Song of Solomon 4:12

“A garden enclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse, etc.] At a little distance from Bethlehem are pools of water, and below these runs a narrow rocky valley, enclosed on both sides with high mountains which the friars, as Mr. Maundrell saysf270 will have to be the enclosed garden here alluded to; but it is more likely that the allusion is to a garden near Jerusalem, called the king’s garden, Adrichomiusf271 makes mention of, which was shut up, and only for the king’s use and pleasure: to which the church may be compared; for its being distinguished from the world’s wide waste, by the sovereign grace of God; and for the smallness of it in comparison of that; and for its pleasantness and…”

“The loveliness and purity of the bride are now set forth under the image of a paradise or garden fast barred against intruders, filled with rarest plants of excellent fragrance, and watered by abundant streams. Compare Proverbs 5:15-20. Song of Solomon 4:12 A fountain sealed - i. e., A well-spring covered with a stone Genesis 29:3, and sealed with “the king’s own signet” (Daniel 6:17; compare Matthew 27:66). Song of Solomon 4:13 Orchard - This is the renderlng here and in Ecclesiastes 2:5 of “pardes” (see Nehemiah 2:8 note). The pomegranate was for the Jews a sacred fruit, and a characteristic product of the land of promise (compare Exodus 28:33-34; Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8; 1 Kings…”

“A garden - For order and beauty, for pleasant walks, and flowers, and fruits. Inclosed - Defended by the care of my providence: and reserved for my proper use. Shut up - To preserve it from all pollution, and to reserve it for the use of its owner, for which reason, springs were shut up in those countries where water was scarce and precious. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 4:13”

“4:12 private garden . . . secluded spring . . . hidden fountain (literally locked garden . . . locked spring . . . sealed fountain): This affirmation of her purity and virginity accentuates his exclusive and privileged position (see Prov 5:15 for similar imagery). The images of spring and fountain evoke thoughts of the most intimate parts of a woman’s body.”

“garden: Sol 6:2, Sol 6:11; Pro 5:15-18; Isa 58:11, Isa 61:10, Isa 61:11; Jer 31:12; Hos 6:3; Co1 6:13, Co1 6:19, Co1 6:20, Co1 7:34; Rev 21:27 enclosed: Heb. barred sealed: Co2 1:22; Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30; Rev 7:3 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 4:13”

“The praise is sensuous, but it has a moral consecration. 12 A garden locked is my sister-bride; A spring locked, a fountain sealed. גּן (according to rule masc. Bttch. 658) denotes the garden from its enclosure; גּ (elsewhere נּלּה ere), the fountain (synon. מבּוּע), the waves bubbling forth (cf. Amo 5:24); and מעין, the place, as it were an eye of the earth, from which a fountain gushes forth. Luther distinguishes rightly between gan and gal; on the contrary, all the old translators (even the Venet.) render as if the word in both cases were gan. The Pasek between gan and nā'ul, and between gal and nā'ul, is designed to separate the two Nuns, as e.g., at Ch2 2:9; Neh 2:2, the two Mems; it…”