Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Song of Solomon 2:15

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes.

15. In answer to her lover’s request that she should let him hear her voice the bride sings a fragment of a vineyard-watcher’s song. Probably, as Oettli suggests, he had heard her sing it before, and would recognise her by it, for she had not as yet revealed herself to him. He had been watching for her at the windows, and peering in at the lattices, and now she assures him of her presence. The word sh‘l denotes an animal which digs into and dwells in the earth, for it means ‘the burrower,’ and is derived from the root which gives us also sh‘al, the hollow of the hand. It is the common fox here probably, though jackals are also called by this name, e.g. Psa 63:10, where those slain by the sword are said to be a portion for sh‘lm.

that spoil the vines ] Rather, the vineyards. This includes the vines, for though foxes are carnivorous animals in the main, they also devour plants, so that besides digging their holes in the vineyards, and making tracks among the vines and gaps in the fences, they actually bite the young shoots of the vines and eat the grapes. (Cp. Theocritus, Id. v. 112, where vines are said to be spoiled by their deadly bite.) In vine-growing countries, as for instance in Australia, foxes when killed have been found with nothing in their stomachs but grapes. Perhaps there may be a side reference here to the Shulammite’s danger in the royal hareem. She speaks of her person as her vineyard, and there may be here a call to her lover to deliver her from those who wish to profane it.

for our vines have tender grapes ] for our vineyards are in blossom. Heb. semdhr (cp. Son 2:13). The use by the bride of this peculiar word which her lover has just used may be meant to inform him that she has heard all he has just said.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Son 2:15

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

The little foxes

The fox in the vineyard is exceedingly destructive. The food of that animal is not merely flesh, but honey and fruits, particularly grapes; and the young foxes not merely devour the fruit, but by their sportiveness, and by the action of their teeth on the bark of the vine, destroy as much us they devour. The habits of the fox increase the mischief. Instead of roaming, as some animals, without any certain place of rest, he fixes the bounds of his habitation, choosing a cave or den at a convenient distance from those places which will furnish most substance for plunder; and from this hiding-place and watch-tower united, he exercises his acuteness, ingenuity, prudence, and circumspection, in the capture of whatever is fitted to be his prey. The well-known voraciousness of the fox gives breadth to the mischief, and his cunning renders the application of means of defence almost impossible. So that the husbandman of the vineyard regards the fox as one of his greatest enemies. We will consider the text–

I. As addressed to the individual.

1. The evils, the capture of which is here urged, are such as the following:–Ostentation–the spirit that leads men to give alms that may be seen of men; to pray, that it may be said, Behold, he prays; and to be very particular that their circumspection may become the talk of a street or of a town. Concealment–the temper that prompts men to try to prevent their light shining by placing it under a bushel. The easily-offended and unforgiving spirit–by which allied hearts are moved to a distance from each other, and kept separate. Fear of man and men-pleasing–by which the soul is snared into neglect of duty, and into the occupation of wrong positions. Anxiety–by which the mind is distracted and the heart robbed of peace. A longing for treasure upon earth–by which the religious sight is confused and the spirit darkened. That judging of others–by which our beams are made motes and others motes made beams. That finding our life and burying our dead, and bidding them farewell who are at our house–which involves a looking back and an unfitness for the kingdom of God. All such plausible errors in doctrine and specious deviations from truth as affect principle and conduct; injustice in the things that are least; trifling omissions of duty; all pleasures and indulgences producing moral uneasiness, and especially all doubtful actions and courses, those deeds and paths about which the conscience is uneasy and the spirit timid, about which the mind is not made up, and in the performance or pursuit of which there is, at least, a suspicion of the divine displeasure and frown.

2. The good which may be marred is of this kind. The subjects of Christs kingdom are born from above: we may expect in them heavenly-mindedness. They are born of God: and we may look to them for godliness. They are created anew by Christ Jesus: and we may expect to see Christ-likeness.

3. This good may be thus marred:–The pursuit of religious information may be checked. The attainment of divine knowledge by experience may be hindered. The judgment may be perverted or corrupted. The memory may be burdened with remembrance of sin. The conscience may be blunted or defiled. The affections may be corrupted or divided. Godly action maybe impeded. The energy of holy principle may be impaired. The bloom of spiritual peace and rest may be removed. The enamel of character may be broken. The lustre of reputation may be dimmed.

4. Such mischief ought to be prevented or cured. Take the foxes. Pray in secret, and give in secret. Let your light shine. Forgive a brother his trespasses. Fear not them that kill the body. Cast all your care on Him who careth for you. Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth. Judge not Let the dead bury their dead. Hold the faith and a good conscience. Do nothing by which others are offended and made weak. Defy the persecutor. Withdraw from the backslider. Take the foxes. Make impending evil captive, and, if possible, destroy it.

II. As addressed to the Churches of Christ.

1. The foxes in any congregation of believing men are such evils as these:–Ill-humour, whether arising from the body, or from circumstances, or from any dominant evil passion–that mood which makes a jaundiced eye and an itching ear, and which will not see good, but is determined to discover evil. Suspicion–the opposite temper to the charity that thinketh no evil, the spirit that sees nothing but whited sepulchres, and platters clean but on the outside. Distrust–the spirit that has no friend or counsellor, but saith deliberately, All men are liars. Self-importance–the thinking too highly of oneself, and too meanly of others, instead of estimating others and oneself soberly. Carelessness and disorder–by which the sweetest ointment is spoiled, dead flies being allowed to abide in it, and by which the most magnificent music is marred, through the performance being slovenly in the execution.

2. So far as these evils have influence, they check the life of God in the soul of the man, and thereby damage the fellowship. As a congregation consists of individuals, so the character of a church is created by the moral and spiritual attributes of persons. Whatever injures the individual, mars the communion.

3. To prevent this spoliation, take the foxes. This is one with Christs precept (Mat 5:29-30), cast it from thee. (Rom 16:17; Rom 16:20; 2Th 3:14; 1Ti 4:7; 1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 2:16; 2Ti 2:23; Tit 3:9; 2Jn 1:9-10; 1Co 5:11.) Pauls directions and Johns are in harmony with the text. We remark,

(1) That individual life and church life are not maintainable apart from carefulness and exertion. Real religion has nothing mechanical in it. It is all life. It does not proceed on a principle of perpetual motion. It meets resistance and must resist in turn, or it will stop. It is in incessant friction, and must be protected or it will wear out.

(2) To such carefulness and effect we have the strongest inducement. Your labour is not in vain; God cares for you. If you look to Him, He will satisfy thy soul in drought and make thee as a watered garden. Abide in Christ, and you will bring forth much fruit. (S. Martin, M. A.)

Little Foxes

The St. Gotham Alp is a great mountain pass dividing Switzerland from Italy. On the Swiss side the country is bleak and sombre, with great mountains like white-coated sentinels keeping watch over the valleys. On the Italian side the sky is bluer and nature is clad in gentler hues. The sloping hillsides are covered with lovely vineyards. The sun is so warm that grapes will grow in the open air, and the green vines are trained over frames and posts, making the uplands look like a vast garden. The vine-dressers have to use great care in order to preserve the fruit-bearing branches. The grapes have many enemies. Tiny parasites abound which are very destructive. When the grapes are young and tender the little foxes steal into the vineyards, and snatching the bunches pull the branches down and spoil the grapes. Hence arose this vineyard-keepers song. There are little foxes that spoil the character of boys and girls.

I. selfishness. Jesus teaches us to think more of others than we do of ourselves. He pleased not Himself. His life was one long act of service. Unselfishness is one of the tender fruits of a Christlike character. A little fox steals in and prowls around trying to spoil the grapes. His name is Self. He tries to make a boy think of none but himself.

II. temper. This fox is nearly always found in company with Self. When Self finds his way into the vineyard, Temper generally follows, and eats what few grapes are left. This little fox of Temper has a variable face.

1. Sometimes it is passionate. In the last summer months you have seen the sun sailing in a clear blue sky and flooding the earth with life and beauty. Suddenly thick black clouds gather and blot out the sun and smiling sky till the earth is covered with a dark canopy. Great drops of rain splash on the pavement, the lightning flashes and the thunder roars. The storm comes near, passes over our head, dies away as quickly as it came. Then the sun shines out till the raindrops glisten like diamonds, and the birds sing sweetly, and the perfume of the flowers fills the air. So suddenly came these bursts of dark, passionate temper.

2. Sometimes this fox is net passionate, but sulky. Then his victims are like a dull, depressing day, when the mists are unrelieved by a solitary ray of sunlight. The boy pouts and sulks. His anger is sullen, and if he is not very watchful that fox will eat every bit of fruit clustering on the vine.

