I am come into my garden, my sister, [my]
spouse
This verse should rather have concluded the preceding chapter,
being Christ's answer to the church's request, which was speedily
and exactly granted as she desired; which shows it was according
to the will of Christ, and of which he informs her; for sometimes
he is present, when it is not known he is: of the titles used,
see ( Song of
Solomon 4:8 Song of
Solomon 4:9 ) ; and of Christ's coming into his garden, (
Song of Solomon
4:16 ) . What he did, when come into it, follows: I
have gathered my myrrh with my spice:
to make an ointment of, and anoint his guests with, after
invited, as was usual in those times and countries, ( Luke 7:38 Luke 7:46 ) ( Mark 14:3 ) ; "oil of
myrrh" is mentioned, ( Esther 2:12 ) ; These
may designs, either the sufferings of Christ; which, though like
myrrh, bitter to him, are like spice, of a sweet smelling savour,
to God and to the saints; the fruits of which, in the salvation
of his people, are delightful to himself, and which he is now
reaping with pleasure: or the graces of his Spirit in exercise in
them, in which Christ delights; see ( Song of Solomon
4:13 Song of Solomon
4:14 ) ; and testifies by his presence; and having got in his
harvest, or vintage, as the word F17 used signifies, he makes a
feast for himself and friends, as was the custom of former times,
and now is; I have eaten my honeycomb with my
honey:
bread with honey, as the Septuagint version, dipped in honey, or
honey put upon it; see ( Ezekiel
16:13 ) ; or the sugar cane with the sugar, as Jarchi,
approved by Gussetius F18: the meaning may be, he plucked up
a sugar cane and ate the sugar out of it, which is called by
Arrianus, (meli kalaminon)
, as Cocceius observes; or rather a piece of an honeycomb, full
of honey, just taken out of the hive, had in great esteem with
the Jews; see ( Luke 24:42 ) ; the word
for "honeycomb" properly signifies wood honey, of which there was
plenty in Judea, ( 1 Samuel
14:25 ) ; though this was in a garden, where they might have
their hives, as we have. By which may be meant the Gospel and its
doctrines, sweeter than the honey and the honeycomb; and, being
faith fully dispensed, is pleasing to Christ; I have drunk
my wine with my milk;
a mixture of wine and milk was used by the ancients F19; and
which, Clemens Alexandria says F20, is a very profitable and
healthful mixture: by which also may be intended the doctrines of
the Gospel, comparable to wine and milk; to the one, for its
reviving and cheering quality; to the other, for its nourishing
and strengthening nature; see ( Isaiah 55:1 ) ; and
(See Gill on
Song of Solomon 4:11), and (See Gill on
Song of Solomon 7:9). Here is feast, a variety of sweet,
savoury, wholesome food and drink; and all Christ's own, "my"
myrrh, "my" spice, &c. as both doctrines and graces be: with
which Christ feasts himself, and invites his friends to eat and
drink with him: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink
abundantly, O beloved;
the individuals, of which the church consists, are the "friends"
who are reconciled to God by the death of Christ, and to himself
by his Spirit and grace; and whom he treats as such, by visiting
them, and disclosing the secrets of his heart to them, ( John 15:14 John 15:15 ) ; and
"beloved", beloved of God, and by Christ and by the saints there
is a mutual friendship and love between Christ and his people:
and these he invites to eat of the provisions of his house, of
all the fruits of his garden, to which they are welcome; and of
his love and grace, and all the blessings of it, which exceed the
choicest wine; and of which they may drink freely, and without
danger; "yea, be inebriated with loves" F21, as
the words may be rendered; see ( Ephesians
5:18 ) . With the eastern people, it was usual to bid their
guests welcome, and solicit them to feed on the provisions before
them; as it is with the Chinese now, the master of the house
takes care to go about, and encourage them to eat and drink
F23.