Song of Solomon 6:2

“My beloved is gone down into his garden, etc.] Which may be said by Solomon, in allusion to what he himself was wont to do, as Josephusf378 relates; who used to go very early in a morning in great pomp to Etham, about two miles from Jerusalem, a pleasant place, abounding with gardens and flows of water: or respect may be had to the king’s gardens nearer Jerusalem, which were at the descent of Mount Zion, and reached to the lower poolf379; (see <160315>Nehemiah 3:15); and which lying lower than the king’s palace, he might be said to go down to it. And this may point at the low estate of the people of God on earth, depressed with sorrows, afflictions, and persecutions; and the condescension of…”

“The question put by the chorus, and the answer it receives from the bride, show that the loss and seeking are not to be taken too seriously. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Is gone - The spouse had hitherto been at a loss for her beloved, but having diligently sought him, now at last she meets with a gracious answer from God, directing her where to find him. The garden may signify the church catholic, and the gardens, as it follows, as also the beds, the particular assemblies of the faithful, in which Christ affords his presence. Spices - In which the gifts and graces of God's spirit, fitly compared to spices, grow. To feed - To refresh and delight himself. Lillies - Which may denote either, particular believers, whom Christ gathers to himself in his church; or, the prayers and praises of his people in the publick congregations. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 6:4”

“gone: Sol 6:11, Sol 4:12-16, Sol 5:1; Isa 58:11, Isa 61:11; Mat 18:20, Mat 28:20 the beds: Sol 5:13 feed: Sol 1:7, Sol 1:8; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Zep 3:17; Joh 4:34, Joh 4:35; Rev 7:17 and to: Sol 2:2; Isa 57:1; Joh 14:3, Joh 17:24; Phi 1:21-23; Th1 4:13, Th1 4:14 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 6:3”

“2 My beloved has gone down into the garden, To the beds of sweet herbs, To feed in the gardens And gather lilies. He is certainly, she means to say, there to be found where he delights most to tarry. He will have gone down - viz. from the palace ( Sol 6:11; cf. Kg1 20:43 and Est 7:7) \- into his garden, to the fragrant beds, there to feed in his garden and gather lilies (cf. Old Germ. "to collect rsen"); he is fond of gardens and flowers. Shulamith expresses this in her shepherd-dialect, as when Jesus says of His Father ( Joh 15:1), "He is the husbandman." Flowerbeds are the feeding place (vid., regarding לרעות under Sol 2:16) of her beloved. Solomon certainly took great delight in gardens…”