III. Deceit. None of you, I hope, would ever stoop to wilful falsehoods. Rather die than be false to truth. Deceit is an acted lie. When a girl breaks a jug and hides the pieces in the cellar without saying anything to mother, that is deceit. I knew a boy who was not very quick at sums, but was good at grammar. So he helped a boy at grammar, and that boy did his sums in return. The boy took his sums on the slate to school next day, and they were all correct. The master thought he was improving, and expressed his pleasure to the boy. Tom knew he did not deserve the praise, and felt very guilty. He thought he would tell the master; but just then this little fox called Deceit came along and said: You are a silly boy if you do. The master will never know unless you tell him. But Tom was straightforward, and told the truth, and kept out the little fox. We must be like the vine-dressers, ever upon the watch. Little foxes grow big, and bad habits grow strong. Passion grows in force and intensity. The boy who deceives at school will do so at his work. Deceiving others ends in deceiving self. Keep out the little foxes, and when the Master of the vineyard comes at the time of vintage, He will find the rich and perfect fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives to the glory of God. (E. Clowes Chorley.)

Little foxes

I. What the little foxes are–what we are to understand as represented by them.

1. A little lie. Not a great, black, ugly lie, enough to make conscience cry out, and to startle yourself and everybody that knows of it, but a little untruth that does not hurt and need not frighten anybody.

2. A little theft. It was only a penny or halfpenny or farthing–only a bit of pencil or a bit of ribbon–only a sweetmeat or a pin. It was only some little unfairness in the class or in the game, that got you a place or credit that did not belong to you.

3. A little outburst of temper. You were provoked, and flew into a passion, and you looked or spoke or acted your anger.

4. A little act of disobedience, refusing to do, or putting off doing, or not doing pleasantly and cheerfully, what a parent asked you to do. You say you must do something else first.

5. A little oath, or slang expression, or low bad word.

6. A little act of selfishness.

7. A little yielding to indolence, laziness.

8. A little breaking of the Sabbath.

9. A little omission of prayer. 10. A little yielding to envy or jealousy.

II. The harm the little foxes do.

1. Little sins are real sins. A little fox is a real fox. A little tiger is a real tiger. A little serpent is a real serpent. The smallness of it does not alter its nature.

2. Little sins are apt to be little thought of. That is one great part of their danger. You say it is only a little fault. Who would think anything of that? It is only a little fox, what harm can it do? The little sin does not ruffle your conscience, or make you unhappy, or make other people think much the worse of you for it. That is the worst of the whole case. That is one of the strongest reasons why you should be afraid of it.

3. Little sins prepare the way for big ones, and form habits of sin. I never heard of a boy becoming a drunkard, or a thief, or a swearer, or a liar, or a profligate, or a criminal, all at once. It was gradually–by little and little, that he became such.

III. How to catch them and kill them. Take us the foxes, the little foxes. Have you ever seen a party setting out for a days fox-hunting? How eager all are–men, horses, and dogs. They are prepared to run any distance, to cross rivers, to leap over walls and hedges, each more in earnest than the other to catch the fox. Their first concern is to discover where he is, and then they set out after him with a will. And so your first concern should be to discover what and where the little foxes are, that are spoiling your vines. And having learned that, your next business is to catch them and kill them. There are two hands with which you must seek to catch them. Neither will do alone. Both must go together. These hands are prayer and pains. The most important is prayer, for that calls in Divine help. But then it is said, God helps them that help themselves, and it is in helping yourselves–watching, striving, resisting–that He helps you. You must keep your eye ever open. You must never be off your guard. (J. H. Wilson, D. D.)

Words to the little ones

We read in the New Testament of Christ being the Vine, and so our hearts joined to him are the vines, or, as they are called, branches. Now, we know that grapes grow upon vines, so the tender grapes that grow upon our vines are all the good thoughts, and words, and deeds that come forth from your young hearts. We are told that little foxes spoil the vines which have tender grapes. Why do you suppose that it is the little foxes against which we are warned? Because the little foxes are often far more dangerous than the big ones. I remember one day passing through one of our London squares. I saw two cruel dogs chasing a eat–indeed, it was only a kitten. The poor little thing ran for its life, and the two dogs after it, a big fellow foremost, and a smaller one coming on as fast as it could behind. The kitten got safe to the railings of the square, and it jumped in through them; and when the big dog, almost touching it as it went through, tried to follow, he couldnt get in after it–the railings were too close together, and so the little kitten thought itself safe. But up came the little dog, and he was able to get through when the big fellow couldnt; but Im glad to say a gardener, who was working inside, drove it back again, and so the little kitten was rescued. Do you see what I mean by that story? It shows us how small things are often more dangerous than big things, for they can get in through small openings. Now that is just the way it is with your young hearts. There are tender grapes growing in them, and while you couldnt let a big fox in, perhaps many a little one creeps in and destroys them, and takes all the sweetness out of them. You often could not let a great big sin come into your heart, but a little one creeps in almost without your knowing it. And the worst of it is these little fellows come into the vineyard of your heart, and stay there, and grow big there. A little untruth, so innocent-looking that we dont think it can do harm, gets in first, and it grows and grows so gradually, that we dont notice it, and at last it is a big lie! Ah! be on your guard against the small things–the small unkindness, the first bad word, the first untruth, the first disobedience. Take care of the little foxes, or theyll get in and destroy the tender grapes. Dont be taken in by their looks. One time, when our soldiers were fighting against Indians in America, a sentry at a very important point was found one morning dead at his post. The guard had heard no sound, and they could not imagine how any one could have come so close to the sentry as to kill him. They thought he must have fallen asleep at his post. Another man was put in his place, and next morning he, too, was found dead there. They were greatly surprised, for he was a very steady man, and had been warned to be on the look-out. So the officer selected another soldier, and said to him, Now, let nothing escape you; if its only a dog tries to get near you, shoot him. The man promised his officer to obey him. Well, an hour passed, and not a sound reached the sentry. He thought then that lie heard a very little noise, as of something walking on the dead leaves. He called out, Who goes there? and there was no answer. So he looked, and listened; and he saw a slight movement of a branch some few yards off. If you dont answer, Ill fire, said he, and raised his rifle to his shoulder. He was just going to pull the trigger, when he saw a small bear passing away from him beside a bush. So he lowered his gun, saying to himself, What a fool I should have looked to have startled all the camp by shooting that poor animal! Still, he remembered his promise to his officer that hed shoot even a dog; so saying to himself, I know theyll all laugh at me, but Ill keep my word like a good soldier, he fired. The bear fell, and out rushed the guard at the sound of the shot. They ran over to where the bear lay dead, and they found it was only a bears skin and an Indian dead inside it! The Indian had night after night approached the sentry, walking on hands and feet, and concealed in the skin of a bear, and when he got close to the soldier he had killed him. So, boys and girls, be on your guard. No matter how innocent, no matter how small the untruth, the unkindness, the deceit, the dishonesty may look, dont let them pass in that way. They are enemies, after all: theyll kill you, if yon dont kill them. Beware of the foxes that spoil the tender grapes. (T. T. Shore, M. A.)

Little sins

A famous ruby was once offered for sale in England, and the crown jeweller reported that it was the finest he had ever seen, with a single slight defect in one of the cuttings of the face. This almost invisible flaw reduced its value by thousands of pounds, and the ruby was not purchased for the regalia of the kingdom. It is only mans littleness which discovers no importance in trifles. Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. The most deplorable failures in Christian consistency and uprightness may, generally, be traced back to a very small departure from duty. Give the little foxes an opportunity to break through the enclosure which surrounds the vineyard, and the prospect of grapes will be small. What, then, are some of these little sins, which mar our happiness or hinder our usefulness?

I. At the head of the list may be placed a sour and crabbed temper.

II. Another little sin to be watched against is the giving way to ease and self-indulgence. There is too much of what may be called summer religion; a readiness to enjoy the agreeable parts of it, without its restraints and sacrifices.

III. Dishonesty in our ordinary dealings may be named as another example of little sins.

IV. Another little sin, as the world looks at it, is jealousy. (J. N. Norton, D. D.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 15. Take us the foxes] That these were ruinous to vines all authors allow. They love the vine, and they are eaten in autumn in some countries, according to Galen, when they are very fat with eating the grapes. They abounded in Judea; and did most damage when the clusters were young and tender. It is likely that these are the words of the bridegroom to his companions, just as he was entering the apartment of his spouse. “Take care of the vineyard: set the traps for the foxes, which are spoiling the vines; and destroy their young as far as possible.”

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The Bridegroom gives this charge to his bridemen or friends, whose office it is to attend upon him, and to observe his commands; by whom he understands those magistrates and ministers to whom, under Christ, the custody of the vineyards, to wit, the churches, principally belong. These he commands to take the

foxes, i.e. to restrain them from doing this mischief.

Us, Heb. for us, i.e. at our instance, and for our common good, as this spoiling of the vines was injurious and grievous to them both.

