Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
Transition to the vineyard, often formed in "stairs" (Song of Solomon 2:14) or terraces, in which, amidst the vine leaves, foxes hid.
Foxes - generic term, including jackals. They eat only grapes, not the vine flowers; but they need to be driven out Foxes - generic term, including jackals. They eat only grapes, not the vine flowers; but they need to be driven out in time, before the grape is ripe. She had failed in watchfulness before (Song of Solomon 1:6). now, when converted, she is the more jealous of subtle sins (Psalms 139:23.) In spiritual winter certain evils are frozen up, as well as good; in the spring of revivals these start up unperceived-crafty, false teachers, spiritual pride, uncharitableness etc., (Psalms 19:12; Matthew 13:26; Hebrews 12:15.) 'Little' sins are parents of the greatest (Ecclesiastes 10:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6). Historically, John the Baptist spared not the fox-like Herod, who gave vine-like promise of fruit at first (Mark 6:20), at the cost of his life; nor the viper-Sadducees, etc.; nor the varied subtle forms of sin (Luke 3:7-14). Typically, in Solomon's days, when Israel had revived from her past religious and national deadness, there was danger of her old sins creeping in again by small beginnings, as indeed they did toward the close of his reign, (1 Kings 11:1-43.)