The Bridegroom gives this charge to his bridemen or friends, whose office it is to attend upon him, and to observe his commands; by whom he understands those magistrates and ministers to whom, under Christ, the custody of the vineyards, to wit, the churches, principally belong. These he commands to take the foxes, i.e. to restrain them from doing this mischief. Us, Heb. for us, i.e. at our instance, and for our common good, as this spoiling of the vines was injurious and grievous to them both. The foxes; the disturbers of the vineyard, or the church; seducers or false teachers, who are fitly compared to foxes here, and Ezekiel 13:4, partly to distinguish them from great tyrants and persecutors, who are compared to wild boars, or other wild beasts, Psalms 80:13, as to lions, 2 Timothy 4:17; and partly for their fox-like qualities and actions, because they are very crafty and deceitful, 2 Corinthians 11:13,14 Eph 4:14, and very mischievous also, Ezekiel 34:2,3 2 Timothy 4:17 Titus 1:10,11 2 Peter 2:2. He mentions foxes, because these abounded in that country, as is manifest from Judges 15:4 Psalms 63:10 Lamentations 5:18, &c., but under them he comprehends all noxious creatures, upon the same reason. The little foxes: this he adds, not as if the great foxes were excused or exempted, but for more abundant caution, to teach the church to prevent errors and heresies in the beginnings of them, before they spread and grow strong and incurable. That spoil the vines, which foxes do many ways, as those who write of them have observed, by gnawing and breaking the little branches and leaves, and the bark, by digging holes in the vineyards, and so spoiling the roots, by eating the grapes, and other ways. Have tender grapes; which gives us hopes of a good vintage, and which are easily spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.
Related Commentaries of Song of Solomon 2:15
Song of Solomon 2:15
15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.