The foxes; the disturbers of the vineyard, or the church; seducers or false teachers, who are fitly compared to foxes here, and Eze 13:4, partly to distinguish them from great tyrants and persecutors, who are compared to wild boars, or other wild beasts, Psa 80:13, as to lions, 2Ti 4:17; and partly for their fox-like qualities and actions, because they are very crafty and deceitful, 2Co 11:13,14; Eph 4:14, and very mischievous also, Eze 34:2,3; 2Ti 4:17; Tit 1:10,11; 2Pe 2:2. He mentions foxes, because these abounded in that country, as is manifest from Jdg 15:4; Psa 63:10; Lam 5:18, &c., but under them he comprehends all noxious creatures, upon the same reason.

The little foxes: this he adds, not as if the great foxes were excused or exempted, but for more abundant caution, to teach the church to prevent errors and heresies in the beginnings of them, before they spread and grow strong and incurable.

That spoil the vines, which foxes do many ways, as those who write of them have observed, by gnawing and breaking the little branches and leaves, and the bark, by digging holes in the vineyards, and so spoiling the roots, by eating the grapes, and other ways.

Have tender grapes; which gives us hopes of a good vintage, and which are easily spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

15. Transition to the vineyard,often formed in “stairs” (So2:14), or terraces, in which, amidst the vine leaves, foxes hid.

foxesgeneric term,including jackals. They eat only grapes, not the vine flowers; butthey need to be driven out in time before the grape is ripe.She had failed in watchfulness before (So1:6); now when converted, she is the more jealous of subtlesins (Ps 139:23). Inspiritual winter certain evils are frozen up, as well as good; in thespring of revivals these start up unperceived, crafty, falseteachers, spiritual pride, uncharitableness, c. (Psa 19:12Mat 13:26; Luk 8:14;2Ti 2:17; Heb 12:15).”Little” sins are parents of the greatest (Ecc 10:1;1Co 5:6). Historically, John theBaptist spared not the fox-like Herod (Lu13:32), who gave vine-like promise of fruit at first (Mr6:20), at the cost of his life; nor the viper-Sadducees, c. northe varied subtle forms of sin (Lu3:7-14).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Take us the foxes,…. Of which there were great numbers in Judea; see Jud 15:4; these words are directed not to angels, nor to civil magistrates, but to ministers of the word; but whether the words of Christ, or the church, is not easy to determine; some think they are the words of the church, who had hitherto been relating what Christ said to her, and who, having neglected her vineyard, So 1:6; and now stirred up by Christ to a greater care of it, expresses her concern for its flourishing; and therefore calls upon her attendants and companions, to assist in taking and destroying those which were harmful to it: but rather they seem to be the words of Christ continued; since they not only show the care of his vines, the churches; but express power and authority over those they are spoken to: and perhaps they may be the words of them both jointly; since the church, with Christ, and under him, has a right to stir up her officers to do their work, and fulfil their ministry, they have received of Christ for her service. By foxes may be meant false teachers, to whom the false prophets of old were compared, Eze 13:3; foxes are crafty and subtle creatures, malignant and mischievous, hungry and voracious, full of deceit and dissimulation, are of an ill smell, and abominably filthy; so false teachers walk in craftiness, use good words and fair speeches, and thereby deceive the hearts of the simple; their doctrines are pernicious, their heresies damnable, and they bring destruction on themselves and others; they are hungry after worldly substance, are greedy of it, and can never have enough; devour widows’ houses, and make merchandise of men, to enrich themselves; they put on sheep’s clothing, transform themselves into angels of light, mimic the voice of Gospel ministers, use their phrases and expressions, that they may not be easily discovered; and are abominable in their principles and practices, and to be shunned by all good men. Now ministers of the Gospel are ordered to take these, to detect them, and refute their errors, and reprove them sharply for them; and, after proper steps taken, to reject them, to cast them out of the vineyards, the churches, and keep them out. Even

the little foxes; heresies and heretics are to be nipped in the bud, before they increase to more ungodliness; otherwise errors, which may seem small at first, soon grow larger and spread themselves, and become fatal to the churches:

that spoil the vines; as foxes do, by gnawing the branches, biting the bark, making bare the roots, devouring the ripe grapes, and infecting all with their noxious teeth and vicious breath x: so false teachers make divisions and schisms in churches; disturb their peace; unsettle some, and subvert others; sap the foundation of religion, and corrupt the word of God; and therefore by all means to be taken, and the sooner the better;

for our vines [have] tender grapes: or “flowers”;

[See comments on So 2:13]. The “vines” are the churches; the “tender grapes”, or “flowers”, young converts, which Christ has a particular regard unto, Isa 40:11; and these, having but a small degree of knowledge, are more easily imposed upon and seduced by false teachers; and therefore, for their sakes, should be carefully watched, and vigorously opposed, since otherwise a promising vintage is in danger of being spoiled. Christ, in this address, intimates, that not only he and the church, but, he ministers also, had an interest in the vines and tender grapes, as they have; see So 8:11; and therefore should be the more concerned for their welfare; hence he calls them “ours”; interest carries a powerful argument in it.

x Vid. Theocrit. Idyll. 1. v. 48, 49. & Idyll. 5. v. 112, 113. So soldiers are compared to foxes, because they eat the grapes in the countries they come into, Aristoph. Equites, Act 3. Sc. 1. p. 350.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

There now follows a cantiuncula . Shulamith comes forward, and, singing, salutes her beloved. Their love shall celebrate a new spring. Thus she wishes everything removed, or rendered harmless, that would disturb the peace of this love:

15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes,

The spoilers of the vineyards;

For our vineyards are in bloom!

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his;

Who feeds his flock among the lilies.

If the king is now, on this visit of the beloved, engaged in hunting, the call: “Catch us,” etc., if it is directed at all to any definite persons, is addressed to those who follow him. But this is a vine-dresser’s ditty, in accord with Shulamith’s experience as the keeper of a vineyard, which, in a figure, aims at her love-relation. The vineyards, beautiful with fragrant blossom, point to her covenant of love; and the foxes, the little foxes, which might destroy these united vineyards, point to all the great and little enemies and adverse circumstances which threaten to gnaw and destroy love in the blossom, ere it has reached the ripeness of full enjoyment. comprehends both foxes and jackals, which “destroy or injure the vineyards; because, by their holes and passages which they form in the ground, loosening the soil, so that the growth and prosperity of the vine suffers injury” (Hitzig). This word is from (R. ), to go down, or into the depth. The little foxes are perhaps the jackals, which are called tannim , from their extended form, and in height are seldom more than fifteen inches. The word “jackal” has nothing to do with , but is the Persian-Turkish shaghal , which comes from the Sanscr. crgala , the howler (R. krag , like kap – ala , the skull; R. kap , to be arched). Moreover, the mention of the foxes naturally follows 14 a, for they are at home among rocky ravines. Hitzig supposes Shulamith to address the foxes: hold for us = wait, ye rascals! But , Aram. , does not signify to wait, but to seize or lay hold of (synon. , Jdg 15:4), as the lion its prey, Isa 5:29. And the plur. of address is explained from its being made to the king’s retinue, or to all who could and would give help. Fox-hunting is still, and has been from old times, a sport of rich landowners; and that the smaller landowners also sought to free themselves from them by means of snares or otherwise, is a matter of course, – they are proverbially as destroyers, Neh. 3:35 [4:3], and therefore a figure of the false prophets, Eze 13:4. are here instead of . The articles are generally omitted, because poetry is not fond of the article, where, as here (cf. on the other hand, Son 1:6), the thoughts and language permit it; and the fivefold m is an intentional mere verborum sonus . The clause is an explanatory one, as appears from the Vav and the subj. preceding, as well as from the want of a finitum . maintains here also, in pausa , the sharpening of the final syllable, as , Deu 28:42.

The 16th verse is connected with the 15th. Shulamith, in the pentast. song, celebrates her love-relation; for the praise of it extends into Son 2:15, is continued in Son 2:16, and not till Son 2:17 does she address her beloved. Luther translates:

My beloved is mine, and I am his;

He feeds (his flock) among the roses.

