Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? New scene (Song of Solomon 3:6-11). The friends of the Bridegroom see a cortege approach: the palanquin and guard.
Who (is) this that cometh out - rather, up from; ascends from. The wilderness was lower than Jerusalem, physically and morally. The "who is this?" in Hebrew is feminine, and must refer to the Bride riding in the Bridegroom's palanquin.
Pillars of smoke - from the perfumes burned round Him and His bride. Image from Israel and the tabernacle (answering to "His bed" Song of Solomon 3:7) marching through the desert with the pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, and the pillars of smoke ascending from the altars of incense and of atonement; so Jesus Christ's righteousness, atonement, and ever-living intercession. Balsam, the last representative of patriarchism, was required to curse the Jewish Church, just as it afterward would not succumb to Christianity without a struggle; but he had to bless in language like that here. Angels, too, joyfully ask the same question, when Jesus Christ, with the tabernacle of His body (answering to His bed (Song of Solomon 3:7), John 1:14, "dwelt;" Greek, tabernacled, John 2:21) ascends into heaven (Psalms 24:8-10); also when they see His glorious Bride with Him (Revelation 7:13-17). Encouragement to her: amidst the darkest trials (Song of Solomon 3:1) she is still on the road to glory (Song of Solomon 3:11), in a palanquin "paved with love" (Song of Solomon 3:10). She is now in soul spiritually 'coming,' exhaling the sweet graces, faith, love, joy, peace, prayer, and praise. The fire is lighted within, the "smoke" is seen without (Acts 4:13). It is in the desert of trail (Song of Solomon 3:1-3) she gets them. She is the "merchant" buying from Jesus Christ without money or price. Just as myrrh and frankincense are got, not in Egypt, but in the Arabian sands, and, the mountains of Palestine. Hereafter she shall 'come' (Song of Solomon 3:6; Song of Solomon 3:11), in a glorified body too (Philippians 3:21). Historically, Jesus Christ returning from the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit. The wilderness expresses the barrenness and deadness of the unredeemed. The same, "who is this?" etc., as in Isaiah 63:1; Isaiah 63:5.