Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
Behold, thou (art) fair. Contrast with the bride's state by nature (Isaiah 1:6) her state by grace (Song of Solomon 4:1-7), 'perfect through His comeliness put upon her' (Ezekiel 16:14). The praise of Jesus Christ, unlike that of the world, hurts not, but edities, as His, not ours, is the glory (John 5:44). Seven features of beauty are specified (Song of Solomon 4:1-5: "lips" and "speech" are but one feature, Song of Solomon 4:3), the number for perfection-namely, the eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, breasts. To each of these is attached a comparison from nature. The resemblances consist not so much in outward likeness, as in the combined sensations of delight produced by contemplating these natural objects.
Doves' eyes - the large melting eye of the Syrian dove appears especially beautiful midst the foliage of its native groves; so the bride's "eyes within her locks." Her locks are her veil, the mark of her modesty, subjection, and pure affection toward Christ, her Husband and Lord. The dove was the only bird counted "clean" for sacrifice. Once the heart was "the cage of every unclean and hateful bird." Grace makes the change.
Eyes - (Matthew 6:22; Ephesians 1:18; contrast Matthew 5:28; Ephesians 4:18.) Chaste and guileless (Matthew 10:16, margin; John 1:47). John the Baptist, historically, was the 'turtle dove' (Song of Solomon 2:12), the harbinger of spring and summer, with eye directed to the coming Bridegroom. His Nazarite unshorn hair answers to "locks" (John 1:29; John 1:36).
Hair ... goats - the hair of goats in the East is fine like silk. As long hair is her glory, and marks her subjection to man, so the Nazarite's hair marked his subjection and separation unto God (cf. Judges 16:17 with 2 Corinthians 6:17). Jesus Christ cares for the minutest concerns of His saints, even to 'the hairs of their head' (Matthew 10:30).
Appear from - literally, 'that lie down from.' Lying along the hill-side, they seem to hang from it; a picture of the bride's hanging tresses.
Gilead - beyond Jordan there stood the 'heap of witness' (Genesis 31:48).