He has here also changed the “lilies” of the Vulgate into “roses;” for of the two queens among the flowers, he gave the preference to the popular and common rose; besides, he rightly does not translate , in the mid. after the pascitur inter lilia of the Vulgate: who feeds himself, i.e., pleases himself; for has this meaning only when the object expressly follows, and it is evident that cannot possibly be this object, after Gen 37:2, – the object is thus to be supplied. And which? Without doubt, gregem; and if Heiligst., with the advocates of the shepherd-hypothesis, understands this feeding (of the flock) among the lilies, of feeding on a flowery meadow, nothing can be said against it. But at Son 6:2., where this saying of Shulamith is repeated, she says that her beloved feeds and gathers lilies. On this the literal interpretation of the qui pascit ( gregem ) inter lilia is wrecked; for a shepherd, such as the shepherd-hypothesis supposes, were he to feed his flock in a garden, would be nothing better than a thief; such shepherds, also, do not concern themselves with the plucking of flowers, but spend their time in knitting stockings. It is Solomon, the king, of whom Shulamith speaks. She represents him to herself as a shepherd; but in such a manner that, at the same time, she describes his actions in language which rises above ordinary shepherd-life, and, so to speak, idealizes. She, who was herself a shepherdess, knows from her own circle of thought nothing more lovely or more honourable to conceive and to say of him, than that he is a shepherd who feeds among lilies. The locality and the surroundings of his daily work correspond to his nature, which is altogether beauty and love. Lilies, the emblem of unapproachable highness, awe-inspiring purity, lofty elevation above what is common, bloom where the lily-like (king) wanders, whom the Lily names her own. The mystic interpretation and mode of speaking takes “lilies” as the figurative name of holy souls, and a lily-stalk as the symbol of the life of regeneration. Mary, who is celebrated in song as the rosa mystica , is rightly represented in ancient pictures with a lily in her hand on the occasion of the Annunciation; for if the people of God are called by Jewish poets “a people of lilies,” she is, within this lily-community, this communio sanctorum , the lily without a parallel.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Notes

Son. 2:15 : Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines. (shualim) foxes. So the old translators. Sometimes also used for jackals, as Jdg. 15:4; Psa. 63:11. GESENIUS. Probably both these dangerous animals; the word being a general name for animals of the fox and jackal species. EWALD. A term including jackals. FAUSSET. Jackals probably meant wherever the word occurs in the Old Testament. Dr. SMITH. ZCKLER, however, inclines to foxes, as jackals are always called or . But, as Ewald observes, these rather poetically so called. BOCHART: jackals. HARMER: Jackals gregarious, but not foxes; distinguished from the latter as little foxes. HASSELQUIST calls the jackal the little Eastern fox. Jackals roam in troops about the villages at night. Very destructive in Juda. BOOTHROYD. COBBIN: Eastern foxes very unlike ours: small delicate creatures; and while seemingly gentle and harmless, creep quietly into any chink left in the fence of a vineyard, and nibble at the young shoots which are thus injured or destroyed. Little foxes. ZCKLER: Young ones. MERCER: Little; as more hurtful to the vineyard, and more bold in doing damage. SANCTIUS: As more easily taken than when full grown. DEL RIO: Still few and feeble in spring, the time of germinating: the double expression used for a single one; the foxes, I say, while still little. EWALD: In the early part of the year a prudent farmer will expel the foxes, especially the young ones.

Take us, &c.; catch us foxes, &c. A little vintage song, or a fragment of one, sung by the Bride. HERDER, ZOCKLER. Sung while she hastens to her Beloved; the song bearing a delicate allusion to their love-relations. DELITZSCH. An intimation that she was not disinclined to his taking part with her in the care of her vineyard. ZCKLER. Spoken by the Bride. GOOD, BURROUGHS, NOYES, THRUPP. Words borrowed from a popular song, but receiving a new meaning here from their connection. GREEN. The beloved is conceived by the Bride as commanding the servants and bystanders. EWALD. Let thy servants catch, &c. COBBIN. Addressed by Solomon to his companions. MERCER, BOTHROYD. Sending them on their assigned employ. FRY. Spoken by the virgins to the friends of the Bridegroom. WILLIAMS. By the Bridegroom to Shulamite, directing her to look well to her vineyard. WORDSWORTH. A summons to the chase. TAYLOR, WITHINGTON. Bridegrooms words to his servants reported by the Bride as heard in her sleep. DEL RIO. Spoken to Shulamite by her brothers. GINSBURG. Uncertain whether spoken by Christ, or the Church, or both: more probably by Christ, and chiefly addressed to the ministers of the Church, directing them to discover and refute the errors of false teachers and heretics; and to judge, censure, and cast them out of the Church, or to avoid them if not of it. AINSWORTH, DURHAM, GILL.

SHULAMITES REPLY TO HER BELOVED

(Son. 2:15-17)

Take us the foxes,
The little foxes,
That spoil the vines;
For our vines have tender grapes.
My beloved is mine,
And I am his;
He feedeth among the lilies.
Until the day break
And the shadows flee away;
Turn my Beloved,
And be thou like a roe,
Or a young hart,
Upon the mountains of Bether.

Shulamite readily responds to her Beloved. Complies with His request to let Him hear her voice. Her song, a song of loves (Psalms 45 title). Expresses her desire and joy. Believers, encouraged and invited by Jesus, lift up their voice in prayer and song to the praise and pleasure of their Beloved. The privilege of the ransomed of the Lord to return to Zion with songs. The inhabitant of the rock sings; though lonely, yet secure and happy. Believers enabled, through faith and love, to sing the Lords song even in a strange land (Psa. 137:4). Shulamites song a mirror of the believers experience. Expresses

I. CONCERN. Take us the foxes (or jackals), the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes (or, are in bloom). Expresses her concern that nothing may exist to cool their love, or mar the happiness of the anticipated union. Speaks of herself as, in her bridal character, a vineyard, the property as much of her Beloved as her own. The vines of that vineyard, the happy intercourse of the connubial state. These, as in Spring, only then in bloom; the marriage not yet consummated, and the intercourse being only that of parties betrothed. The married state, however, anticipated, when for a time the vines would still only have tender grapes, or be in flower. Natural concern in the Bride that nothing may disturb or mar the felicities of their married life. Wishes every hurtful and disturbing element to be detected and removed at the very beginning. Even the little foxes to be taken and destroyed. Greater danger from infirmities of temper, little jealousies, coolnesses, or estrangements, at the earlier period of their wedded intercourse than even afterwards. The thought of the possible existence of such things painful to the loving Shulamite. To remove the causes and guard against the occasions of such disturbance, the joint care of both parties, while especially lying upon the husband. Take us the foxes. Observe

1. Care to be taken to preserve unhurt the union and communion between believers and Christ. The peace as well as fruitfulness of believers easily marred and injured. Grace in the soul, and Christs presence in the Church, a tender and delicate thing. The Spirit easily grieved. Many foxes about the vineyard, both great and small. Injury to the Church as a whole, and to believers individually, from various causes. These apparent in the earliest period of the Church. Exhibited in the acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and the Revelation. Appeared both in the form of false doctrines and foul practices. Believers, and the Church in general, warned against them. Care, vigilance, and decision necessary to guard against their entrance and effects.

2. Errors in doctrine and sins in life to be especially guarded against in the Spring-time of grace, and in the revivals of the Church. Spiritual pride, uncharitableness, vain-glory, strife, error, exclusiveness, to be then especially watched against. To be crushed in their first appearances and small beginnings. Take us the little foxes. More dangerous and more damaging then, as being more likely to be overlooked, and more easily admitted. Young foxes more injurious to the vines in Spring than the older ones. What might be regarded as small sins, and scarcely observable to others, often the most hurtful to the divine life, and the spiritual health of a Church. I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, &c. (Rev. 2:4-5).

3. Sins and errors in the Church an injury to Christ as well as to the Church itself, and to individual believers. Take us the foxes; our vines have tender grapes. The purity, happiness, and fruitfulness of the Church, both collectively and individually, the common interest of Christ and His people. The Church Christs body. His chosen rest and abode. His walk among the seven golden candlesticks. Injury to them an injury to Him.

4. Christ and His Spirits agency necessary to the preservation of the Churchs purity and the believers peace. Take us (or for us) the foxes. The Bride unable to do this herself. Believers kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (1Pe. 1:5). Christ alone able to keep His people from falling, and to preserve them blameless. A vineyard of red wine: I the Lord do keep it: I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day (Isa. 27:2-3). Without me ye can do nothing. My grace is sufficient for thee. The Churchs efforts made effectual by the Spirits agency. Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zec. 4:6). Little speed in soul-matters without Christs hand in the work.

5. The believers duty and interest prayerfully to put the preservation of his own soul, and of the Church at large, into Christs hands. Take us the foxesthe Brides earnest prayer to the Bridegroom. Pauls conduct in regard to the thorn in the flesh: For this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me (2Co. 12:8). Arise, plead thine own cause. What Christ can do, and has promised to do, He will do at His peoples earnest prayer (Eze. 36:37; Isa. 45:11; Mat. 9:38.) Prayer the mightiest weapon put by her Lord into the Churchs hand, for the preservation of her purity and the conquest of her foes. Believers duty both to work and pray. We will give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Act. 6:4). The Churchs greatest triumphs won upon her knees.

II. JOY. My beloved is mine and I am His. Shulamite expresses her joy in the possession of her Beloved, and in the entire surrender of herself to him as his own. This joy enhanced by the consideration of what he is and doesthe excellence of his character, the happiness he imparts to his own, and the pleasure he takes in their society. He feedeth among the lilies. The Beloved compared to a noble and beautiful gazelle that pastures only in the flowery meads. Only purest joys the Saviours choice. Only the pure His companions and friends. Purest enjoyments attend His presence. Lilies spring and bloom at His steps. Hence the believers joy and thankfulness. Justly congratulates himself on his untold treasure. To you that believe He is precious. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places: I have a goodly heritage: the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be very joyful in my God.

