His legs [are as] pillars of marble, set upon sockets of
fine
gold
The allusion may be to the "femoralia", or garments on the thighs
of the high priest when he ministered in holy things, who was a
type of Christ; which were made of thee twined linen, and, as the
Rabbins say F5, of thread six times doubled; and so
must sit very full and stiff, and be like pillars of marble, for
colour, firmness, and stiffness; and below which was the hem of
the holy robe: and, round about that, were pomegranates and
golden bells, and which may be alluded to in the next clause,
"set upon sockets of fine gold"; or else the allusion may be to
the custom F6 of the eastern countries, where they
sandals, bound about the feet with golden ribbons; or had their
shoes adorned with gold and precious stones; or were made of
gold, as were those which Demetrius wore: snow white feet, with
golden knots, as Manilius F7 expresses it, must look very
beautiful; and marble legs or feet, as the poet F8 calls
them, with golden shoes, suggest the same idea. Now if a covering
of the thighs is alluded to, this may respect the pure and
spotless righteousness of Christ, and the glory and excellency of
it; which covers the nakedness of saints; hides all their
impurities, their sins, original and actual; and renders them
acceptable in the sight of God: or the legs of Christ being thus
compared may denote the strength and power of Christ, to bear up
and support what has been or is laid upon him; as the whole
universe, the earth, and all that is in it; the covenant of
grace, its blessings and promises, which he is the basis and
foundation of; the whole church, the persons of all the elect,
whom he represented in eternity, and now in time; all their sins
and transgressions, laid upon him and bore by him, in his body on
the cross; the government of his people on his shoulder; their
burdens, and them under all their trials, temptations, and
afflictions; and as all the vessels, so all the glory of his
Father's house: and these may set forth also the power of Christ,
in treading under and trampling upon all his and his people's
enemies, both when on the cross, and now in heaven, where he must
reign until all enemies are put under his feet. Or legs, being
the instruments of walking, may intend either his ways of love,
grace, and mercy, in the covenant before time, in favour of his
people; and which, like marble pillars, are pure, firm, and
constant, and like such, in golden sockets, glorious and
excellent: or his walk and conversation, when incarnate and in
his state of humiliation; which was always upright, even, and
constant; and upon which were a beauty, glory, and lustre,
answerable to the metaphors here used: or his walks in the
churches, his golden candlesticks; among whom he delights to be,
and to whom his presence is desirable, beautiful, and glorious:
or his providential dispensations towards his people; which are
straight, upright, and equal, holy and righteous, firm and sure;
the basis of which are his eternal purposes and decrees;
his countenance [is] as Lebanon:
his shape, form, personage, appearance, and mien; which was a
goodly mountain on the north of Judea, high, pleasant, and set
with fruitful and fragrant trees, and made a very delightful
appearance; to which Christ may be compared for his height, being
higher than the kings of the earth, than the angels of heaven,
and than the heavens themselves; and for pleasantness, being more
glorious and excellent than that or any other mountain; and for
the fruitful and fragrant trees of righteousness that grow upon
him, have their root in him, and their fruitfulness from him; and
which diffuse a grateful odour, by their graces and good works,
to Christ and his saints; and who himself more especially, like
this mountain, emits a fragrant smell, in his person, grace,
righteousness, and sacrifice, to all passers-by, and true
believers in him. It is added,
excellent as the cedars;
which grew on Lebanon; being the choicest, and preferable to all
others: to which Christ may be compared, for tallness,
stateliness, fragrancy, and durableness F9;
especially the former, which is always thought to add
gracefulness and majesty to men; (See Gill on 1
Samuel 9:2).
F5 Kimchi Sepher Shorash. rad. (rzv) , Maimon. Hilchot Cele Hamikdash, c. 8. s. 14. Jarchi in loc.
F6 Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 9. c. 35. & l. 37. c. 2.
F7 De Margaritis, l. 5.
F8 "Litora marmoreis pedibus signanda puellae", Ovid. Amor. l. 2. Eleg. 11. v. 5.
F9 "Et cedro digna locutus", Persii Satyr. 1. v. 42.
