Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Song of Solomon 7:4
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory, etc.] Two things recommend the neck, erectness and whiteness; both are here expressed, the one by a “tower”, the other by “ivory”; hence a fine beautiful neck is called an ivory onef430; and for the same reason it sometimes has the epithet of “snowy”f431, and sometimes of “marble”f432. Of the church’s neck, as it may design either the ministers of the word, or the Scriptures of truth, (see Gill on “<220404>Song of Solomon 4:4”); where it is compared to “the tower of David”, and here to “a tower of ivory”: Marckius conjectures that they may be the same, or that this is the name of, vine ancient structure known at this time; however, it is used as expressive of the purity of the lives of Gospel ministers, and the evenness of their doctrines, and of the purity, beauty, glory, axial harmony of the Scriptures; thine eyes [like] the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim; Heshbon was formerly the seat of Sihon, king of the Amorites, (<042226>Numbers 22:26); of which Bathrabbim was one of its gates; so called, either because it led to Rabbath, a city near it, and mentioned with it, (<244903>Jeremiah 49:3); or because of the great numbers that went in and out by it; for it may be rendered, “the daughter of many”, or “of great ones”f433: near this gate, it seems, were very delightful fish pools, to which the eyes of the church are compared. In the Hebrew language, the word for eyes and fountains is the same; the eyes having humours in them, and so fitly compared to fish pools. Of the eyes of the church, as they may design either the ministers of the word, or the eyes of her understanding, particularly faith, (see Gill on “<220115>Song of Solomon 1:15”); here they are said to be like “fish pools”, whose waters are clear, quiet, constant and immovable; and, seen at a distance, between trees and groves, look very beautiful: and, if applied to ministers, may denote the clearness of their sight in discerning the truths of the Gospel; and their being filled with the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ; and their being blessings to the churches of Christ, and to the souls of men the word for “fish pools” comes from a word which signifies “to bless”f434; and such being observed as were near the gate of Bathrabbim, may have respect to the multitude that attend their ministry, and receive benefit by it; in which they are constant and invariable, and all of a piece, and appear very beautiful to those to whom they are useful. And if applied to the church’s eyes of understanding, those of faith and knowledge, may denote the perspicuity of them, in the discernment of spiritual things; and the fixedness and immovableness of them on the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ; looking alone to him, and off of every other object, and so very attractive to him, and beautiful in his sight, as well as their abounding with the waters of evangelic repentance and humiliation; (see <220409>Song of Solomon 4:9 <220605> Song of Solomon 6:5); thy nose [is] as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh towards Damascus; a tower on that part of Mount Lebanon which faced Damascus, which lay in a plain, and so open to view, as well as exposed to winds; hence called, by Lucanf435, Ventosa Damascus; which tower was so high, as Adrichomiusf436 says, that from thence might be numbered the houses in Damascus: by which also may be meant the ministers of the word; nor need it seem strange that the same should be expressed by di…
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