IX - The Reign of Solomon - 985-945 B.C. ~ cont.
C. Solomon's fame and downfall (17 years) ~ cont.
2. Bride and bridegroom ~ cont.
A. Song of Solomon ~ cont.
b. Love's absence (law) -Song of Solomon 2:8-17; 3:1-5
c. Love's restoration (Calvary) - Song of Solomon 3:6-11; 4:1-16; 5:1
d. Love delayed (grace) - Song of Solomon 5:2-16; 6:1-3
e. Love's fulfillment (second advent) - Song of Solomon 6:4-13; 7:1-13; 8:1-4
f. Love's triumph (eternity) - Song of Solomon 8:5-14
{pages 618 - 622}
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; (Song of Solomon 2:12)
I was enjoying a walk the other afternoon, on towards evening, and delighted in the various birds that were chirping and calling out to one another. Father's creatures are such a joy.
Turtle talk? The voice of the turtle?
voice - H6963 - From an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound.
turtle - H8449 - Probably the same as H8447; a ring dove, often (figuratively) as a term of endearment.
- H8447 - From H8446; a succession, that is, a string or (abstractly) order.
- H8446 - A primitive root; to meander (causatively guide) about, especially for trade or reconnoitring.
I decided to check the commentaries to see if they could or would definitively state whether this was an actual turtle or a type of dove. There were several, enjoyed the focus, very much worth sharing:
JFB:
the time of ... singing — the rejoicing at the advent of Jesus Christ. Gregory Nyssenus refers the voice of the turtledove to John the Baptist. It with the olive branch announced to Noah that “the rain was over and gone” (Gen_8:11). So John the Baptist, spiritually. Its plaintive “voice” answers to his preaching of repentance (Jer_8:6, Jer_8:7). Vulgate and Septuagint translate, “The time of pruning,” namely, spring (Joh_15:2). The mention of the “turtle’s” cooing better accords with our text. The turtledove is migratory (Jer_8:7), and “comes” early in May; emblem of love, and so of the Holy Ghost. Love, too, shall be the keynote of the “new song” hereafter (Isa_35:10; Rev_1:5; Rev_14:3; Rev_19:6). In the individual believer now, joy and love are here set forth in their earlier manifestations (Mar_4:28).
Gill:
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; so one part of rural pleasures is described by the poet (y), not only by the singing of birds of various kinds, but particularly by the note of the turtle; which is a kind of dove that lies hid in the wintertime, or is gone, being a bird of passage, and appears and returns at the spring, when its voice is heard again (z); see Jer_8:7; for its voice is never heard in winter, unless on a fine day (a); by which may be meant, not the voice of the law, as the Jewish writers (b), rather of the Gospel, the joyful sound, which for a while was heard only in the land of Judea, called by way of specialty "our land": but either of the voice of the Messiah himself (c), preaching the everlasting Gospel in the land of Israel when here on earth; or of John the Baptist his forerunner; and so Alshech interprets it of Elijah, who was to come before the Messiah, and refers to Mal_4:5. It may design the voice of all the apostles of Christ, and first ministers of the Gospel (d); or of the Holy Ghost, as the Targum, who appeared as a dove at Christ's baptism; and whose voice in the hearts of his people, speaking peace and pardon, and witnessing their adoption, causes joy and gladness; or of the church itself, compared to a turtledove for its harmlessness, meekness, chastity, &c. whose voice in prayer and praise is heard, and is acceptable to Christ, Son_2:14.
And Henry:
[3.] The flowers appear on the earth. All winter they are dead and buried in their roots, and there is no sign of them; but in the spring they revive, and show themselves in a wonderful variety and verdure, and, like the dew that produces them, tarry not for man, Mic_5:7. They appear, but they will soon disappear again, and man in herein like the flower of the field, Job_14:2. [4.] The time of singing of birds has come. The little birds, which all the winter lie hid in their retirements and scarcely live, when the spring returns forget all the calamities of the winter, and to the best of their capacity chant forth the praises of their Creator. Doubtless he who understands the birds that cry for want (Psa_147:9) takes notice of those that sing for joy Psa_104:12. The singing of the birds may shame our silence in God's praises, who are better fed (Mat_6:26), and better taught (Job_35:11), and are of more value than many sparrows. They live without inordinate care (Mat_6:26) and therefore they sing, while we murmur. [5.] The voice of the turtle is heard in our land, which is one of the season-birds mentioned Jer_8:7, that observe the time of their coming and the time of their singing, and so shame us who know not the judgment of the Lord, understand not the times, nor do that which is beautiful in its season, do not sing in singing time.
