Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Song of Solomon 3:10
He made the pillars thereof [of] silver, the bottom thereof [of] gold, the covering of it [of] purple, the midst thereof being paved [with] love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
10. the pillars thereof ] The supports of the canopy or roof.
the bottom thereof ] Rather, the back, that upon which one leans. Cp. LXX , Vulg. reclinatorium.
the covering of it ] the seat of it.
purple ] i.e. the seat of it is upholstered with purple, argmn. This is the red purple, which is sometimes so dark as to be almost black. It is to be distinguished from the violet or cerulean purple which is tkh leth. Both words are found in Assyrian inscriptions as argamannu and takiltu. Attempts to derive argmn from a Heb. root are practically abandoned, and Benary’s suggestion that it is the Sanscrit rgaman = ‘red,’ an adj. derived from rga, ‘red colour,’ with the formative syllable mat or vat (cp. Addit. Ges. Thes. p. 90), is probable; more especially as the Aramaic form of the word, argw n, can be explained by another adj. form of the same word, viz. rgavan, which is identical in meaning with rgaman.
the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem ] This is a very difficult phrase to understand, and it has been very variously interpreted. The A.V. can hardly be right in rendering ‘love for the daughters of Jerusalem,’ for the preposition is min which cannot mean for. The R.V. has, more correctly, from the daughters of Jerusalem.
paved with love ] Lit. paved as to love, the word being an adv. accus. The translation is grammatically correct. (Cp. Davidson, Synt. 78, R. 2.) But what does ‘paved with love from the daughters of Jerusalem’ mean? Gesenius in his Thes. translates, “paved in a lovely manner by the daughters of Jerusalem,” but besides that the prep. min cannot be used for the causa efficiens with the passive, the word ‘love’ is not found elsewhere in such a sense. Del. translates, made up as a bed, from love on the part of the daughters of Jerusalem, and explains it to mean that they, from love to the king, have procured a costly tapestry which they have spread over the purple cushion. Oettli, following the LXX, takes love to mean, ‘a mark of love,’ and translates, “the middle of it adorned as a mosaic, a love-gift on the part of the daughters of Jerusalem.” Budde would change the order of the words, and reading hbhnm = ‘ebony’ for ahbh h = ‘love,’ would translate, “its seat is inlaid with ebony, its centre purple.” If the text is corrupt this may perhaps have been its original form. But of the text as it stands Delitzsch’s rendering seems to be the best, except that wrought as a mosaic would be better than made up as a bed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Son 3:10
The midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
Paved with love
This palanquin or travelling chariot in which the king is carried, represents the covenant of grace, the plan of salvation, and, in fact, the whole system by which the Lord Jesus comes down in mercy among men, and by which He bears His people along with Himself through the wilderness of this world, onward to the rest which He hath prepared for them. It is, in a word, the mediatorial work of Jesus.
I. Notice the growth which is indicated here as to our views of the covenant of grace. The description advances step by step, each sentence mentioning an additional and far-enhanced preciousness. At the first glance the sweet singer who speaks in this Song perceived that the chariot was made of cedar, a costly wood; a closer view revealed the silver pillars, beauteous to behold–further observation showed the basis all of burnished gold. From cedar to silver, and from silver to gold, we have a clear advance as to precious material. On looking again, the observer remarks the top of princely purple, which is yet more precious as the type of imperial dignity, and the token of that effectual atonement which was wrought out by the ensanguined stream of Calvary. The blood which dyed that purple canopy is much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire. And then, though one would think there could be no advance beyond the precious blood, the Song proceeds yet one step further, for we find that the midst thereof was paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. The covenant is love in its secret places, all love, unalloyed love, invisible love, nothing else but love. When one comes to know most of the covenant, and admires the wisdom, the power, the purity, the eternity of all that God has done, yet the most striking characteristic of it to the advanced Christian is the love, the mighty love of God, by which he is brought by Jesus Christ into eternal salvation. Thou hast crowned me with lovingkindness; Thou hast loved my soul out of the pit; Thou hast loved me, and given Thyself for me. Thy love has redeemed me with a price most precious; Thy love has made me what I am; Thy love carries on the work, and Thy love will complete it, and present me to Thee in its own perfect image; for the midst of it is paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
