
Text -- The Song of Songs 2:4 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
The places in which believers receive the graces and blessings of Christ.

Wesley: Sos 2:4 - -- By the lifting up whereof I was invited to come to him, and to list myself under him.
By the lifting up whereof I was invited to come to him, and to list myself under him.

Wesley: Sos 2:4 - -- The love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel.
The love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel.
JFB: Sos 2:4 - -- Historically fulfilled in the joy of Simeon and Anna in the temple, over the infant Saviour (Luk 2:25-38), and that of Mary, too (compare Luk 1:53); t...
Historically fulfilled in the joy of Simeon and Anna in the temple, over the infant Saviour (Luk 2:25-38), and that of Mary, too (compare Luk 1:53); typified (Exo 24:9-11). Spiritually, the bride or beloved is led (Son 2:4) first into the King's chambers, thence is drawn after Him in answer to her prayer; is next received on a grassy couch under a cedar kiosk; and at last in a "banqueting hall," such as, JOSEPHUS says, Solomon had in his palace, "wherein all the vessels were of gold" (Antiquities, 8:5,2). The transition is from holy retirement to public ordinances, church worship, and the Lord's Supper (Psa 36:8). The bride, as the queen of Sheba, is given "all her desire" (1Ki 10:13; Psa 63:5; Eph 3:8, Eph 3:16-21; Phi 4:19); type of the heavenly feast hereafter (Isa 25:6, Isa 25:9).

JFB: Sos 2:4 - -- After having rescued us from the enemy, our victorious captain (Heb 2:10) seats us at the banquet under a banner inscribed with His name, "love" (1Jo ...
After having rescued us from the enemy, our victorious captain (Heb 2:10) seats us at the banquet under a banner inscribed with His name, "love" (1Jo 4:8). His love conquered us to Himself; this banner rallies round us the forces of Omnipotence, as our protection; it marks to what country we belong, heaven, the abode of love, and in what we most glory, the cross of Jesus Christ, through which we triumph (Rom 8:37; 1Co 15:57; Rev 3:21). Compare with "over me," "underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deu 33:27).
Clarke -> Sos 2:4
Clarke: Sos 2:4 - -- He brought me to the banqueting house - Literally, the house of wine. The ancients preserved their wine, not in barrels or dark cellars under ground...
He brought me to the banqueting house - Literally, the house of wine. The ancients preserved their wine, not in barrels or dark cellars under ground, as we do, but in large pitchers, ranged against the wall in some upper apartment in the house, the place where they kept their most precious effects. We have a proof of this in Homer: -
Εν δε πιθοι οινοιο παλαιου ἡδυποτοι
Εστασαν, ακρητον θειον ποτον εντος εχοντες
Οικαδε νοστησειε, και αλγεα πολλα μογησας
Δικλιδες· εν δε γυνη ταμιη νυκτας τε και ημα
Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys
Where lay the treasures of th’ Ithacian race
Here, ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed
There, polished chests embroider’ d gestures graced
Here, pots of oil breathed forth a rich perfume
There, jars of wine in rows adorn’ d the dome
(Pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty given
And worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven)
Untouch’ d they stood, till, his long labors o’ er
The great Ulysses reach’ d his native shore
A double strength of bars secured the gates
Fast by the door wise Euryclea waits, etc
Pope.
||&&$
Defender -> Sos 2:4
Defender: Sos 2:4 - -- The "banner" metaphor envisions a flag on a flagpole, depicting ownership and protection. The bride's "banner" is the love of her bridegroom, just as ...
The "banner" metaphor envisions a flag on a flagpole, depicting ownership and protection. The bride's "banner" is the love of her bridegroom, just as our eternal security is in the undying love of Christ. Except for Son 2:2, it is the bride who is speaking throughout this chapter."
TSK -> Sos 2:4
TSK: Sos 2:4 - -- brought : Son 1:4, Son 5:1; Psa 63:2-5, Psa 84:10; Joh 14:21-23; Rev 3:20
banqueting house : Heb. house of wine, Son 1:1, Son 1:4; Est 7:7
his banner ...
brought : Son 1:4, Son 5:1; Psa 63:2-5, Psa 84:10; Joh 14:21-23; Rev 3:20
banqueting house : Heb. house of wine, Son 1:1, Son 1:4; Est 7:7
his banner : Son 6:4; Job 1:10; Psa 60:4; Isa 11:10; Joh 15:9-15; Rom 5:8-10, Rom 8:28-39

