V. 1. in my bed.
So far we have heard how Solomon generally sang about his worldly regime, in which he had the service of God, which was ordered by God Himself, now he gradually begins to depart from it, in order to come to his time and his person. Therefore, we must take almost everything that follows as referring to Solomon.
The bed he calls the kingdom, the authorities and the people, in which the bridegroom himself, God, lies and rests. This image is known from the prophet Isaiah. He says [Cap. 57, 7. 8.], Thou makest thy camp upon all the mountains, there thou hast rolled with thy wooers etc. For he speaks of the idolatry of the people, indicating that all that religion and worship was done on the mountains etc.
I searched at night for the one my soul loved.
But the fact that he says he has searched indicates the trouble that often occurs in the worldly regime. For before Solomon
the kingdom of Israel has been troubled by very many storms, as is known from the history of the kings. In favor of this is also the circumstance of the time, that "at night", that is, at the time of the calamity itself, he had sought that which he loved, desiring a calm and constant kingdom; for it ["which my soul loves"] is in the neuter.
V. 2. I will rise, and walk about in the city etc.
This also belongs to the description of the attitude according to which a good king and all the people wish that there may be peace and that the evil in the secular regime and in the church may come to an end.
V. 3. the watchmen who were going about the city found me etc.
The watchmen are the judges and the rulers. Among these, he says, I sought what I love, peace and quiet, but neither among Saul and David, nor before them, among the judges, did I find it. As often as a
When a new judge or king arose, there was hope that the damage of the worldly regiment would be remedied, but I did not find this until I got a little further and came to Solomon. There I finally found what I was looking for, as his name also promises.
V. 4. I had him.
I take all this as having been said of the person of Solomon, under whose reign the kingdom was in the highest bloom in peace and every kind of blessing. And this is not to be taken here as if he wrote this for his own praise. For everything is said in the person of the secular regime, which acknowledges God's benefits bestowed by the godly authorities and thanks God for them. In this way, this praise of Solomon, which is inserted in this chapter, must be taken.
I will not let him go until I bring him to my mother's house.
The house, the lair, the throne, the palace and similar things mean the people or the kingdom itself, as if to say: My people are like a bed deprived of a spouse. For how much and great adversity has it endured in turmoil, wars, enmities etc.? But after God has given Solomon to his people as king, peace and tranquility have been achieved, so that he can safely lie and rest in his mother's bed.
V. 5. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the deer etc.
Thus, as we have also shown above [Cap. 2, 7.], he names the holy prophets in this people, yes, he also includes Christ Himself as the head of all the saints.
V. 6. Who is she that cometh up out of the wilderness like a straight smoke?
This passage was sung about the holy virgin, so that there would be no lack of traces that could prove the incredible ignorance and blindness of our adversaries. Here, it is not about the holy virgin at all; the Jewish
The kingdom as it was under Solomon is described and praised with dainty and poetic images, so that the opinion is: The regiment and kingdom under Solomon was full of the sweetest dust, so that it filled all neighboring kingdoms with the sweetness of its smell or with its glorious smell. It is therefore rightly compared to the smoke that rises from lighted spices and fills the whole palace. Thus by the sweetness of this exceedingly pleasant odor the queen of the south was induced to come to Solomon etc. [1 Kings 10:1.]
The fact that he mentions different kinds of spices and says that smoke rises from them refers to the fact that there were many gifts in this people, wisdom, prudence, patience, faith etc.
V. 7 Behold, around Solomon's bed stand sixty strong men.
Here you see that what was previously God's bed is called Solomon's bed. But we have said that "the bed" is the people; of this he says that it is protected by sixty strong men. By these is quite correctly understood either the people of war, or those who in peace administered the commonwealth as Solomon's counselors. For it is not possible that one man, even if he has the highest wisdom, could manage all the affairs.
One, therefore, lies in bed, who is the head of the kingdom. With him sixty keep watch, who hold the sword in their hands and know how to fight, that is, who are called to administer the commonwealth, and also have the necessary wisdom to carry out the things. For both are necessary, that they be skillful (apti) and called. That he adds:
V. 8. Every man has his sword on his hip,
Means the diligence and care that secular government requires. For one must be attentive to all events, never be careless, never be sure, as Paul says Rom. 12:8: "If anyone governs, let him be careful."
V. 9. King Solomon had a litter made for him.
The part of the price we have heard so far is nothing else than a thanksgiving for the bed, that is, for the people. Here he commemorates the palanquin or chair that Solomon had made for himself. We must not think, however, that this is said of your material (materia ---- material), but he compares with the chair or the sedan chair the laws and judgments with which Solomon provided his people. He praises them because they were splendidly adorned with gold, that is, with wisdom; with silver, that is, with eloquence; with purple, that is, with ardent love; with cedar of Lebanon, that is, with incorruptibility, so that they were firm and immovable. But why this?
V. 10. For the sake of the daughters in Jerusalem.
Not because of the Gentiles, but for the sake of God's people.
V. 11. Go out and look, you daughters of Zion, at King Solomon.
This is also a piece that fits very well with this praise, as if he wanted to say: I have shown you what kind of kingdom God has given you under Solomon, and with how great gifts you are showered, so that you have laws and judgments at home in the commonwealth, and peace outwardly. Now do this also: Look at the beginning of these gifts. Solomon did not seize the kingdom by force, but his mother crowned him, that is, the kingdom was given to him with the consent of the whole people. Therefore, look at him and hold him in high esteem, and give thanks to God for these gifts of his that he has so richly bestowed upon you in this king etc. And this little piece shows sufficiently that this figurative speech, which he uses everywhere, has no other opinion than that Solomon wanted to decorate his commonwealth and give thanks for it.