II. Note the position from which the love mentioned in our text is best seen, The midst thereof is paved with love. It is not, therefore, to be seen from the outside. The mere outsider understands nothing of the love of God to His people as displayed in the covenant of grace. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. And so note next, when the Christian himself stands apart from his Lord, and judges by outward appearances, he cannot perceive, as once he did, the lovingkindness of the Lord. Providence grows dark as a winters day. The tried believer cries, My wife has been taken from me; my property is melting away, my business fades; I am sick in body and weary in soul; I cannot see a trace of the love of God to me in all this. Brother, the description in the Song does not say that the chariot is plated with love on the outside, but it is paved with love within, in the midst of it. Oh, that you had faith to believe that the heart and real core of every providence is love. The exterior of it may be as a thorn hedge, but sweet fruit ripens within. Look at the tessellated pavement of love beneath your feet for a moment. See you not the Fathers love–that golden mass of uncreated love, for the Father Himself loveth you: look at Jesus love, another diamond pavement beneath your foot; Jesus loved you to the death with a love that many waters could not quench, nor floods drown: look at the love of the Spirit, too: equally precious is the tender affection of the loving Comforter. Think how the Holy Ghost has borne with you, has striven with you, and endured your ill manners in the wilderness, and blessed you still. Look at those delightful embroideries from the Divine needle–the precious promises. A thousand promises there are, but they are all love. Look down and see how all the attributes of God are engaged for you, but they are all in league with love. Look, then, at all the providences of God towards you, at all the exercises of His grace in your heart, and you will see many and strange colours of varied beauty, all blending in one wondrous pattern of deep, unsearchable love.
III. Notice the peculiar position of the pavement of love described in the text. It is in the midst of the chariot, and only from the midst is it to be seen. It is in the midst of it; and therefore Jesus rides upon it, and His espoused ones ride upon it. It is a very simple thought, but it richly deserves to be beaten out a little. Jesus is represented here as the King in the chariot, and as the chariot is lined with love, we are taught that Jesus dwells in love. Where is He now? Among the thrones and principalities above, but He abides still in love. Love brought Him down from heaven to earth, love conducted Him in all His weary journeys over the acres of Palestine: love led Him to the garden, the death-sweat, and the cross; and equally at this hour does love attend Him: He loves in heaven as He loved below. Whatever He is doing, whatever He is feeling, whatever He is saying, we know this one thing about Him, He dwells in love to us, He is in His chariot, and all around Him in that chariot is love.
IV. Dwell on that love itself for a moment. Remember it is special love. There is an electing, discriminating, distinguishing love, which is settled upon a chosen people–a love which goes forth to none beside, but only to them; and it is this love which is the true resting-place of the saint. It is love undeserved, for what daughter of Jerusalem ever deserved that our glorious King should fall in love with her? It is a love, therefore, which is a theme for eternal wonder. Why didst Thou love me, Redeemer? Why didst Thou make a covenant of grace with me, and line that covenant with immutable love? This love is everlasting and eternal. It never had a beginning, it never will have an end. Simply as I have stated the truth, it is a nut with heaven for its kernel. Thou wast always loved, O believer, and thou always shalt be, come what may. It is love unrivalled, for never was there such affection as that which Christ has for His chosen; love unexampled, to which none of us shall ever reach. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 10. The pillars – of silver] The bedposts were made of silver, or cased with wrought silver plates, like the king’s chairs brought from Hanover, now, in one of the staterooms in Windsor Castle.
The bottom thereof of gold] This may refer to cords made of gold thread, or to the mattress, which was made of cloth ornamented with gold.
The covering – of purple] Most probably the canopy.
The midst – paved with love] The counterpane, a superb piece of embroidery, wrought by some of the noble maids of Jerusalem, and, as a proof of their affection, respect, and love, presented to the bride and bridegroom, on their nuptial day. This is most likely to be the sense of the passage, though some suppose it to refer to the whole court.