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Sos 2:3-7
Barnes: Sos 2:3-7 - -- The bride’ s answer: "As the ‘ tappuach’ with its fragrant fruit excels the barren trees of the wild wood, so my beloved his associa...
The bride’ s answer: "As the ‘ tappuach’ with its fragrant fruit excels the barren trees of the wild wood, so my beloved his associates and friends etc."
His banner - As the standard is the rallying-point and guide of the individual soldier, so the bride, transplanted from a lowly station to new scenes of unaccustomed splendor, finds support and safety in the known attachment of her beloved. His "love"is her "banner."The thought is similar to that expressed in the name "Jehovah-nissi"(see the Exo 17:15 note).
Flagons - More probably cakes of raisins or dried grapes (2Sa 6:19 note; 1Ch 16:3; Hos 3:1). For an instance of the reviving power of dried fruit, see 1Sa 30:12.
Render as a wish or prayer: "O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand did embrace me!"Let him draw me to him with entire affection. Compare Deu 33:27; Pro 4:8.
Render: "I adjure you ... by the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up nor awaken love until it please."The King James Version, "my love,"is misleading. The affection or passion in itself, not its object, is here meant. This adjuration, three times significantly introduced as a concluding formula (marginal references), expresses one of the main thoughts of the poem; namely, that genuine love is a shy and gentle affection which dreads intrusion and scrutiny; hence the allusion to the gazelles and hinds, shy and timid creatures.
The complementary thought is that of Son 8:6-7, where love is again described, and by the bride, as a fiery principle.
Poole -> Sos 2:4
Poole: Sos 2:4 - -- Banqueting-house Heb. house of wine , or, by a common synecdoche, of feasting. By which he understands the places in which, or the means and instrum...
Banqueting-house Heb. house of wine , or, by a common synecdoche, of feasting. By which he understands the places in which, or the means and instruments by which, believers receive the graces and blessings of Christ, to wit, the Holy Scriptures, ministers, and public assemblies, and all Christ’ s institutions.
His banner over me or, to or towards me ; by the lifting up or displaying whereof I was invited and encouraged to come in to him, and to list myself under him, as soldiers are by the lifting up of a banner or ensign, of which see Isa 11:10 49:22 .
Was love the love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel, whereby sinners are drawn and engaged to come to Christ: see Joh 3:14 12:32 2Co 5:14 . The motto or device of Christ’ s banner was not like those of other great generals, a lion, or leopard, or eagle, but love, by which alone Christ made all his conquests.
Haydock -> Sos 2:4
Haydock: Sos 2:4 - -- Cellar. This was not under ground. Homer (Odyssey b. 237.) places the wine near the nuptial bed. (Calmet) ---
In me. Hebrew, "he brought me to ...
Cellar. This was not under ground. Homer (Odyssey 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." (Protestants) (Haydock) ---
He has shewn me the greatest tenderness. Only the religion of Christ lays before us our duties to God, to ourselves, and neighbours. (Calmet) (St. Thomas Aquinas, [Summa Theologiae] ii. 2. q. 26.) (Haydock) ---
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)
Gill -> Sos 2:4
Gill: Sos 2:4 - -- He brought me to the banqueting house,.... Or "into" it q. The "house of wine" r, as it is literally in the original; either the "wine cellar" s, as s...
He brought me to the banqueting house,.... Or "into" it q. The "house of wine" r, as it is literally in the original; either the "wine cellar" s, as some, where stores of it were kept; or, the "place of fasting" t, as others, and, as we render it, a "banqueting house"; where it was distributed and drank; a banquet of wine being put for a feast, and here the nuptial feast; and may design the Gospel feast in the house of God, where there is plenty of the wine of Gospel truths, and provisions of rich food, with which believers are sweetly refreshed and delightfully regaled: and to be brought hither, under the drawings and influences of divine grace, is a special privilege, a distinguishing layout; and show a great condescension in Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, to take his people by the hand, as it were, and introduce them into his house, so well furnished, and to a table so well spread: and so the church relates it as an instance of divine favour, and as a fresh token of Christ's love to her; which further appears by what follows: the covenant of grace and the Scriptures of truth may be thought of as a banqueting house, well stored with blessings, and promises, and rich provisions; which, to be led and let into, is a singular kindness;
and his banner over me was love; signifying, that she was brought into the banqueting house in a grand, stately, and majestic manner, with flying colours; the motto on which inscribed was "love"; the allusion may be to the names of generals being inscribed on the banners of their armies; so Vespasian's name was inscribed on the banners throughout his armies u. Christ's name, inscribed on his, was "love", his church's love; and by which his company or band was distinguished from all others, even by electing, redeeming, calling love. It may signify the security and protection of the saints, while in the house of God, and enjoying communion with him, being under the banner of love, with which they are encompassed as a shield; and it may denote the very manifest and visible displays of it, which the church now experienced.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

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 2:1-7
MHCC: Sos 2:1-7 - --Believers are beautiful, as clothed in the righteousness of Christ; and fragrant, as adorned with the graces of his Spirit; and they thrive under the ...
Matthew Henry -> Sos 2:3-7
Matthew Henry: Sos 2:3-7 - -- Here, I. The spouse commends her beloved and prefers him before all others: As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, which perhaps does not ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Sos 2:4
Keil-Delitzsch: Sos 2:4 - --
4 He has brought me into the wine-house,
And his banner over me is love.
After we have seen the ladies of the palace at the feast, in which wine i...
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...

Constable: Sos 1:12--2:8 - --1. Mutual admiration 1:12-2:7
In this section the love of Solomon and his beloved continues to i...