I know that is quite a bit, but they all spoke nourishment to my soul. The Song of Solomon can be a love story between a man and a woman, but the greatest love story is between the Savior and the redeemed. I need to be reminded again and again, that my focus is to be upon Him and giving a proper estimate of the LORD in all areas of my life.
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: (Song of Solomon 4:13-14)
I *think* I know what 2 of the 5 items are...but just to make sure. :-)
camphire - H3724 - From H3722; properly a cover, that is, (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively a redemption price.
- H3722 - A primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel.
H. Camphire. The only mention of this plant in the Bible is in Song of Solomon 1:14; 4:13. Most scholars consider it to have been the henna. The Hebrew word for the plant is kopher.
This shrub grows approximately 3 m. (10 ft.) high. It flourished during Solomon's time at En-gedi and is still growing there today.
The leaves and young twigs were ground into powder and mixed with paste and hot water to produce a reddish-orange dye, which women used to paint their fingernails, toenails, and the soles of their feet. (See "Clothing and Cosmetics.") Men also used this cosmetic to paint their beards. The "camphire" also grows in Egypt and other countries in the East today.
spikenard - H5373 - Of foreign origin; nard, an aromatic.
Y. Spikenard. This is one of the most precious spices of the Bible. The Hebrew for it is nerd; the Greeks called it nardos. It grew extensively in northern India, and has been found high in the Himalaya Mountains.
It grows small with many spikes on one root, bearing pink blossoms; thus it is sometimes called the "Indian spike". Perfumed oil is extracted from these spikes.
The New Testament tells how a woman anointed Jesus with this most costly liquid (Mark 14:3-4). According to Werner Keller, "The receptacles for these often expensive items (i.e., perfumes) have been found by archaeologists under the debris of walls, among the ruins of patrician houses, and in royal palaces."
saffron - H3750 - Probably of foreign origin; the crocus.
X. Saffron. The saffron has been cultivated in southern Europe and Asia from very early times. The Hebrew word for it is karkom.
The plant, which grows from a bulb, blooms in the fall, with light lavender blossoms, veined red. Their stigmas are dried, pulverized, and pressed into cakes that are used for making yellow dyes in medicine, and for flavoring.
Saffron has a sweet smell but a bitter taste. It is mentioned as one of the common spices of the Old Testament (Song 4:14).
calamus - H7070 - From H7069; a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard).
- H7069 - A primitive root; to erect, that is, create; by extension to procure, especially by purchase (causatively sell); by implication to own.
G. Calamus. This was a tall reed-like grass with hollow stems. The Hebrew term for this plant (Keneh bosem) means "reed of fragrance." It is indeed a very sweet-smelling plant (Song 4:14).
The oil extracted from this grass was an ingredient in the anointing oil of Exodus 30:23. The calamus was grown throughout Palestine.
cinnamon - H7076 - From an unused root (meaning to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls).
J. Cinnamon. A native of Ceylon, cinnamon is a member of the laurel family. The tree grows about 9 m. (30 ft.) high with clusters of yellow and white flowers. Its very fragrant bark yields a golden yellow oil, which was used as one ingredient of the anointing oil (Exod. 30:23) and as perfume (Prov. 7:17).
The Hebrew word for this plant is kinnamon. It was one of the chief spices of the ancient Near East.
I had to chuckle at the Strong's definition for cinnamon...as it is rolled...pondering if that lent itself to the design and/or naming of the breadful delight. All definitions in RED are taken from this article on Plants.