The opening heavens around me shine,

With beams of sacred bliss,

When Jesus tells me He is mine,

And whispers I am His.

Observe

1. A real, complete, and lasting propriety in each other on the part of Christ and believers. Each, with all that he is and has, the property of the other. The humblest and poorest believer equally with the strongest and richest, the sharer of Christ and all that is HisHis life, merits, death, resurrection, glory, power, kingdom, throne (Rom. 8:17; Rev. 3:21). The believer entirely Christshis affections, talents, powers, possessions, influence. The name of King Jesus stamped on all he has and is. Holiness to the Lord engraven on the furniture of his house and the tools of his workshop.

2. The believers happiness that Christ is his and he is Christs. Christ such as to guarantee this happiness. He feedeth among the lilies. His presence makes a Paradise to angels, still more to His redeemed. Where thou art is heaven. Infinitely blessed Himself, He is able to make all blessed who are the object of His love. The special blessedness of the glorified, that the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, that the Lamb stands on Mount Zion in the midst of the redeemed, and that He appears even in heaven as a Lamb that had been slain (Rev. 5:6; Rev. 7:17; Rev. 14:1).

3. The proper character of believers to be lily-like. He feedeth among the lilies. Lilies the emblems of sweetness and purity. Descriptive of those among which the Holy and Fair One delights to dwell. The spotless and lovely One can only feed among lilies. He who is sweetness and beauty itself must have lilies for His companions and joy. This fact the guardian of the believers life and the security of his peace. To enjoy Christ and His fellowship we must be lilies. Christ only able to live in a pure heart (Mat. 5:8; Tit. 2:14; 1Jn. 3:3).

4. Christ to be found among His people. He feedeth among the lilies. Is to be found among such (ch. Son. 6:2). Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. He that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks (Mat. 18:20; Rev. 2:1). Christ still to be sought and found in the templeHis own body, the Church. Found sitting, not in the midst of proud Pharisees and captious Scribes, but among His humble disciples, and the publicans and sinners that draw near to hear Him (Luk. 15:1; Isa. 66:1-2; Isa. 57:15; Act. 7:48).

III. DESIRE. Till the day-dawn (or breathe), and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, &c. Shulamites desire, probably, for the day of the anticipated nuptials, and her Bridegrooms frequent visits in the meantime. The day longed for that shall make her legally and publicly his own, and shall put her in possession of the happiness and privilege of his married wife. The day of the Lords second appearing that of the public nuptials of His Church. The espousals or betrothing, here; the marriage, hereafter (2Co. 2:2; Rev. 19:7). The Bride not complete till the Bridegroom comes to be glorified in His saints and to make them all like Himself (2Th. 1:10; Php. 3:20-21). That day the object of the believers longing. The blessed hope (Tit. 2:13). The day looked for and hasted to (2Pe. 3:12). The speedy arrival of that day the last promise of the Bridegroom to His Church, and the last prayer of the Bride to her Beloved (Rev. 22:20). That day the termination of the Churchs night. With the Bridegrooms advent the day dawns and the day star appears. Christ Himself the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16; 2Pe. 1:19; Rom. 13:12; Rom. 8:18-23). His first advent the termination of the night of the legal dispensation; His second that of the present one (Luk. 1:78). Meantime He visits and revives His people. I will not leave you comfortless (orphans); I will come unto you. Such visits their comfort and joy in the night of their pilgrimage (Psa. 17:3; Psa. 42:8; Job. 35:10). Christ, in His love, like a roe, or a young hart bounding over the mountains of Bether (or of cliffs intersected with deep fissures and ravines), when coming in humiliation and weakness; no less so when coming in glory and power. Intervening events and epochs to transpire previous to His second as well as to His first advent. Perhaps the last of these mountains of Bether already reached, or soon to be so. The Lord hasten it in His time!

Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell

TEXT 2:1517

b. Intervention of the Brothers Son. 2:15-17

Their behest, Son. 2:15; Her avowal, Son. 2:16;

Her request to the shepherd, Son. 2:17.

15. Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom. 16. My beloved is mine, and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies. 17. Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle Or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 2:1517

68.

How do these verses relate to what has just preceded?

69.

When did this incident take place? At what location?

70.

Is verse sixteen an answer to verse fifteen? Discuss.

71.

What request is being made in Son. 2:17?

PARAPHRASE 2:1517

The Brothers:

15.

Go, trap for us the foxes

The little foxes that ruin our vineyards;
For our vineyards are in bloom.

Shulammite to the Brothers:

16.

My beloved is mine and I am his!

He (who) pastures his flock where the anemones grow.

Shulammite to the Shepherd:

17.

When the day cools and the shadows lengthen,

Return, my beloved, swift as a gazelle or a young deer.
Over the mountains of Bether.

COMMENT 2:1517

Exegesis Son. 2:15-17

Lets not forget that Son. 2:8 to Son. 3:5 is a narration given in the court of Solomon to the court ladies of an incident that occurred some time earlier in the experience of the Shulammite with the shepherd and her brothers. When the shepherd came to call he received something less than a welcome from the brothers. Perhaps their attitude would account for her unwillingness to appear at the door. The request of the shepherd was viewed as a total waste of time, if not a threat to the safety of their sister. She has a job to do. The traps must be set for the foxes. The vines are threatened by these rodents. There is no time for frolicthere is work to be done.

She will dress the vines and catch the foxes but this will not dissuade her from devotion to her lover. He is mine, and I am his. I know just where he pastures his flock, and when I am through with my work I will go to him.

Returning to her beloved she asks him to call again, when the day cools and the shadows lengthenin the evening come againcome to me as swiftly as a gazelle or young deer. Perhaps they had both observed the fleet-footed deer on the mountains near their home and it is to this she refers in his swift return to her. Bether means separation or division. It was a definite locality near Bethbara (2Sa. 2:29, Bithron) and was separated from the rest of Israel by the river Jordan. The region was cut up by hills and valleys, rough, craggy, and difficult to cross, hence the allusion in a symbolic sense. (Clarke)

Marriage Son. 2:15-17

Brother, sisters and mothers have all posed a threat to marriages. The demands by relatives are many times quite legitimate. This is what causes the rift. Such little foxes will cause all manner of havoc in married life. Yes, we must meet family responsibilities and catch a few foxesbut not to the extent of neglecting our love for the one to whom we have given our selves. To despise little things in relationships of love is to show ourself utterly ignorant of important facts of life. It is little things that often account for happiness or for sorrowa little remembrance, or a little forgetfulness. (A. F. Harper)
We could also observe that these verses also exemplify the attitude that keeps a marriage together and makes the two an inseparable one. My beloved is mine and I am his. I know just where he (or she) is and what he (or she) is doing. My interest is his interest, where he goes there goes my heart. As soon as possible come to me as swiftly as at all possible. Such a constant mutual giving to each other insures happiness.

Communion Son. 2:15-17

How often have we gone after the little foxes and lost our beloved? Just a little compromise with the worldjust a little disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit through our conscience; just a little indulgence of the flesh; it is easy to rationalize and justify all such action. Or perhaps the demands have no question about themthey are the affairs of this life in which we can be entangled and because of them we fail to please Him. (Cf. 2Ti. 2:6)

We have pledged ourselves to our LordHe has never failed in his pledge to us. We know where we can find HimHe pastures His flock among the liliesit is a pleasant beautiful placelets go find Him and spend some time in His garden. When the rapid pace of the work-a-day world has come to an end, lets find Him in the cool of the day. Or in the early morning before the shadows begin to form.

FACT QUESTIONS 2:1517

116.

What response did the Shepherd receive from the brothers?

117.

Did the maiden catch the foxes? How did she plan on expressing her love.

118.

Interpret in your own words Son. 2:17.

119.

What are the little foxes of marriage?

120.

There is in this section the attitude that will hold a marriage together. What is it?

121.

In our communion with our Lord how can we go after the little foxes and lose our beloved?

122.

Where can we find our Lord? Is this a practical application of this text?

Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

(15) Take us the foxes.Possibly this is a verse of a familiar country song, introduced here from the suggestion of the sweet voice in the last verse; but more probably to be compared to the avaunt so commonly addressed by poets in Epithalamia and love songs to all mischievous and troublesome creatures. Thus in Spensers Epithalamium, owls, storks, ravens, and frogs are warned off.

Foxes.Comp. Jdg. 15:4. Whether our fox or the jackal (Heb., shual), it is known to be equally destructive to vineyards. Theocritus (Id. v. 112) is often compared:

I hate those brush-tailed foxes, that each night
Spoil Micons vineyards with their deadly bite.

