She considereth a field, and buyeth it
The field are the Scriptures, in which are hid the rich treasures
of Gospel doctrines and promises; and the church, and all truly
enlightened persons, consider to what use this field may be put,
to what account it will turn; how profitable the Scriptures are,
for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in
righteousness; what a rich mine and valuable treasure is in them;
things more desirable, and of greater worth, than thousands of
gold and silver; and therefore will buy this field at any rate,
and not sell it; will part with all they have before they will
part with that; even life itself, which in an improper sense is
called buying of it, though it is without money and without
price; see ( Matthew
13:44 ) ; with the fruit of her hand she planteth a
vineyard;
her own vineyard, whose plants are an orchard of pomegranates, (
Song of Solomon 1:6
) ( 4:13 ) ; who
through the ministry of the word, are planted in the house of the
Lord, and flourish there; this the church is said to do by her
ministers, who plant and water, as Paul and Apollos did, (
1
Corinthians 3:6 1
Corinthians 3:7 ) . And it is observable, that in the Hebrew
text there is a double reading; the "Keri", or marginal reading,
is feminine; but the "Cetib", or writing, is masculine; to show
that she did it by means of men, she made use of in her vineyard
for that service; it being, as Aben Ezra observes, not the custom
and business of women to plant vineyards, but men. It may be
rendered, "he planted", and be applied to her husband, Christ;
who, through the ministry of the word in his church, plants souls
in it; and happy are they who are the planting of the Lord! trees
of righteousness, that he may be glorified, ( Isaiah 61:3 ) .