Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
By night--literally, "By nights." Continuation of the longing for the dawn of the Messiah (Song of Solomon 2:17; Psalms 130:6; Malachi 4:2). The spiritual desertion here (Song of Solomon 2:17; Song of Solomon 3:5) is not due to indifference, as in Song of Solomon 5:2-8. "As nights and dews are better for flowers than a continual sun, so Christ's absence (at times) giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth itself" [RUTHERFORD]. Contrast Song of Solomon 1:13; Psalms 30:6-7.
on . . . bed--the secret of her failure (Isaiah 64:7; Jeremiah 29:13; Amos 6:1, Amos 6:4; Hosea 7:14).
loveth--no want of sincerity, but of diligence, which she now makes up for by leaving her bed to seek Him (Psalms 22:2; Psalms 63:8; Isaiah 26:9; John 20:17). Four times (Song of Solomon 3:1-4) she calls Jesus Christ, "Him whom my soul loveth," designating Him as absent; language of desire: "He loved me," would be language of present fruition (Revelation 1:5). In questioning the watchmen (Song of Solomon 3:3), she does not even name Him, so full is her heart of Him. Having found Him at dawn (for throughout He is the morning), she charges the daughters not to abridge by intrusion the period of His stay. Compare as to the thoughtful seeking for Jesus Christ in the time of John the Baptist, in vain at first, but presently after successful (Luke 3:15-22; John 1:19-34).
found him not--Oh, for such honest dealings with ourselves (Proverbs 25:14; Judges 1:12)!
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Song of Solomon 2:17
Song of Solomon 3:1
Song of Solomon 3:6
Song of Solomon 3:6
Song of Solomon 3:7
Isaiah 26:9
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