In this ardour of loving devotion, she must appear to the king so much the more beautiful.

15 Lo, thou art fair, my love.

     Lo, thou art fair; thine eyes are doves.

This is a so-called comparatio decurtata, as we say: feet like the gazelle, i.e., to which the swiftness of the gazelle's feet belongs (Habakkuk 3:19); but instead of "like doves," for the comparison mounts up to equalization, the expression is directly, "doves." If the pupil of the eye were compared with the feathers of the dove (Hitz.), or the sprightliness of the eye with the lively motion hither and thither of the dove (Heiligst.), then the eulogium would stand out of connection with what Shulamith has just said. But it stands in reference to it if her eyes are called doves; and so the likeness to doves' eyes is attributed to them, because purity and gentleness, longing and simplicity, express themselves therein. The dove is, like the myrtle, rose, and apple, an attribute of the goddess of love, and a figure of that which is truly womanly; wherefore ימימה (the Arab. name of a dove), Columbina, and the like names of women, columba and columbari, are words of fondness and caressing. Shulamith gives back to Solomon his eulogium, and rejoices in the prospect of spending her life in fellowship with him.

Song of Solomon 2:4 Parallel Commentaries

brought

Songs 1:4 Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you...

Songs 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey...

Psalm 63:2-5 To see your power and your glory, so as I have seen you in the sanctuary...

Psalm 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God...

John 14:21-23 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father...

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him...

banqueting house

Songs 1:1,4 The song of songs, which is Solomon's...

Esther 7:7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden...

his banner

Songs 6:4 You are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.

Job 1:10 Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side?...

Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to them that fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek...

John 15:9-15 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love...

Romans 5:8-10 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...

Romans 8:28-39 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...