I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate
woman.
] That dwells at home and lives in pleasure, and deliciously, in great peace and quietness, in entire ease and security, in no fear of enemies, or apprehension of danger; and so it describes the secure state of the Jews. Kimchi and Ben Melech supply the word "woman" as we do; but others supply "land" or "pasture"; and think that the Jewish nation is compared to pleasant and delightful lands and pastures, which are inviting to shepherds to come and pitch their tents about them; as follows. The words are by some rendered, "O beautiful and delicate one, I have cut off, or destroyed the daughter of Zion" F15; in which sense the word is used in ( Isaiah 6:5 ) ( Hosea 4:5 ) and to this purpose is the Targum,
``O beautiful and delicate one, how hast thou corrupted thy ways? therefore the congregation of Zion is confounded;''but the former senses seem to be best; in which the word used is understood as having the signification of likening or comparing; for which see ( Song of Solomon 1:9 ) .