is generally in using the art. not so sparing as poetry commonly is.[1] עם makes prominent the points of silver as something particular, but not separate. In נישׂה, Solomon includes himself among the other inhabitants, especially the women of the palace; for the plur. majest. in the words of God of Himself (frequently in the Koran), or persons of rank of themselves (general in the vulgar Arab.), is unknown in the O.T.
They would make for her golden globules or knobs with (i.e., provided with ...; cf. Psa 89:14) points of silver sprinkled over them, - which was a powerful enticement for a plain country damsel.
Verse 12
Now for the first time Shulamith addresses Solomon, who is before her. It might be expected that the first word will either express the joy that she now sees him face to face, or the longing which she had hitherto cherished to see him again. The verse following accords with this expectation: 12 While the king is at his table, My nard has yielded its fragrance. שׁ עד or אשׁר r עד, with fut. foll., usually means: usque eo, until this and that shall happen, Sol 2:7, Sol 2:17; with the perf. foll., until something happened, Sol 3:4. The idea connected with “until” may, however, be so interpreted that there comes into view not the end of the period as such, but the whole length of the period. So here in the subst. clause following, which in itself is already an expression of continuance, donec = dum (erat); so also עד alone, without asher, with the part. foll. (Job 1:18), and the infin. (Jdg 3:26; Exo 33:22; Jon 4:2; cf. 2Ki 9:22); seldomer with the
- ↑ The art. denoting the idea of species in the second member of the st. const. standing in the sing. without a determining reference to the first, occurs in Sol 1:13, “a bundle of (von) myrrh;” Sol 1:14, “a cluster of (von) the cyprus-flower;” Sol 4:3, “a thread of (von) scarlet,” “a piece of pomegranate;” Sol 5:13, “a bed of balm” (but otherwise, Sol 6:2), Sol 7:9, “clusters of the vine;” Sol 7:3, “a bowl of roundness” (which has this property); Sol 7:10, “wine (of the quality) of goodness;” cf. Sol 8:2, “wine the (= of the) spicing.” It also, in cases where the defined species to which the first undefined member of the st. const. belongs, stands in the pl.: Sol 2:9, Sol 2:17; Sol 8:14, “like a young one of the hinds;” Sol 4:1; Sol 6:5, “a herd of goats;” Sol 4:2, “a flock of shorn sheep;” Sol 6:6, “a flock of lambs,” i.e., consisting of individuals of this kind. Also, when the second member states the place where a thing originates or is found, the first often remains indeterminate, as one of that which is there found, or a part of that which comes from thence: Sol 2:1, “a meadow-saffron of Sharon,” “a lily of the valleys;” Sol 3:9, “the wood of Lebanon.” The following are doubtful: Sol 4:4, “a thousand bucklers;” and Sol 7:5, “a tower of ivory;” less so Sol 7:1, “the dance of Mahanaim.” The following are examples of a different kind: Gen 16:7, “a well of water;” Deu 22:19, “a damsel of Israel;” Psa 113:9, “a mother of children;” cf. Gen 21:28.
