- lect requires to seek after this; as it is written, "If thou wilt seek it, it
shall be found of thee."
Having explained the general design, we need not dwell upon the particulars; the design is indicated in a few passages only, whilst the whole is treated in accordance with the train of a poetical composition and logical science; and this Solomon declares in the beginning of the book by saying "The Song of Songs."
It is, moreover, known that Solomon composed three books which we possess; and as the prophets of blessed memory spoke in three different kinds of ways; the one, in a plain manner, containing nothing beyond the obvious and literal sense, which is called all silver; the second entirely symbolical, having no literal meaning whatever, but consisting of mere allegories or parables, which is called all gold; and the third comprising both the figurative and the literal, which is called apples of gold (under plates of silver); so Solomon wrote the three books—Ecclesiastes, which belongs to the first kind; the Song of Songs to the second; and Proverbs to the third. Remember these distinctions, and observe how we are in danger at every step to mistake in the Law, Hagiography, and Prophets, one for the other, and thus change life into death. And this leads us to commit one of two errors; we either put into the words a thing which is false, or, to say the least, make the author say what he did not intend; in such a case, our words can no more be called a commentary, but form a separate composition or a book for themselves. I only call that a commentary which thoroughly comes up to the design of the author of the book. The appearance, however, of each book of the Bible will indicate to a judicious, clear-headed, and intellectual man, whether it belongs to the one or the other of the above-mentioned classes. We cannot here give rules whereby to test this; it is sufficient to say that truth is her own witness.
There is another important remark to be made, viz., that allusions are made in this book to the writings of Moses, as, indeed, Solomon has made in his other books. This all the prophets have done, in order to explain expressions and synonyms which occur in the Law of Moses, especially when referring to that part of the Law which treats on the Creation and the Chariot, the chief objects of the Law. We must study deeply to understand the wonderful works of the prophets, and after them, the rabbins of blessed
[P2: Hebrew in footnote not proofed, see forum]
- [Footnote: [HE:hmny` hm`vrr v't hnpS `d Syb'= mn/ hkH 'l hpv`l{,} kmv Syrv` lyvd` hHkmvt{,} vgm/ txTrk/ hnpS
StdrvS 'vtv Sktv"{,} 'm/ tdrSv vymx'= lk/{,} v'Hr Syb'rnv vh h`nyn/ bkll{,} 'yn/ lnv xvrk/ mb'r prTy hm'mrym/ v'yn/ T`m/= myvHr bmkvvn/ rq bm`T mhm/ lh`yr `l zh `r Srvbv Shv'= kllv 'ynv rq ypvyym/ vtqvyym/ drk/ ml'kt hSyr vydv`t hgyvn/ vzh hvdy`nv Slmh `"h br'S sprv v'=# Syr hSyrym/{,} yvd` `vd `nyn/ kvll vhv' ky Slmh `"h Hbr g{,} sprym/ hnmx'ym/ bydynv{,} vb`bvr Sdbvr hnby'ym/ `"h hv'= `l g{,} mynyn Sklv nglh vpSvTv 'yn/ bv tvk/ kll{,} vzh nqr'= klv ksp/{,} vh'Hd Sklv nstr 'yn/ bv gnlh rq mSl vdmyvn/ nmvr{,} vzh klv zhb{,} vh'Hd SyS bv nstr vgnnlh{,} 'Sr zh ykvnh tpnHy zhb{,} lkn/ tbr Slmh `"h n# hsprym/{,} vhyh qhlt mn/ hmyn/ hr'Svn/{,} vSyr hSyrym mn/ hmyn/ hb# vmSly mn/ hmyn/ hSlySy{,} vzkvr zh vhqS `l zh btvrh vbkl ktby hqdS vhnby'ym/ `"h 'k/ bm'mr vbm'mr bsknh ndbr bzh nHlyp/ myn/ bmyn/ `d SnHlyp/ Hy bmvt{,} ky zh yby'nv l'# mb# T`yvt 'm/ hnytm/ bm'mrm/ mh Shv' kzb vSqr{,} vmh Sl' hyh kvvnt h'vmr 'vtv vl' yhyh '"k mh Sn'# 'nHgv gqr' pyrS 'bl hv' Hbyr vtdvS spr{,} vl' 'qr' 'gy pyrS 'l' '"k nk' `d tklyt kvvgt hmHbr hspr{,} vpny hspr yvkyHv bmyn/ myn/ bHynt zky hmvH vTvbv hSkl hmtySbym/ ky l' nvkl l`Svt mvptym/ nmvry `l zh{,} vdyky h'mt `d l`xmv{,} `vd d` `gyn/ yqr vhv' ky bzh kvvn/ lmSh `"h kmv Skvvn/ bytr spryv{,} vkn/ kl hnby'ym/ `"h lprS mlvt vSmvt nprrvt Sb'v btvrt mSh vbprT mmh Sktvb btvrh k`gyn/ m`Sh br'Syt vm`Sh mrkbh Szhv `qr htyrt{,} nSm` hplnt]]*