In the allegorising commentators they stand for heretics.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

15. It is hard to find in all poetry a more beautiful rhetorical foil than this verse. The knocking at the gate in “Macbeth” is like it. When a passion has run so intensely that its crisis must be near, then to interrupt it, and divert the attention by throwing in fresh and unlooked-for elements, is the highest art. This interruption exactly suits the stern and careful brothers already mentioned. Partly to prevent the intimacy, imprudent and excessive as they seem to regard it, of the lovers, and partly to protect their property in this season of its exposure when they themselves are so busy, they order their sister to spend the day in watching the vineyards.

Take us the foxes Foxes were abundant in Palestine, (the jackal is not here meant,) and they did the vines damage at this season, chiefly by burrowing around their roots, like the gopher and field rat. Unless now caught, they would make havoc in harvest. To this order she meekly yields, consoling herself with the sentiment of the following verse.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

THE YOUNG MAIDEN replies.

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards, For our vineyards are in blossom. My beloved is mine, and I am his, He feeds his flock among the lilies. Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be you like a roe-deer or a young hart, Upon the craggy mountains (mountains of Bether).”

The young maiden determines to prove his love. It is all right for him to call her away from her responsibilities to run wild across the mountains, but if he really is so concerned for her, let him do something practical. She has a personal problem to deal with as the keeper of the vine gardens (Son 1:6). Let him and his friends (plural verb) deal with the problem of the foxes that are spoiling the family vine gardens, for they are causing her great concern. The vine gardens are her responsibility and are in blossom and the foxes are causing havoc. If he does love her, here is a practical way in which he can demonstrate it, and ease her mind at the same time.

The contented words that follow are probably intended to indicate that he has carried out her wishes, for she is now fully satisfied that he loves her, and she feels that she can say with confidence,  “My beloved is mine, and I am his”.

And one of the evidences that he is still hers, and concerned about her, is that he is still feeding his sheep among the lilies. He has still remained in the near vicinity. ‘Feeding among the lilies’ is similarly closely connected with the phrase, ‘I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine’ in Son 6:2 after they have fled back to her tribal lands. It indicates that he is willing to be near her where she is, in the lily fields of her homeland, away from the stifling atmosphere of the big city. And she does not want him to go away. She wants him to continue with his courting, being like a roe-deer or a young hart, even though it be temporarily in the mountains of ‘separation’.

For she is still shy, and while she sees him as truly hers, ‘my beloved is mine, and I am his’, and wants him to be feeding his flock among the lilies, (a woman’s view of the pasturage in her own land), until the cool of the day is reached and the sun goes down so that there is no more shadow. And even wants him to turn back and return to the mountains, to leap like a roe-deer and skip like a young hart to his heart’s content, in a mood for mating, rather than disappearing out of her life, she is not yet ready to commit herself, for he must know that she cannot come with him yet, however much she might wish to do so. ‘Bether’ means ‘division’, and thus the idea may be of divided mountains, the crags. But it is also a reminder of the separation between them (later they will enjoy instead the mountains of spices together – Son 8:14).

Israel in a similar way called on God to deal with the foxes. Let Him deal with the day by day problems that they faced, and especially the problem of troublemakers who spoiled their possessions. But like her they did want to have to respond to God’s continual call to them. That was expecting too much. They wanted Him to be close, but not too demanding. So they turned Him away, and the inevitable result was that they were separated from Him, and love grew dim.

We also desire that He will remove our troubles and our problems, the little foxes that disturb our vines. We want Him to be involved with our lives and our individual needs, and we want Him to remain close by. But we only too often do not want to become too involved with Him in His work. We do not want to be out with Him feeding the flocks. Nor do we want Him disturbing our lives. Let Him feed His flocks on His own, let Him release His energies on the mountains, for although He is our Beloved, and we are His, we prefer to not to become too involved or to be disturbed. Like the young maiden we are often not yet ready to face up to the demands of love. It is asking too much.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Son 2:15. Take us the foxesthat spoil the vines More literally, spoil the vineyards;for our vineyards, &c. Foxes abound in Judaea, and are observed by a multitude of authors to love grapes, and to make great havoc in vineyards. Galen in his book Of Aliments, tells us, that the hunters in his country did not scruple to eat the flesh of foxes in autumn, when they were grown fat with feeding on grapes. While the vines were just putting forth the tender grape, it would be easy for the foxes to do most mischief, by gnawing the young buds. See the New Translation and Patrick.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

It should seem that Christ is in this verse giving direction to his servants, perhaps the pastors in his church, to be on the lookout for the enemy, who, like a fox is insidious, sly, and crafty, deceiving Christ’s church: And to show the subtleness of the foe, even the little foxes are to be taken. The smallest heresy in the church, the least sin if allowed to have hold in the heart, will prove of fatal consequence. They spoil the tender vine, that is, they wound the peace and comfort of young believers. And Jesus hath an especial eye to the lambs of his fold. Dear Lord! give grace to all thy faithful servants in thy church, to have a constant regard to this precept. Oh! for the Lord’s constant grace to be imparted to all that minister in holy things, and for his strength to be perfected in their weakness. Give them, Lord, more of thy tender mind and will, that they may lay themselves out for greater usefulness, and take the foxes, the little ones of craft, and subtilty, and design; those foes which from their apparent smallness too often escape unnoticed, and yet commit greater evil. And oh! may they in imitation of their divine Lord, not only feed the flock of Christ in the whole body of believers, but carry the lambs of the fold in their arms, and gently lead those that are with young.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Son 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes.

Ver. 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, ] i.e., The heretics and schismatics. For as fox cubs will be foxes one day, and of little will become great; so schismatics, if not timely taken, will turn heretics. Whence it is that the apostle, in 1Co 11:18-19 , having said, “I hear that there be divisions, or schisms, among you,” he presently subjoins, “For there must be also heresies among you,” God having so foreappointed and foretold it, “that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” Now these heretics and schismatics are fitly called foxes, both here and Eze 13:4 . Herod is also called a fox, Luk 13:32 as being a sect master, Mat 22:16 and as it is thought, to still the noise of his conscience, a Sadducee – first, For their craft; secondly, For their cruelty. Foxes are famous for their craftiness, even to a proverb – ‘As subtle as a fox’ –

“ Astutam vapido servans sub pectore vulpem. ” – Persius

They are passing cunning to deceive those that hunt them, feigning themselves simple when there is nothing more subtle, and looking pitifully when taken in a snare, but it is only that they may get out; there is no trusting to their looks, for Vulpes pellem murat; non naturam, saith the proverb, The fox may alter his countenance, but not his condition. And for cruelty, besides the harm foxes do among lambs and fowls – for, lacking meat, they feign themselves dead, and so the birds, hasting down as to a carcase, volucres rapiunt et devorant, saith Isidore, a they seize upon the birds and devour them – they are noted here to mar the vineyards, Vulpes vitibus maxime nocivae, saith one. And for grapes, the fox loves them exceedingly – yea, though they be but tender and unripe. Hence the Latins call him Legulus, a gatherer – namely, of grapes; and we ironcally say of a man, the fox loves no grapes, he will not eat them, but it is because he cannot get them; howbeit, by his leering one may know he loves them. Heretics and schismatics are therefore to be taken by the vinedressers – that is, detected, refuted, and if need be, “delivered up to Satan,” 1Ti 1:20 by the ministers, chased out of the vineyard, and pursued to death, if incorrigible, by the magistrate, as Jehu dealt by the Baalites, and after him Josiah. The sword is put into their hands for such a purpose, Rom 13:4 and our Saviour with a civil whip expelled those Church foxes, the money merchants, giving therein a taste of that civil authority which he naturally derived from David, as one observeth. The apostles, being convented before civil authority about matters of religion, never pleaded, You have no power to meddle with us in these things that belong to Jesus Christ. No; their plea was only the justness of their cause, their obedience to God, &c. This heretics can never make good. Well they may pretend that they suffer for righteousness sake, and style themselves, as the Swenckfeldians did, the confessors of the glory of Christ! Well they may cry out, as that heretic Dioscorus did in the Council of Chalcedon, ‘I am cast out with the fathers, I defend the doctrine of the fathers, I transgress them not in any point! Well they may seem to be ambitious of wearing a Tyburn tippet, as Campian, and cry out with Gentilis, the Anti-trinitarian, that he suffered death for the glory of the most high God! b “He that hateth dissembleth with his lips,” saith Solomon of such subtle foxes, “and layeth up deceit within him. When he speaketh fair believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.” Pro 26:24-25 Heretics are notably cunning and no less cruel, as the Arians and Donatists were of old, the Papists, Socinians, and others of the same brand to this day. These “foxes have holes”; Mat 8:20 they cunningly creep, or shoot themselves into houses by their pithanology and counterfeit humility, they “lead captive silly women,” 2Ti 3:6 and by them their husbands; they take them prisoners, as the word signifies, and then make prize of them; 2Pe 2:3 they bring them into bondage and devour them, as St Paul saith of those deceitful workers, the foxes of his time; 2Co 11:13 ; 2Co 11:20 they fraudulently foist in false doctrines, 2Pe 2:1 heresies of perdition, and so corrupt the vineyard as the master of the vineyard complains, Jer 12:10 “shipwreck the faith,” 1Ti 1:19 “subvert whole houses,” Tit 1:11 and are therefore to be taken, or clubbed down as pests and common mischiefs to mankind – to the younger sort especially, those tender grapes which they chiefly covet and catch at. And here, in hunting of these cruel crafties, that counsel would be taken that Saul gave the Ziphites concerning an innocent man that deserved it not: “Go, I pray you, prepare ye and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there, for it is told me that he dealeth very subtlely. See, therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself.” 1Sa 23:22-23

a Isidor. Etym., lib, xii. 1.

b Se pro gloria Altissimi Dei pati.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Son 2:15

15Catch the foxes for us,

The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards,

While our vineyards are in blossom.

