Song of Solomon 3:2

2 I shall rise, and I shall compass the city, by little streets and large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, and I found not. (So I said, I shall arise, and I shall go about the city, by the little streets and the large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; so I sought him, but I could not find him.)

Song of Solomon 3:2 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 3:2

I will rise now
Perceiving she had taken a wrong method, and therefore unsuccessful, she fixes on another; and, in the strength of divine grace, determines to pursue it, and "now", at once, immediately, without any delay, "rise" from her bed of sloth and ease, and forego her carnal pleasures, in pursuit of her beloved; which showed the sincerity of her love to him; and go about the city;
not the city of Jerusalem, though there may be an allusion to it; but the spiritual city, of which saints are fellow citizens, where they dwell, and where the word is preached, and the ordinances are administered: and "going about" it, as she proposed, showed her diligence and industry in seeking him: and the night being an unseasonable time to walk about a city, especially for women, this is a further proof of her great love to Christ, in that she not only exposed herself to reproach and scandal, but to harm and danger also; but being fired with love, and fearless of danger ^F11, and set on finding her beloved, she resolved to proceed, whatever she suffered. Hence she sought him in the streets, and in the broad ways;
that is, of the city, such as commonly are in cities; so Troy is described ^F12 as a city, having broad ways in it; and also Athens ^F13: meaning the public ordinances of the Gospel, where he takes his walks, and often shows himself; in seeking him here, she was right, though she did not succeed; I will seek him whom my soul loveth;
her love was still the same, not abated, more likely to be increased through disappointment; nor was she discouraged, but was determined to go on seeking, till she found him; I sought him, but I found him not;
this was to chastise her for her former negligence; to try her faith, love, and patience; and to show that even the best means, though to be used, are not to be depended on; and that Christ has his own time and way to make himself known to his people, which depends on his sovereign will.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 "Audacem faciebat amor". Ovid. Metamorph. l. 4. Fab. 4.
F12 Homer. Iliad. 2. v. 29, 66, 141, 329. & 14. v. 88. Odyss. 22. v. 230.
F13 Ib. Odyss. 7. v. 80.

Song of Solomon 3:2 In-Context

1 In my little bed, I sought him by nights, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, and I found not. (In my little bed, night after night, I sought him, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I could not find him.)

2 I shall rise, and I shall compass the city, by little streets and large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; I sought him, and I found not. (So I said, I shall arise, and I shall go about the city, by the little streets and the large streets; I shall seek him, whom my soul loveth; so I sought him, but I could not find him.)

3 (The) Watchmen, that keep the city, found me. (I asked,) Whether ye saw him, whom my soul loveth? (But the watchmen, who guard the city, found me. And I asked them, Have ye seen him, whom my soul loveth?)

4 A little when I had passed them, I found him, whom my soul loveth (Then only a little while after that I had left them, I found him, whom my soul loveth); I held him, and I shall not leave him, till I bring him into the house of my mother, and into the (bed-)closet of my mother.

5 Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you greatly, by the caprets, and harts of fields, that ye raise not, neither make to awake the dearworthy spousess, till she will. (Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I strongly command you, by the gazelles, and the harts of the fields, that ye raise not up, nor awaken the dearworthy spousess, until she desireth it.)