Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Flagons. Maurer prefers the translation ( 'ªshiyshowt (H809)) 'dried raisin cakes,' from the Hebrew root ['eeysh] fire-namely, dried by heat. But the 'house of wine' (margin, Song of Solomon 2:4) favours "flagons" (so the Hebrew, 1 Chronicles 16:3; Hosea 3:1): the "new wine" of the kingdom, the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Apples - from the tree (Song of Solomon 2:3) so sweet to her, the promises of God: literally, 'straw me with apples:' let my bed (the same Hebrew as "the bottom" of the bed or chariot, Song of Solomon 3:10) be strewn with apples, the scent of which shall refresh me.
Sick of love - the highest degree of sensible enjoyment that can be attained here. It may be at an early or late stage of experience. Paul (2 Corinthians 12:2-7). In the last sickness of J. Welch he was overheard saying, 'Lord, hold thine hand; it is enough: thy servant is a clay vessel, and can hold no more.' Inmost cases this intensity of joy is reserved for the heavenly banquet. Historically, Israel had it when the Lord's glory filled the tabernacle, and afterward the temple, so that the priests could not stand to minister. So the Christian Church on Pentecost. The Bride addresses Christ mainly, though in her rapture she uses the plural, "Stay (ye) me," speaking generally. So far from asking the withdrawal of the manifestations which had overpowered her, she asks for more: so "fainteth for" (Psalms 84:2): also Peter, on the mount of transfiguration, "Let us make ... not knowing what he said" (Luke 9:33).