Song of Solomon 4:4 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Thy neck: this may seem to represent the grace of faith, by which we are united to Christ, as the body is to the head by the neck, and through which Christians receive their spiritual food, and consequently their strength and ability for action. Is like the tower of David; round, and smooth, and white, long, and straight, and upright, firm, and strong; and moreover, adorned with chains of gold or pearl, or the like ornaments; all which things, as they set forth the beauty of the neck, so they may signify the various excellencies and uses of faith. By this tower he understands either,

1. The strong hold of Zion, of which see 2 Samuel 5:7. Or rather,

2. Some other tower built by David, when he repaired, and enlarged, and fortified his royal city, 1 Chronicles 11:8, and used by him as an armoury. See Nehemiah 3:19,Nehemiah 3:25-27. A thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men; either,

1. Such as are fit and reserved for the use of mighty men. Or,

2. Such as had been used either by themselves, or by their enemies, from whom they took them by force, and were hung up there as trophies or monuments of victory; which is added, to show that the church is not only beautiful and glorious, but also strong and victorious over all her enemies, and to intimate the great power and exploits of faith, of which read Heb 11, and which is compared to a shield, Ephesians 6:16. A thousand is here put indefinitely for a great number.

Song of Solomon 4:4

4 Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.