Song of Solomon 2

Solomon 2:1-17 .

1. rose--if applied to Jesus Christ, it, with the white lily (lowly, 2 Corinthians 8:9 ), answers to "white and ruddy" ( Solomon 5:10 ). But it is rather the meadow-saffron: the Hebrew means radically a plant with a pungent bulb, inapplicable to the rose. So Syriac. It is of a white and violet color [MAURER, GESENIUS, and WEISS]. The bride thus speaks of herself as lowly though lovely, in contrast with the lordly "apple" or citron tree, the bridegroom ( Solomon 2:3 ); so the "lily" is applied to her ( Solomon 2:2 ),
Sharon--( Isaiah 35:1 Isaiah 35:2 ). In North Palestine, between Mount Tabor and Lake Tiberias ( 1 Chronicles 5:16 ). Septuagint and Vulgate translate it, "a plain"; though they err in this, the Hebrew Bible not elsewhere favoring it, yet the parallelism to valleys shows that, in the proper name Sharon, there is here a tacit reference to its meaning of lowliness. Beauty, delicacy, and lowliness, are to be in her, as they were in Him ( Matthew 11:29 ).

2. Jesus Christ to the Bride ( Matthew 10:16 , John 15:19 , 1 John 5:19 ). Thorns, equivalent to the wicked ( 2 Samuel 23:6 , Psalms 57:4 ).
daughters--of men. not of God; not "the virgins." "If thou art the lily of Jesus Christ, take heed lest by impatience, rash judgments, and pride, thou thyself become a thorn" [LUTHER].

3. Her reply. apple--generic including the golden citron, pomegranate, and orange apple ( Proverbs 25:11 ). He combines the shadow and fragrance of the citron with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate fruit. The foliage is perpetual; throughout the year a succession of blossoms, fruit, and perfume ( James 1:17 ).
among the sons--parallel to "among the daughters" ( Solomon 2:2 ). He alone is ever fruitful among the fruitless wild trees ( Psalms 89:6 , Hebrews 1:9 ).
I sat . . . with . . . delight--literally, "I eagerly desired and sat" ( Psalms 94:19 , 6:31 , Ephesians 2:6 , 1 Peter 1:8 ).
shadow--( Psalms 121:5 , Isaiah 4:6 , 25:4 , 32:2 ). Jesus Christ interposes the shadow of His cross between the blazing rays of justice and us sinners.
fruit--Faith plucks it ( Proverbs 3:18 ). Man lost the tree of life ( Genesis 3:22 Genesis 3:23 ). Jesus Christ regained it for him; he eats it partly now ( Psalms 119:103 , John 6:55 John 6:57 , 1 Peter 2:3 ); fully hereafter ( Revelation 2:7 , Revelation 22:2 Revelation 22:14 ); not earned by the sweat of his brow, or by his righteousness ( Romans 10:1-21 ). Contrast the worldling's fruit ( Deuteronomy 32:32 , Luke 15:16 ).