Song of Solomon 7:8

“I said, I will go up to the palm tree, etc.] Which is easy of ascent; having, in the bark of the trunk or body of the tree, rings like steps, whereby the eastern people climb it with incredible swiftness, as Plinyf448 relates: these steps are made by the lower boughs being lopped off, whose knots, or “pollices”, as Dr. Shawf449 calls them, being gradually left upon the trunk of the tree, serve, like so many rungs of a ladder, to climb up the tree; either to fecundate it, or to lop it, or to gather the fruit; and Lucian saysf450, “those that have seen how men get up into palm trees, in Arabia, Egypt, and other places, must needs understand what he says about climbing the Phalli, in the temple…”

“A brief dialogue; Song of Solomon 7:6-9 are spoken by the king, Song of Solomon 7:9 and Song of Solomon 7:10 by the bride. Song of Solomon 7:6 A general sentiment. How fair, and what a charm hast thou, O love! Among delightsome things! Compare Song of Solomon 2:7, note; Song of Solomon 8:6-7, note. Song of Solomon 7:7 This thy stature - The king now addresses the bride, comparing her to palm, vine, and apple-tree for nobility of form and pleasantness of fruit; and the utterances of her mouth to sweetest wine. Song of Solomon 7:9 For my beloved, that goeth down sweetly - Words of the bride interrupting the king, and finishing his sentence, that goeth smoothly or pleasantly for my beloved.…”

“I said - Within myself, I resolved. I will - Climb up, that so I may take hold of the boughs, which do not grow out of the sides, as in other trees, but only at the top of it. Take hold - Partly to prune and dress them, and partly to gather the fruit. The smell - Of thy breath; which is often called the breath of a man's nostrils. Song of Solomon (Canticles) 7:9”

“I will go: Sol 4:16, Sol 5:1; Jer 32:41; Joh 14:21-23 the smell: Sol 1:3, Sol 2:3; Co2 2:14 Song of Solomon (Canticles) 7:9”