Song of Solomon 5.

¹I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved. Beloved ²I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night.” ³I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them? ⁴My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him. ⁵I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock. ⁶I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left; and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer. ⁷The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me. ⁸I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love. Friends ⁹How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us? Beloved ¹⁰My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand. ¹¹His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven. ¹²His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels. ¹³His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. ¹⁴His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires. ¹⁵His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ¹⁶His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

Commentary (3)

Adam Clarke

The bridegroom calls on his spouse to admit him, Sol 5:1-3. She hesitates; but arising finds him gone, seeks him, and is treated unworthily by the city watch, Sol 5:4-7. Inquires of the daughters of Jerusalem, who question her concerning her beloved, Sol 5:8, Sol 5:9. This gives her occasion to enter into a fine description of his person and accomplishments, Sol 5:10-16.

John Gill

INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 5

This chapter begins with Christ's answer to the church's request; in which he informs her, that he was come into his garden, as she desired, and gives an account of what he had done there; and kindly invites his dear friends to feast with him there, Sol 5:1; Then she relates her case and circumstances, which followed upon this, her sleepy frame, and ungrateful carriage to her beloved; which he resenting, withdrew from her, and this gave her sensible pain, Sol 5:2; what treatment she met with from the watchmen; her charge to the daughters of Jerusalem; and the questions they asked about her beloved, Sol 5:7; which put her upon giving a large description of him, by each of his parts, head, hair, &c. Sol 5:10; And the chapter is concluded with a general commendation of him and his loveliness, and a claim of interest in Sol 5:16.

JFB

Answer to her prayer (Isa 65:24; Rev 3:20).

am come--already (Sol 4:16); "come" (Gen 28:16).

sister . . . spouse--As Adam's was created of his flesh, out of his opened side, there being none on earth on a level with him, so the bride out of the pierced Saviour (Eph 5:30-32).

have gathered . . . myrrh--His course was already complete; the myrrh, &c. (Mat 2:11; Mat 26:7-12; Joh 19:39), emblems of the indwelling of the anointing Holy Ghost, were already gathered.

spice--literally, "balsam."

have eaten--answering to her "eat" (Sol 4:16).

honeycomb--distinguished here from liquid "honey" dropping from trees. The last supper, here set forth, is one of espousal, a pledge of the future marriage (Sol 8:14; Rev 19:9). Feasts often took place in gardens. In the absence of sugar, then unknown, honey was more widely used than with us. His eating honey with milk indicates His true, yet spotless, human nature from infancy (Isa 7:15); and after His resurrection (Luk 24:42).

my wine-- (Joh 18:11) --a cup of wrath to Him, of mercy to us, whereby God's Word and promises become to us "milk" (Psa 19:10; Pe1 2:2). "My" answers to "His" (Sol 4:16). The myrrh (emblem, by its bitterness, of repentance), honey, milk (incipient faith), wine (strong faith), in reference to believers, imply that He accepts all their graces, however various in degree.

eat--He desires to make us partakers in His joy (Isa 55:1-2; Joh 6:53-57; Jo1 1:3).

drink abundantly--so as to be filled (Eph 5:18; as Hag 1:6).

friends-- (Joh 15:15).

Cross-references (93)

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Verse 16