A Turkish couch is made of wooden lattices painted and gilded; the inside is painted with baskets of flowers and nosegays, intermixed with little mottoes according to the fancy of the artist. Solomon’s couch may have been of the same kind, and decorated in the same way; and the paving with love may refer to the amatory verses worked either on the counterpane, hangings, or embroidered carpet. And as this was done by the daughters of Jerusalem, they might have expressed the most striking parts of such a chaste history of love as Halaly’s Leely and Mejnoon on the different parts. I see that Dr. Good is of this opinion. It is sufficiently probable.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The pillars thereof; whereby the chariot is either supported or adorned; which may signify either,
1. Ministers, who are called pillars, Gal 2:9, and that of silver, because they are, or should be, pure and precious, like silver. Or,
2. The firmness and certainty of Christs word, both of his doctrines and promises, which also are pure as silver, Psa 12:6. Although there is no necessity that either this or the following particulars should be distinctly applied to several things in or about the gospel; but this in the general may suffice, that as all these particulars are added to show the perfection and beauty of the chariot, so they do imply that Christs word is every way amiable, and perfect, and able to make the man of God perfect. The bottom; either,
1. The couch or seat, which was made of or covered with cloth of gold. Or,
2. The under and lower part, which was at least covered with pure gold. Whereby he may seem to understand the foundation of the word and promises, which is either Gods covenant, or Christs mediation, in whom all the promises are yea and amen.
The covering; either,
1. The curtains, whereby persons in the chariot are covered or hid from the sight of the people. Or rather,
2. The uppermost part of it, either in the outside or the inside of it. Some render the word, the seat or seats. Of purple; which represents Christs blood, which is our propitiatory or covering to shelter us from Gods wrath.
The midst; the inward parts, especially those between the upper and lower parts, which have been already mentioned.
Paved, covered and adorned,
with love; with beautiful and lovely ornaments, such as curious embroidery, enriched with gold and precious stones; love being here put for lovely objects, as fear is oft put for terrible things, as hath been oft noted. Whereby we may understand the love of Christ to the sons of men, or his lovely life, and death, and resurrection, &c.; which is the most amiable part and matter of the word or gospel.
For the daughters of Jerusalem; for their delight and comfort, who are all concerned and bear a part in this marriage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. pillarssupporting thecanopy at the four corners; curtains at the side protect the personwithin from the sun. Pillars with silver sockets supported the veilthat enclosed the holy of holies; emblem of Jesus Christ’s strength(1Ki 7:21), Margin,“silver,” emblem of His purity (Ps12:6); so the saints hereafter (Re3:12).
bottomrather, “theback for resting or reclining on” (Vulgate andSeptuagint) [MAURER].So the floor and mercy seat, the resting-place of God (Ps132:14) in the temple, was gold (1Ki6:30).
coveringrather,”seat,” as in Le 15:9.Hereafter the saints shall share His seat (Re3:21).
purplethe veil of theholiest, partly purple, and the purple robe put on JesusChrist, accord with English Version, “covering.“”Purple” (including scarlet and crimson) is the emblem ofroyalty, and of His blood; typified by the passoverlamb’s blood, and the wine when the twelve sat or reclinedat the Lord’s table.
pavedtranslated, likemosaic pavement, with the various acts and promises of love ofFather, Son, and Holy Ghost (Zep 3:17;1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 4:16),in contrast with the tables of stone in the “midst” of theark, covered with writings of stern command (compare Joh19:13); this is all grace and love to believers, whoanswer to “the daughters of Jerusalem” (Joh1:17). The exterior silver and gold, cedar, purple, and guards,may deter, but when the bride enters within, she rests on apavement of love.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He made the pillars thereof [of] silver,…. The truths and doctrines of the Gospel are the “pillars” of it; which, like pillars, are solid and substantial, and continue firm and immovable, and are of great use to support the children of God under the several trials and exercises they are attended with; and, for their utility, value, and duration, are said to be of “silver”, and are as carefully to be sought for and into as that is, and even to be preferred to it, being of more worth than “thousands of gold and silver”; the ministers of the Gospel are sometimes compared to pillars, and the church itself is said to be the pillar and ground of truth, Ga 2:9;
