Adam Clarke Commentary Song of Solomon 4 Verse 9 Thou hast ravished my heart - לבבתני (libbabtini), “Thou hast hearted me,” i.e., taken away my heart; as we say, “He has barked the tree,” i.e., he has stripped it of its bark; “He has fleeced the flock,” i.e., deprived them of their wool. With one of thine eyes - באצד מעיניך (beachad meeynayich). This has been thought a harsh expression, and various emendations have been sought. The Masoretes have put באצת (beachath), “at once,” in the margin; and this is confirmed by twenty of Kennicott‘s MSS. but De Rossi does not notice it. It is scarceiy necessary; the sense to me is clear and good without it. “Even one of thine eyes, or one glance of thine eyes, has been sufficient to deprive me of all power; it has completely overcome me;” for glance may be understood, and such forms of speech are common in all languages, when speaking on such subjects. If even taken literally, the sense is good; for the poet may refer to a side glance, shot in passing by or turning away, where only one eye could be seen. I think this a better sense than that which is obtained from the Masoretic emendation. With one chain of thy neck - Probably referring to the play of the cervical muscles, rather than to necklaces, or ringlets of hair. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verse 10 How much better is thy love - דדיך (dodayich); Hebrew. (mastoi sou); Septuagint. Ubera tua; Vulgate. “Thy breasts.” And so all the versions, except the Chaldee. Smell of thine ointments - Perfumes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verse 11 Thy lips - drop as the honey-comb - Thy words are as delicious to my heart as the first droppings of the honey-comb are to the palate. Honey and milk are under thy tongue - Eloquence and persuasive speech were compared among the ancients to honey and milk. Thus Homer, Iliad, lib. i., ver. 247: - Τοισι δε Νεστωρ Ηδυεπης ανορουσε, λιγυς Πυλιων αγορητης. Του και απο γλωσσης μελιτος γλυκιων ῥεεν αυδη . Experienced Nestor, in persuasion skill‘d, Words sweet as honey from his lips distill‘d. But the figure is common to all writers and languages. A similar expression will be seen in the Gitagovinda.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 04:06:22 +0000
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