Song of Solomon 7:4

7:1-9 The similitudes here are different from what they were before, and in the original refer to glorious and splendid clothing. Such honour have all his saints; and having put on Christ, they are distinguished by their beautiful and glorious apparel. They adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. Consistent believers honour Christ, recommend the gospel, and convince and awaken sinners. The church resembles the stately and spreading palm; while her love for Christ, and the obedience resulting therefrom, are precious fruit of the true Vine. The King is held in the galleries. Christ takes delight in the assemblies and ordinances of his people; and admires the fruit of his grace in them. When applied to the church and to each faithful Christian, all this denotes that beauty of holiness, in which they shall be presented to their heavenly Bridegroom.

Song of Solomon 7:4 . Thine eyes like the fish-pools — Full, and clear, and quiet, and pleasant; in Heshbon — A pleasant and well-watered city beyond Jordan; as the tower of Lebanon — Which was, in all probability, built by Solomon in the mountain of Lebanon, the northern border of the land of Israel; and therefore a very fit place for a watch-tower; which looketh toward Damascus — There was another tower or building, in or near Jerusalem, which was called the house of the forest of Lebanon, 1 Kings 7:2 .

(4) Fishpools in Heshbon. —Literally, pools. The Authorised Version follows the Vulg. piscinœ, for which there is no authority. For Heshbon, see Note on Numbers 21:26 . The ruins still remain, with the same name Hesban, in the Wady of that name ( Robinson, p. 278). “There are many cisterns among the ruins; and towards the south, a few yards from the base of the hill, is a large ancient reservoir, which calls to mind the passage in Song of Solomon 7:4 ” (Smith’s Bib. Dict. ) . Captain Warren took a photograph of “the spring-head of the waters of Hesban,” published by the Palestine Exploration Fund. In regard to the image, comp.— “Adspicies oculos tremulo fulgore micantes Ut sol a liquida sœpe refulget aqua.” Ovid. Art. Am., ii. 722. Comp. also Keats:— “Those eyes, those passions, those supreme pearl springs. The gate of Bath-rabbim.—Doubtless the name of an actual gate, so called from the crowds of people streaming through it: daughter of multitudes.

A tower of ivory - The tower of ivory, the allusion being to some particular tower, built probably by Solomon 1 Kings 10:21 . Fishpools in Heshbon - Or, simply pools. Among the ruins to the south of Heshbon still remain a number of deep wells cut in the rock, and a large reservoir of water. The simile well sets forth the appearance of a large clear liquid eye (compare Sol 5:12 note). Gate of Bath-rabbim - Perhaps the gate looking toward Rabbath-Ammon on the north side of the city, though this does not agree with the wells above mentioned; or, the gate of the city "full of people" Lamentations 1:1; or, an expression indicating the gate itself as the scene of numerous gatherings. Nose - Better perhaps "face "or "brow." The tower of Lebanon - Possibly "the house of the forest of Lebanon" or part of it 1 Kings 7:2; 1 Kings 9:19, built by Solomon in the early part of his reign; or possibly a watchtower erected by David to overawe Damascus after his war with Hadadezer 2 Samuel 8:6.

Thy neck, of which See Poole "Song of Solomon 4:4" , is as a tower of ivory, clear, and smooth, and long, and straight, and erected. Thine eyes, See Poole "Song of Solomon 1:15" ; See Poole "Song of Solomon 4:1" , like the fishpools, full, and clear, and quiet, and pleasant. Possibly here were two fish-pools, which being conveniently seated in a large field, might bear some resemblance to the eyes placed in the head. Heshbon; a pleasant and well-watered city, beyond Jordan, as we may guess from Numbers 32 , where doubtless there were some eminent and well-known fish-pools, as further appears by the exact description of the particular place here following, in which they were. Thy nose; the instrument of smelling, and discerning between pleasant and loathsome things; which may signify the church’s sagacity in discerning between good and evil; is as the tower of Lebanon; which though it be not elsewhere mentioned, was in all probability built by Solomon in the mountain of Lebanon, which was the northern border of the land of Israel towards Damascus, and therefore a very fit place for a watch-tower. To this tower her nose is compared, not for its greatness, but for its comely and convenient proportions, and beautiful aspect, which doubtless were in this as well as in the rest of Solomon’s buildings.

