The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates [are] all manner of pleasant [fruits], new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.
Ver. 13. The mandrakes give a smell.] Loves and mandrakes grow both upon one Hebrew root and Tremellius renders it not mandrakes, but lovely flowers, yielding a savour pleasant to the eye, and sweet to the smell. The Chaldee paraphrast calleth it balsam. (Legesis August. lib. xxii. contra Faust. Manichaeum, cap. lvi.; Jun. in Genesis 30:14; Drus. in fine Comment. in Ruth). Aben Ezra saith that mandrakes are fragrant, and yield a pleasant savour; that they have head and hands like unto a man. But how they should be good to cause conception he wondereth, since by nature they are cold. Augustine saith that he made trial, and could not find any such operation to be in them, and that Rachel coveted them merely for their rarity, beauty, and sweetness. There is enough of these in the Church to draw all hearts unto her; but that many men have brawny breasts and horny heart strings.
And at our gates are all manner of pleasants] Or, Delicacies, precious and pleasant commodities whether fruits, metals, gems, jewels, quicquid in deliciis habetur, whatsoever is excellent and exquisite in any kind; this is the import of the Hebrew word. There is nothing of any worth but it is to be found in the Church. Her wise merchants, not content with the pearl of price, seek out other "goodly pearls," common gifts, which also have their use and excellence, Mat 13:45-46 they "learn to maintain good works, or honest professions for necessary uses; these things are good and profitable to men" Titus 3:8 ; Tit 3:14 Some think that the Holy Ghost here alludeth to the order of old, and still in use, of strawing the wedding house doors with sweet smelling flowers; others to the customs of those that have orchards, to lay up their fruits over the gate house.
New and old.] As a good storer, that hath plenty and variety wherewith to please all palates, new for delights, and old for wholesomeness. The good scribe, well instructed to the kingdom of heaven, "throweth out a of his treasury things new and old," - new for the unlearned, and old for the stronger stomach. Some delight in the sweetness of things, as in new wine. David tells them the Word is sweeter than live honey dropping from the honeycomb. Others say "the old is better," are all for profit, as elder people; he tells them there it is better than gold. Psa 19:10 In the Church's storehouse men shall be sure to meet with all that heart can wish, or need require.
Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved!] Propter te, Domine, propter te, "Because of you, O God, because of you," is the Church's motto. As all his springs are in her, and all his offices and efficacies for her, so all that she has and is, is only for him, and a great deal more she could beteem him. Let Ephraim, that "empty" vine, "bear fruit to himself," Hos 10:1 and those hypocrites Zec 7:5 fast to themselves; Christ's hidden ones hide all for him, set up and seek him in all they do or suffer, are wholly devoted to his whole service. b
a εκβαλλει, Mat 13:52 Extrudit copiose et alacriter.
b ει πλεον ειχον, πλεον δειδουν, dixit ille Graeculus Augusto.