Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

DAUGHTERS.

Vers. 5.— (Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her Beloved?)

The daughters of Jerusalem come in speaking to the Brides commendation, in the first part of the fifth verse, Who is this, say they, (or, who is she?) that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? This part of the verse stops the Bride from following the purpose she was upon, with a kind of an abrupt exclamation to her commendation. The daughters now beholding her resting in her beloveds arms, as it is, vers. 3. to show the commendableness of that posture of leaning on him, they are brought in admiring it; And therefore, both the Bride and the Bridegroom are spoken of in the third person, and that by way of question, which supposeth no doubt in the thing, who it was of whom they speak, but implieth an exceeding high estimation of the party spoken of, as being (especially in that posture) exceeding lovely. The words hold out a believers walk, 1. In the nature of it, it's a coming up, or ascending. 2. In the term from which, it's from the wilderness: By which two (as was cleared, Chap. 3. 6.) is understood the believers spiritual progress heaven-ward, with their backs on all the contentments of the world, as being unsuitable for them to rest in: These two are spoken of, Chap. 3. 3. There is added here a more express description of her posture, in this ascending, she is leaning on her beloved; that is, as they who are weak, make use of a staff, in climbing of a strait and steep ground, or ease themselves by leaning upon one that is strong, and especially one whom they love, for helping them in their way; So the believer is said to come up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved, because she being weak in her self, and unfit for such a difficult voyage, by faith rests on Christ, for helping her in the way, whereby she is sustained, and carried through in the duties of a holy walk, and the difficulties in her way, till she come through the wilderness unto the land of rest. So then,