SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:14
Nardo y azafrán, caña aromática y canela, con todos los árboles de incienso; mirra y áloes, con todas las principales especias.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. Spikenard and saffron , etc.] The former is the best sort of nard, and therefore mentioned and repeated, to which saints may be compared, because of the graces of the Spirit in them; which, when exercised, give a sweet odour, and are exceeding grateful to Christ; (see Song of Solomon 1:12); and the latter, according to Schindler f284 , seems to have been read “carcos”, the same with “crocus”, and is a plant well known by us for its cheering nature; and has its name from the Arabic, “zaffran”, because of its yellow or golden colour; but “crocus”, from “Corycus” f285 , a mountain in Cilicia, where it grew; it is properly joined with spikenard, since itself is a “spica”, and is sometimes called “spica Cilissa” f286 . Next follow calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense ; “calamus” is the sweet cane in ( Isaiah 43:24); “cinnamon” is the rind or bark of a tree; both grow in India and in Arabia f288 ; as also trees of “frankincense”, which are only in Arabia; hence one of the Arabias is called “thurifera” f289 , for they do not grow in all Arabia: the two first were ingredients in the holy anointing oil, and the latter in the holy perfume, ( Exodus 30:23,34); myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices ; Solomon’s gardens might be furnished with all these; and with the above trees, plants, and spices, from Arabia Felix, where, as Appianus says, “cassia” grew in marshy places; myrrh and frankincense were gathered from trees, cinnamon from shrubs, and their meadows naturally produced nard; hence called “aromatifera”, the spicy country f291 : myrrh was also an ingredient in the anointing oil; and aloes, according to the Targum, is the same with lign aloes; (see Numbers 24:6); not the herb which has a very bitter juice, but the tree of a sweet odour, which Isidore distinguishes, and is what is meant in ( Psalm 45:8 Proverbs 7:17); and were both of a very fragrant smell. Now all these trees, plants, and spices, signify truly precious souls, possessed of the graces of the Spirit; comparable to them for their valuableness and excellency, their sweet smell, and the reviving and refreshing nature of them; which make the subjects of these graces very agreeable to Christ, and to one another. What a garden is the church thus planted!
Matthew Henry Commentary
Christ sets forth the graces of the church. (Song 4:1-7) Christ's love to the church. (Song 4:8-15) The church desires further influences of Divine grace. (Song 4:16)
Song 4:1-7 If each of these comparisons has a meaning applicable to the graces of the church, or of the faithful Christian, they are no clearly known; and great mistakes are made by fanciful guesses. The mountain of myrrh appears to mean the mountain Moriah, on which the temple was built, where the incense was burned, and the people worshipped the Lord. This was his residence till the shadows of the la given to Moses were dispersed by the breaking of the gospel day, an the rising of the Sun of righteousness. And though, in respect of his human nature, Christ is absent from his church on earth, and wil continue to be so till the heavenly day break, yet he is spirituall present in his ordinances, and with his people. How fair and comely ar believers, when justified in Christ's righteousness, and adorned with spiritual graces! when their thoughts, words, and deeds, thoug imperfect, are pure, manifesting a heart nourished by the gospel!
Song 4:8-15 Observe the gracious call Christ gives to the church. I is, 1. A precept; so this is Christ's call to his church to come of from the world. These hills seem pleasant, but there are in them lions dens; they are mountains of the leopards. 2. As a promise; many shal be brought as members of the church, from every point. The church shal be delivered from her persecutors in due time, though now she dwell among lions, Ps. 57:4. Christ's heart is upon his church; his treasur is therein; and he delights in the affection she has for him; it working in the heart, and its works in the life. The odours wherewit the spouse is perfumed, are as the gifts and graces of the Spirit. Love and obedience to God are more pleasing to Christ than sacrifice of incense. Christ having put upon his spouse the white raiment of his ow righteousness, and the righteousness of saints, and perfumed it with holy joy and comfort, he is well pleased with it. And Christ walks in his garden unseen. A hedge of protection is made around, which all the powers of darkness cannot break through. The souls of believers are a gardens enclosed, where is a well of living water, John 4:14; 7:38, the influences of the Holy Spirit. The world knows not these wells of salvation, nor can any opposer corrupt this fountain. Saints in the church, and graces in the saints, are fitly compared to fruits an spices. They are planted, and do not grow of themselves. They ar precious; they are the blessings of this earth. They will be kept to good purpose when flowers are withered. Grace, when ended in glory will last for ever. Christ is the source which makes these garden fruitful; even a well of living waters.
Song 4:16 The church prays for the influences of the blessed Spirit, to make this garden fruitful. Graces in the soul are as spices in thes gardens, that in them which is valuable and useful. The blessed Spirit in his work upon the soul, is as the wind. There is the north wind of conviction, and the south wind of comfort. He stirs up good affections and works in us both to will and to do that which is good. The churc invites Christ. Let him have the honour of all the garden produces, an let us have the comfort of his acceptance of it. We can invite him to nothing but what is his own already. The believer can have no joy of the fruits, unless they redound some way or other to the glory of Christ. Let us then seek to keep separate from the world, as a garde enclosed, and to avoid conformity thereto __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
נרד 5373 וכרכם 3750 קנה 7070 וקנמון 7076 עם 5973 כל 3605 עצי 6086 לבונה 3828 מר 4753 ואהלות 174 עם 5973 כל 3605 ראשׁי 7218 בשׂמים׃ 1314
