Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Night—is the image of the present world (Romans 13:12). "Behold men as if dwelling in subterranean cavern" [PLATO, Republic, 7.1].
Until—that is, "Before that," etc.
break—rather, "breathe"; referring to the refreshing breeze of dawn in the East; or to the air of life, which distinguishes morning from the death-like stillness of night. MAURER takes this verse of the approach of night, when the breeze arises after the heat of day (compare Genesis 3:8, Margin, with Genesis 18:1), and the "shadows" are lost in night (Psalms 102:11); thus our life will be the day; death, the night (John 9:4). The English Version better accords with (Song of Solomon 3:1). "By night" (Romans 13:12).
turn—to me.
Bether—Mountains of Bithron, separated from the rest of Israel by the Jordan (II Samuel 2:29), not far from Bethabara, where John baptized and Jesus was first manifested. Rather, as Margin, "of divisions," and Septuagint, mountains intersected with deep gaps, hard to pass over, separating the bride and Jesus Christ. In Song of Solomon 8:14 the mountains are of spices, on which the roe feeds, not of separation; for at His first coming He had to overpass the gulf made by sin between Him and us (Zechariah 4:6-7); in His second, He will only have to come down from the fragrant hill above to take home His prepared bride. Historically, in the ministry of John the Baptist, Christ's call to the bride was not, as later (Song of Solomon 4:8), "Come with me," but "Come away," namely, to meet Me (Song of Solomon 2:2, Song of Solomon 2:10, Song of Solomon 2:13). Sitting in darkness (Matthew 4:16), she "waited" and "looked" eagerly for Him, the "great light" (Luke 1:79; Luke 2:25, Luke 2:38); at His rising, the shadows of the law (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:1) were to "flee away." So we wait for the second coming, when means of grace, so precious now, shall be superseded by the Sun of righteousness (I Corinthians 13:10, I Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:22-23). The Word is our light until then (II Peter 1:19).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Song of Solomon 2:17:
Song of Solomon 2:16
Song of Solomon 3:1
Song of Solomon 4:6
Song of Solomon 8:14
Isaiah 52:7
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