4. tower of ivory—In So 4:4, Jesus Christ saith, "a tower of David builded for an armory." Strength and conquest are the main thought in His description; here, beauty and polished whiteness; contrast So 1:5. fishpools—seen by Burckhardt, clear (Re 22:1), deep, quiet, and full (1Co 2:10, 15). Heshbon—east of Jordan, residence of the Amorite king, Sihon (Nu 21:25, &c.), afterwards held by Gad. Bath-rabbim—"daughter of a multitude"; a crowded thoroughfare. Her eyes (So 4:1) are called by Jesus Christ, "doves' eyes," waiting on Him. But here, looked on by the daughters or Jerusalem, they are compared to a placid lake. She is calm even amidst the crowd (Pr 8:2; Joh 16:33). nose—or, face. tower of Lebanon—a border-fortress, watching the hostile Damascus. Towards Jesus Christ her face was full of holy shame (see on [681]So 4:1; [682]So 4:3); towards spiritual foes, like a watchtower (Hab 2:1; Mr 13:37; Ac 4:13), elevated, so that she looks not up from earth to heaven, but down from heaven to earth. If we retain "nose," discernment of spiritual fragrance is meant.

4 . a tower of ivory ] Not a tower entirely built of ivory, but some well-known tower, or kind of tower, adorned with enriching panels or medallions of ivory. Cp. “the ivory palaces,” Psalm 45:8 , and “the divans of ivory,” Amos 6:4 , and Driver’s note there. A tower-like neck has always been regarded as beautiful. the fish pools in Heshbon ] the pools . The A.V. follows the Vulg. piscinae . Heshbon was the ancient capital of Sihon king of the Amorites. Probably it had before that belonged to Moab ( Numbers 21:27 ff.). After the conquest by Moses it was assigned to the tribe of Reuben; but in Isaiah’s time it had long been in the hands of Moab again. To-day it is represented by a large mound in the Wady Hesban , and among the ruins a large well-built tank has been found, which is probably one of the pools referred to here, as it lies outside the walls.

The point of comparison is the soft shimmer of the eyes. by the gate of Bath-rabbim ] i.e. either opposite a gate which led to a place called by this name, or the gate of the populous city, literally ‘the daughter of many.’ But if the latter had been intended, ‘mother’ would have been more appropriate and natural than ‘daughter.’ But cp. “daughter of troops,” Micah 5:1 ( Song of Solomon 4:14 , Heb.). thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus ] This comparison seems to us inappropriate, for though we cannot now ascertain what particular tower was meant, the probability is that it was some watch-tower placed in a lofty and impregnable position on Anti-Libanus, to keep watch upon, or to overawe Damascus. The writer must have regarded a prominent nose as a beautiful feature.

Verse 4. - Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; thine eyes are as the pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim; thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus . This is plainly a partial repetition of the king's description. The ivory tower was perhaps a tower well known, covered with ivory tablets, slender in structure, dazzlingly white in appearance, imposing and captivating. No doubt in the lips of the court ladies it is intended that this echo of the royal bridegroom's praises shall be grateful to him. Heshbon is situated some five and a half hours east of the northern points of the Dead Sea, on an extensive, undulating, fruitful, high table-land, with a far-reaching prospect. "The comparison of the eyes to a pool means either their glistening like a water-mirror or their being lovely in appearance, for the Arabian knows no greater pleasure than to look upon clear, gently rippling water: cf. Ovid, 'De Arte Am.,' 2:722 - "Adspicies oculos tremulo fulgore micantes,Ut sol a liquida saepe refulget aqua" The nose formed a straight line down from the forehead, conveying the impression of symmetry, and at the same time a dignity and majesty inspiring with awe like the tower of Lebanon.

The reference is perhaps to a particular tower, and in the time of Solomon there were many noted specimens of architectural and artistic splendour. "A tower which looks in the direction of Damascus is to be thought of as standing on one of the eastern spurs of Hermon or on the top of Amana ( Song of Solomon 4:8 ), whence the Amana (Barada) takes its rise, whether as a watchtower ( 2 Samuel 8:6 ) or only as a look out from which might be enjoyed the paradisaical prospect." Song of Solomon 7:4