Son 2:15 Catch the foxes for us The VERB (BDB 28, KB 31) is a Qal IMPERATIVE. It is difficult to understand how this phrase fits the context. Some theories are: (1) her brothers want her to continue her work in the vineyard or (2) the couple wants to remove possible additional suitors. The UBS Handbook for Translators mentions that foxes is used in Egyptian love poems for lusty young men (p. 80). This may be accurate because of Son 2:16 a (cf. Son 6:3; Son 7:10). The maiden is the speaker in Son 2:15-17.

While our vineyards are in blossom This seems to refer to the couples’ sexual maturity and eagerness for intimacy!

Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley

Take us = Catch for us. The Shulamite here quotes the words of her brothers (p. 923).

the . . . the. No Art. here in the Hebrew.

vines have tender grapes = vineyards are in bloom.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Son 2:15-17

Son 2:15-17

THE TRUE LOVERS LIVE HAPPILY IN THEIR OWN ESTATE

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes,

That spoil the vineyards;

For our vineyards are in blossom.

My beloved is mine, and I am his:

He feedeth his flock among the lilies.

Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away,

Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart

Upon the mountains of Bether.”

“Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyard” (Son 2:15). This is called, “The most enigmatic verse in Song of Solomon. Bunn suggested that, “It might be a reference to the young men who pursued her. Balchin also understood the verse as figurative. “The Shulamite requests that anything that would spoil the vineyard of their lives must be caught and eradicated. Let love be pure and undisturbed. The imagination of men has been turned completely loose on this verse. Pope tells us of an alleged explanation, as follows: “The marauding foxes refer to the Amalekites who held a grudge against Jacob, and destroyed his birthright.

“My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth his flock among the lilies” (Son 2:16). Anchor Bible cites a number of scholars who find the most explicit sexual meanings in the second clause; but all such notions lie utterly beyond the perimeter of what our English text says; and, as stated earlier, our concern is to understand what the text says, not what some imaginative scholar thinks it might mean. As the verse stands, it stresses the marital happiness of the shepherd and his Shulamite lover. Furthermore, we cannot accept the supposition of Redford that the Shulamite, “Was here lovingly thinking of Solomon as a shepherd. She idealizes. It seems to this writer that not even an idiot could have idealized Solomon as a shepherd pasturing his flock all night long, that is, “until the morning breezes blow, and the darkness disappears.

“Until the day be cool and the shadows flee away” (Son 2:17).

See the Good News Bible rendition of this in the above paragraph.

“Turn, my beloved, be thou like a roe, or a young hart” (Son 2:17). The Good News Bible translates this: “Return, my darling, like a gazelle.” The picture here is one of marital happiness. Although the shepherd is out all night with the flock, his wife lovingly, awaits and anticipates his return. It seems to this writer that any application of these verses to Solomon is impossible.

“Upon the mountains of Bether” (Son 2:17). “There was a chain of mountains east of the Jordan river that bore that name”; which says as clearly as language could say it that this happy couple, was at this time, living happily beyond the Jordan river, whither they had fled from the harem. This is what the passage says.

Now we take an excursion into the never, never land of what the scholars say it might mean:

“These `mountains of separation’ refer to her breasts, and, by metonymy, to her whole person. Comparing Son 1:13 and Son 4:6 we have similar usage. The Shulamite says, `My beloved is unto me a bundle of myrrh betwixt my breasts’; and Solomon sings, `I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.’ In case there is any doubt of what is meant by this, this rendition of Son 1:13 will clarify it: “My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts” This comparison of a woman’s breasts to twin mountains is evidently quite old. The American Indians did the same thing when they called the mountains near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, “The Grand Tetons.” A recent example of the same thing is near Kokurah, in Japan, where the soldiers of the United States Air Force called a couple of symmetrical mountain peaks, “The Jane Russell Peaks.” This writer made a picture of those.

Interpretation: In this chapter, the Shepherd Lover, standing for Jesus Christ, appears to his love trapped in an evil world (Solomon’s harem), takes her unto himself and bestows upon her citizenship in the heavenly kingdom. This all stands for the incarnation of Christ, the establishment of his Church, the rescue of his love (all mankind who believe in Him and obey Him), and his ascension to heaven, leaving the bride separated from Himself until the Second Advent. This separation is found in the allegory of the Bether mountains, “the mountains of separation” (Son 2:17). Note that the Shepherd is absent from his lover in Son 2:16. His Church feels the absence of Christ in heaven.

Exegesis Son 2:15-17

Lets not forget that Son 2:8 to Son 3:5 is a narration given in the court of Solomon to the court ladies of an incident that occurred some time earlier in the experience of the Shulammite with the shepherd and her brothers. When the shepherd came to call he received something less than a welcome from the brothers. Perhaps their attitude would account for her unwillingness to appear at the door. The request of the shepherd was viewed as a total waste of time, if not a threat to the safety of their sister. She has a job to do. The traps must be set for the foxes. The vines are threatened by these rodents. There is no time for frolic-there is work to be done.

She will dress the vines and catch the foxes but this will not dissuade her from devotion to her lover. He is mine, and I am his. I know just where he pastures his flock, and when I am through with my work I will go to him.

Returning to her beloved she asks him to call again, when the day cools and the shadows lengthen-in the evening come again-come to me as swiftly as a gazelle or young deer. Perhaps they had both observed the fleet-footed deer on the mountains near their home and it is to this she refers in his swift return to her. Bether means separation or division. It was a definite locality near Bethbara (2Sa 2:29, Bithron) and was separated from the rest of Israel by the river Jordan. The region was cut up by hills and valleys, rough, craggy, and difficult to cross, hence the allusion in a symbolic sense. (Clarke)

Marriage Son 2:15-17

Brother, sisters and mothers have all posed a threat to marriages. The demands by relatives are many times quite legitimate. This is what causes the rift. Such little foxes will cause all manner of havoc in married life. Yes, we must meet family responsibilities and catch a few foxes-but not to the extent of neglecting our love for the one to whom we have given our selves. To despise little things in relationships of love is to show ourself utterly ignorant of important facts of life. It is little things that often account for happiness or for sorrow-a little remembrance, or a little forgetfulness. (A. F. Harper)

We could also observe that these verses also exemplify the attitude that keeps a marriage together and makes the two an inseparable one. My beloved is mine and I am his. I know just where he (or she) is and what he (or she) is doing. My interest is his interest, where he goes there goes my heart. As soon as possible come to me as swiftly as at all possible. Such a constant mutual giving to each other insures happiness.

Communion Son 2:15-17

How often have we gone after the little foxes and lost our beloved? Just a little compromise with the world-just a little disobedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit through our conscience; just a little indulgence of the flesh; it is easy to rationalize and justify all such action. Or perhaps the demands have no question about them-they are the affairs of this life in which we can be entangled and because of them we fail to please Him. (Cf. 2Ti 2:6)

We have pledged ourselves to our Lord-He has never failed in his pledge to us. We know where we can find Him-He pastures His flock among the lilies-it is a pleasant beautiful place-lets go find Him and spend some time in His garden. When the rapid pace of the work-a-day world has come to an end, lets find Him in the cool of the day. Or in the early morning before the shadows begin to form.

The Wedding Day – Son 1:1 to Son 2:7

Open It

1. Why do you agree or disagree with the saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”?

2. What is your favorite part of the wedding ceremony? Why?

3. How is love generally depicted in television programs, movies, and romance novels?

4.Why do you think people read romance novels or watch romantic movies?

