God’ s people against that which was the chief, if not only, matter of their fear, to wit, lest Christ should leave them, and cast them off in this life, which, if he did not, they were assured that hereafter they should be
ever with the Lord 1Th 4:17 . For it is well known, and hath been oft observed already, that the word until doth not always exclude the time to come. Or,
2. With the following words,
Turn thou, my Beloved, until the day break & c.
Turn return to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received and embraced him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears from the next following verse; which sudden change is very agreeable both to the nature and method of such dramatical writings and amatorious transactions, and to the state of God’ s people in this world, where they are subject to frequent changes and vicissitudes of Christ’ s withdrawing from them, and returning to them again.
Like a roe or a young hart in swiftness; make haste to help me, for I am ready to faint.
Bether a place in the Land of Promise, possibly the same called Bithron , 2Sa 2:29 , where it seems those creatures were in great abundance, or where they were commonly hunted, and so being pursued, they made all possible haste to escape.
Haydock -> Sos 2:17
Haydock: Sos 2:17 - -- Break. Or "yield a refreshing air," ( aspiret ) in the morning, (Haydock) and evening, when she begs he will return, (Theodoret) as she could not ...
Break. Or "yield a refreshing air," ( aspiret ) in the morning, (Haydock) and evening, when she begs he will return, (Theodoret) as she could not enjoy his company in the day-time, chap. i. 1., and iv. 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. (St. Bernard, ser. lxxiv.) (Calmet)
Gill -> Sos 2:17
Gill: Sos 2:17 - -- Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,.... Which may be connected with Son 2:16; either with the former part, "my beloved is mine", &c. Son 2...
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,.... Which may be connected with Son 2:16; either with the former part, "my beloved is mine", &c. Son 2:16; and then the sense is, as long as night and day continue, and God's covenant with both stands sure; so long union to Christ, and covenant interest in him, will abide: or with the latter part, "he feedeth among the lilies until", &c. even until his second coming: or with the next clause in this verse,
turn, my beloved; and so is a prayer for Christ's speedy coming to her, and continued presence with her, until the day should break: which may be understood either of the Gospel day made by the rising of Christ, the sun of righteousness, at his first coming in the flesh; when the shadows of the ceremonial law disappeared, Christ, the body and substance of them, being come, and the darkness of the Gentile world was scattered, through the light of the Gospel being sent into it: the words may be rendered, "until the day breathe", or "blow" b; and naturalists observe c, that, upon the sun's rising, an air or wind has been excited, and which ceases before the middle of the day, and never lasts so long as that; and on Christ's, the sun of righteousness, arising with healing in his wings, some cool, gentle, and refreshing breezes of divine grace and consolation were raised, which were very desirable and grateful: or this may be understood of Christ's second coming; which will make the great day of the Lord, so often spoken of in Scripture: and which suits as well with the Hebrew text, and the philosophy of it, as the former; for, as the same naturalists d observe, the wind often blows fresh, and fine breezes of air spring up at the setting as well as at the rising of the sun; see Gen 3:8; and may very well be applied to Christ's second coming, at the evening of the world; which will be a time of refreshing to the saints, and very desirable by them; and though it will be an evening to the world, which will then come to an end, with them there will be no more night of darkness, desertion, affliction, and persecution; the shadows of ignorance, infidelity, doubts, and fears, will be dispersed, and there will be one pure, clear, unbeclouded, and everlasting day; and till then the church prays, as follows:
turn, my beloved; that is, to her; who seemed to be ready to depart from her, or was gone; and therefore she desires he would turn again, and continue with her, until the time was come before mentioned: or, "turn about" e; surround me with thy favour and lovingkindness, and secure me from all enemies, until the glorious and wished for day comes, when I shall be out of fear and danger; or, "embrace me" f; as in Son 2:6; during the present dispensation, which was as a night in comparison of the everlasting day;
and be thou like a roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether; the same with Bethel, according to Adrichomius g; where were mountains, woody, set with trees, full of grass and aromatic plants; and so may be the same with the mountains of spices, Son 8:14; where the Ethiopic version has Bethel; and so that and the Septuagint version, in an addition to Son 2:9; here; see 2Ki 2:23; unless Bithron is meant, 2Sa 2:29; a place in Gilead, beyond Jordan, so called, because it was parted from Judea by the river Jordan: and the words are by some rendered, "the mountains of division or separation" h; which, if referred to Christ's first coming, may regard the ceremonial law, the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, broke down by Christ, and the two people divided by it, which were reconciled by him; if to his spiritual coming, the same things may be intended by them as on Son 2:9; but if to his second coming, the spacious heavens may be meant, in which Christ will appear, and which now interpose and separate from his bodily presence; and therefore the church importunately desires his coming with speed and swiftness, like a roe or a young hart, and be seen in them; see Rev 22:10.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Sos 2:17 Scholars offer three interpretations of her figurative request: (1) The Beloved desires her Lover to embrace her breasts, like a gazelle romping over ...
Geneva Bible -> Sos 2:17
Geneva Bible: Sos 2:17 Until the day shall break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a ( k ) roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
( ...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Sos 2:1-17
TSK Synopsis: Sos 2:1-17 - --1 The mutual love of Christ and his church.8 The hope,10 and calling of the church.14 Christ's care of the church.16 The profession of the church, her...
MHCC -> Sos 2:14-17
MHCC: Sos 2:14-17 - --The church is Christ's dove; she returns to him, as her Noah. Christ is the Rock, in whom alone she can think herself safe, and find herself easy, as ...
Matthew Henry -> Sos 2:14-17
Matthew Henry: Sos 2:14-17 - -- Here is, I. The encouraging invitation which Christ gives to the church, and every believing soul, to come into communion with him, Son 2:14. 1. His...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Sos 2:17
Keil-Delitzsch: Sos 2:17 - --
Shulamith now further relates, in a dramatic, lively manner, what she said to her beloved after she had saluted him in a song:
17 Till the day cool...
Constable -> Sos 1:2--3:6; Sos 2:8-17
Constable: Sos 1:2--3:6 - --II. THE COURTSHIP 1:2--3:5
Perhaps the outstanding characteristic of this first major section of the book is the...