the bottom thereof [of] gold; Christ, the golden bottom of the Gospel, the sum and substance of it, the principal subject in it to be insisted on; he is laid in it as the bottom, ground, and foundation of faith and hope, and of everlasting life and salvation; and for its richness, firmness, and duration, may be said to be of gold, as the street of the New Jerusalem, Re 21:21; or its “pavement” b, as the word here signifies. The Septuagint render it, a “reclining” c place, to sit and rest, or lean upon; such is Christ;
the covering of it [of] purple; or the top of it; the word signifies a chariot itself: it may respect such doctrines of the Gospel which relate to redemption, pardon of sin, and justification through the blood of Christ; and all under the purple covering of the blood of Christ are secure from wrath to come, and go safe to heaven;
the midst thereof being paved [with] love, for the daughters of Jerusalem; the carpet wrought with lovely figures or with love stories: the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel are full of love, of God in Christ, in providing Christ as a Saviour, and sending him to be one; and of the love of Christ in assuming human nature, and suffering and dying in it for sinners, even for Jerusalem sinners; the Gospel sets forth the heart of Christ as “inflamed” d, as the word here used signifies, with love to the daughters of Jerusalem, his dear children, which moved him to do all he did and suffered for them; and could his heart be looked into, the very images of these persons would be seen upon it: the ordinances of the Gospel are designed both to set forth, in the most striking manner, the love of Christ to his sons and daughters, for whose sake he became man and suffered death, and to draw forth their love to him; so the words may be rendered, “paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem” e, or “with the love of them” f how delightful must it be to ride in such a chariot, or sit under such a ministry, where there is nothing but love! moreover, the whole description of the “bride chamber”, which some choose to render the word for “chariot” by, well agrees with the New Jerusalem state, as given in Re 21:1, where the church being as a bride prepared for her husband, will be introduced, the nuptial feast will be kept, and Christ will be seen by the daughters of Zion in all his regal glory, with the royal diadem on his head, as he is described in So 3:11.
b “pavimentum ejus”, Vatablus, Grotius. c , Sept. “reclinatorium ejus”, Arabic interpreter. d “succcensum”, Montanus, Marckius; “accensum, sive exustum”, some in Vatablus, so Aben Ezra. e “a filiabus”, Montanus, Cocceius; so Sept. “a puellis”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator. f “Amore foeminarum”, Tigurine version “amore filiarum”, Vatablus, Mercerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(10) Bottom.Heb., rephidah = supports. Probably the back of the litter on which the occupant leaned.
The midst thereof . . .Literally, its interior paved love from the daughters of Jerusalem. There are three possible renderings. (1) Its interior made bright by a lovely girl of, &c; and (2) its interior paved in a lovely way by, &c; (3) its interior tesselated as a mark of love by, &c. The last of these does the least violence to the text as it stands, but very possibly some words have dropped out between ratzuph, paved, and ahabah, love.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. The bottom Hebrew, the support of the head and back.
The covering Better, the seat.
The midst Rather, the lining wrought for him by the daughters of Jerusalem, as a token of their love. Rich and costly as was this palanquin, the British Government, in 1766, presented one of perhaps greater cost and beauty to the Nabob of the Carnatic. Other Indian sovereigns used to appear in public in similar style of palanquin and escort.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Son 3:10. The bottom thereof of gold The inside thereof of gold; the covering of it of purple; the middle thereof is wrought in needle-work by her whom he loveth best among the daughters of Jerusalem. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Son 3:10 He made the pillars thereof [of] silver, the bottom thereof [of] gold, the covering of it [of] purple, the midst thereof being paved [with] love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
Ver. 10. He made the pillars thereof, ] i.e., The faithful ministers, called “pillars,” Gal 2:9 and that, Atlas-like, bear up the pillars of it. Psa 75:3 Those that offer violence to such, Samson-like, they lay hands upon the pillars to pluck the house upon their own heads. Yea, they attempt to pull stars out of Christ’s hand, Rev 1:16 which they will find a work not feasible.
Of silver.
The bottom thereof of gold.
The covering of it of purple.
The midst thereof being paved with love.
For the daughters of Jerusalem.
a Bernard.
b Splendida peccata.
c Sermon of Repent., 63.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the bottom thereof = its support.
the covering of it = its seat.
the midst thereof = its interior.
being paved = tessellated.
with love = most lovely.
for = by.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 87:3, 1Ti 3:15, 1Ti 3:16, Rev 3:12
the midst: Rom 5:8, Eph 3:18, Eph 3:19, Rev 1:5
Reciprocal: Luk 5:34 – the children Luk 23:28 – daughters