Explore It

5. Who are the three speakers in these verses? (Son 1:1 to Son 2:7)

6. What is the relationship between the Lover and the Beloved? (Son 1:1 to Son 2:7)

7. How did the Beloved describe her Lover? (Son 1:1-4; Son 1:16)

8. Where did the Beloved want her Lover to take her? (Son 1:4)

9. How did the Beloved describe herself? (Son 1:5-7)

10. How did the Lover describe his Beloved? (Son 1:9-11; Son 1:15)

11. To what did the Lover compare his Beloved? (Son 2:2)

12. To what did the Beloved compare her Lover? (Son 2:3)

13. Where did the Lover take his Beloved? (Son 2:4)

14. What did the Beloved ask her Lover to do? (Son 2:5)

15. What did the Beloved tell the Daughters of Jerusalem they should do? (Son 2:7)

Get It

16. What stage in the Lover and Beloveds relationship is described in these verses?

17. How is romantic love depicted in these verses?

18. What types of words did the Lover and the Beloved use in speaking to each other?

19. How might the Beloveds description of herself be an indication that others may not have found her as attractive as did her Lover?

20. Why did the Lover and the Beloved praise each others physical attractiveness?

21. Why is it important to compliment a persons physical appearance?

22. How do you think the compliments given by the Lover and the Beloved made the other person feel about himself or herself and about their relationship?

23. How important is mutual physical attraction in a relationship?

24. Besides physical attractiveness, what other characteristics did the Lover and the Beloved praise?

25. What qualities besides physical attractiveness should a potential marriage partner possess?

Apply It

26. How can you make the person you are in a relationship with feel loved and accepted today?

27. What one thing can you do this week to add a bit of romance to your relationship?

Memories of Courtship – Son 2:8 to Son 3:5

Open It

1. What is the strangest dream you have ever had?

2. What were (or are, as the case may be) the essential elements of courtship when you were dating?

3. What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you on a date?

Explore It

4. What sort of relationship did the Lover and the Beloved have? (Son 2:8 to Son 3:5)

5. How did the Beloved describe her Lover? (Son 2:8-9)

6. What did the Lover say to his Beloved? (Son 2:10-13)

7. What time of year was it? (Son 2:11-13)

8. How did the Lover describe his Beloveds voice and face? (Son 2:14)

9. What did the Lover ask his Beloved to catch? Why? (Son 2:15)

10. How did the Beloved describe her relationship with her Lover? (Son 2:16)

11. When did the Beloved say she looked for but could not find her Lover? (Son 3:1)

12. What did the Beloved dream? (Son 3:1-4)

13. Where did the Beloved say she would go to look for her Lover? (Son 3:2)

14. What did the Beloved ask the watchmen? (Son 3:3)

15, What did the Beloved do when she found her Lover? (Son 3:4)

16. What charge did the Beloved give to the Daughters of Jerusalem? (Son 3:5)

Get It

17. How would you describe the Lover and the Beloveds relationship?

18. Why do you think the Beloved described her Lover as a gazelle?

19. What might the coming of spring symbolize?

20. What do you think the little foxes represented in the Beloved and the Lovers relationship?

21. What kind of problems crop up in a relationship sooner or later?

22. When does romantic love tend to fade from a relationship? Why?

23. Why do you think the Beloved took her Lover to her mothers house?

24. Why do you think the Beloved told the Daughters of Jerusalem not to arouse love “until it so desires”?

25. In what way do people arouse love before it desires?

Apply It

26. With what relationship will you ask God to help you be patient this week?

27. What can you do this week to resolve a conflict in your relationship with your spouse or a friend?

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

the foxes: Psa 80:13, Eze 13:4-16, Luk 13:32, 2Pe 2:1-3, Rev 2:2

tender: Son 2:13, Son 7:12

Reciprocal: Jdg 15:4 – caught three Psa 63:10 – a portion Isa 18:5 – General Eze 15:2 – What Col 2:8 – spoil

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

LITTLE FAULTS THAT SPOIL OUR LIVES

Little foxes that spoil the vines.

Son 2:15

I. Little faults are like the little foxes so plentiful in Palestine, which destroy the fruitfulness of the vineyards.The beautiful vineyards of Solomons Song point to the covenant of love between Christ and His people. The little foxes which might destroy the blossoming vineyards point to the faults, both great and small, that creep into our lives and destroy that love between man and his Creator. How necessary that the sweet blossoming vineyards that flourish in youthful hearts, bearing all the Divine graces in their purity, should be cleared of all depredators!

II. How is it that we play the fox with the fruitful vines?We eat the fruit and become fat like the foxes, but we do nothing to protect, but rather hinder, the growth of the vines. We play the fox by not coming up to the measure of Christian character that might be fairly expected of us. There are many good people who still have too much of a foxy nature. As Christians they bear the right name, but have little of the true nature. How few lives, comparatively, are touched by religion in all their parts! It is the little sins, the little faults that we think almost nothing about, that are the foxes that destroy the tender grapes. Little sins skulk and hide and burrow themselves out of sight. These little sins, like the foxes, are most deceitful; they play themselves asleep, and in an unguarded moment they awake and run away with us. Little faults will never make a great saint.

III. Little foxes do not remain little, but grow into great ones.The drunken sot began by taking little sips. As the boy grows into the man, so the little sins grow into big ones. Little sins have a tendency to swarm. They have a fecundity all their own. These little sins are oftentimes bigger than the great ones. Little sins hinder our having peace with God and with His Son Jesus Christ. If we are Christians, little faults hinder us in becoming better ones. If we are not Christians, little sins prevent us from becoming Christians. Destroy the little foxes and your vineyard is safe. Our Lords command is, These Mine enemies that would not that I should rule over them, bring them hither and slay them before Me.

Illustrations

(1) The foxes deserve this name, not because they attack the ripe grapes themselves, but because by their passages and holes they undermine the walls of the vineyards and injure the roots of the vines; and they also gnaw the stems and young shoots. It was important, therefore, in the spring when the vines were blossoming, to protect the vineyards from these uninvited guests; and the more so, since the spring is the very time of the coming forth of the young foxes from their kennels. The predicate little refers to young foxes (comp. Gen 9:24; Gen 27:15; 1Ki 3:7), not to the diminutive size of the animals, which nevertheless do so much damage.

(2) It is the fashion in some religious quarters to cry down the unfamiliar portions of Gods Word, and to declare that there is no revelation in them. Thus Esther and Solomons Song are treatedto take specific instances. Now we believe the great test of revelation is the spiritual experience of the reader. Do we profit by the book? Does it draw us nearer to God? Is it our experience that we find in such a book help for our daily life? If we can answer these inquiries affirmatively, then that is a sufficient proof of the revelation the books contain. Bringing such books of Scripture to the bar of experience, they stand examination well. Some of us are always finding spiritual nourishment in those little-read areas of Gods Word; and we contend that such a fact validates their inspired character. We all need a more robust conviction of the complete inspiration of the Bible; and our appeal must be more to the heart than to the head. Dr. Dale rendered no greater service to doctrine than by constantly bringing all truth to the test of experience. By that test the books of Scripture must stand or fall. Thank God! His people so prove their divineness that no argument can disturb their faith.

(3) It is now many years since scholars were fascinated by Ewalds arrangement of the book into five acts. It was most plausible, and failed apparently only in two places; but there the failure was so complete that the construction had to be abandoned. Nor was Delitzsch any more successful when he made the number of acts six. If we remember rightly, Hitzig made them nine! These differences, in the view of most modern scholars, have entirely destroyed the idea that the book is a dramatic composition.

Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary

Son 2:15. Take us The bridegroom gives this charge to his bridemen or friends. By whom he understands those magistrates and ministers to whom, under Christ, the custody of the vineyards, of the churches, principally belongs. These he commands to take the foxes, to restrain them from doing this mischief; the foxes The disturbers of the vineyard, or the church, namely, seducers or false teachers; the little foxes This he adds for more abundant caution, to teach the church to prevent errors and heresies in the beginnings; that spoil the vines Which foxes do many ways, by gnawing and breaking the little branches and leaves, by digging holes in the vineyards, and so spoiling the roots; for our vines have tender grapes Which are easily spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2:15 Take for us the foxes, the {i} little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines [have] tender grapes.

(i) Suppress the heretics while they are young, that is, when they begin to show their malice, and destroy the vine of the Lord.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes

Probably the Shulammite began speaking here. She was evidently urging Solomon, poetically, to deal with some problems in their relationship, rather than telling him to clear literal foxes out of her family’s vineyards. "Foxes" may refer to "the ravages of the aging process that can sap the beauty and vitality of persons (the ’vines’ or vineyards)." [Note: Hubbard, p. 293.] They may refer to the other women in Solomon’s life and court. [Note: Tanner, "The Message . . .," p. 149.] Probably they refer generally to hostile forces that could spoil their love. [Note: Kinlaw, p. 1224; Delitzsch, p. 54; Glickman, pp. 49-50; Hess, p. 97; and Longman, pp. 124-25.] All couples encounter some potentially destructive situations in their relationships that need dealing with occasionally. Often the woman senses these first, as here, but the man should take the initiative in dispelling them and thus protect his loved one.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)