Song of Solomon 3:7

7 Lo! sixty strong men of the strongest men of Israel compass the bed of Solomon; (Lo! sixty strong men of the strongest of Israel surround, or protect, Solomon in his bed;)

Song of Solomon 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

Song of Solomon 3:7

Behold his bed which [is] Solomon's
Not Solomon the son of David, and penman of this song, but a greater than he, the antitype of him; so it is interpreted of the Messiah by many Jewish writers ^F17: they were both sons of David and sons of God, and kings and preachers in Jerusalem. Solomon was a type of Christ in his wisdom and wealth, in the largeness and peaceableness of his kingdom; in his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, and in building the temple, a figure of the church: and by his bed is meant the place where saints meet together for religious worship, his church visible, which is his resting and dwelling place; where souls are begotten and born again, and have fellowship with Christ; and which he has a property in by gift and purchase: and a behold is prefixed to it as a note of attention, directing the daughters of Jerusalem to turn off the discourse from her, and from commendation of her, to consider the greatness of Christ her beloved; who might conclude, that if his bed was so stately as after described, bow great must he himself be; and as a note of admiration, to show how much she was affected with the greatness of his grace to her, and the privileges she enjoyed of having nearness to him, and fellowship with him;

threescore valiant men [are] about it, of the valiant of Israel;
ministers of the Gospel, such as are Israelites indeed, faithful and upright; and who are valiant, and heartily concerned for the good and welfare of Christ's people, and are careful that nothing hurt them, nor disturb their rest and repose. In the number of them, the allusion may be to the guard about Solomon's bed; which might consist of so many, partly for the security of his royal person, and partly for grandeur and majesty: and were just double the number of his father's worthies, he excelling him in greatness and glory; though it may be a certain number is put for an uncertain; and this is a competent and sufficient one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Targum, Aben Ezra, Jarchi, Kimchi, Ben Melech, and Abendana.

Song of Solomon 3:7 In-Context

5 Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you greatly, by the caprets, and harts of fields, that ye raise not, neither make to awake the dearworthy spousess, till she will. (Ye daughters of Jerusalem, I strongly command you, by the gazelles, and the harts of the fields, that ye raise not up, nor awaken the dearworthy spousess, until she desireth it.)

6 Who is this woman, that goeth up by the desert, as a rod of smoke of sweet smelling spices, of myrrh, and of incense, and of all powder of an ointment maker? (Who is this woman, who goeth up by the desert, like a column of smoke of sweet smelling spices, yea, of myrrh, and of incense, and of all the powders of a perfume maker?)

7 Lo! sixty strong men of the strongest men of Israel compass the bed of Solomon; (Lo! sixty strong men of the strongest of Israel surround, or protect, Solomon in his bed;)

8 and all they hold swords, and be most witting to battles; the sword of each man is on his hip, for the dread of nights. (and they all hold swords, and be most knowing about battle, or about fighting; the sword of each man is on his hip, ready for any attack in the night.)

9 King Solomon made to him a seat, of the wood of Lebanon; (King Solomon made for himself a throne out of the wood of Lebanon;)