Rev. Cant. A.D.
1. The Church at Ephesus ii. 1-7 i. 5-17 33-370
2. ,, Smyrna 8-11 ii. 1-17 371-707
3. ,, Pergamos 12-17 iii. 1-11 708-1045
4. ,, Thyatira 18-29 iv. 1-v. 1 1046-1383
5. ,, Sardis iii. 1-6 v. 2-vi. 2 1384-1721
6. ,, Philadelphia 7-13 vi. 9-vii. 14 1722-2059
7. ,, Laodicea 14-22 viii. 1-14 2060 and onwards.
1693. The profound scholarship and exquisite taste of Bossuet, though a Roman Catholic Bishop, would not allow him to follow these extravagant theories. Presuming that the marriage of Solomon with the daughter of Pharaoh is the primary object of this Song, and that the nuptial feast among the Jews was hebdomadal, Bossuet divides the poem into seven parts, corresponding to the seven days of the supposed duration of the wedding.[1] The following is his division:—
Chapter.
1st day i.-ii. 6.
2nd day ii. 7-17.
3rd day iii.-v. 1.
4th day v. 2-vi. 9.
5th day vi. 10-vii. 11.
6th day vii. 12-viii. 3.
7th day viii. 4-14.
1700. Bishop Patrick, however, would not admit any literal meaning, but found, almost in every word, some delightful mystery. Even the words, "Thy navel is like a round goblet which wanteth not liquor; thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies," (chap. vii. 2,) at which so much umbrage has been taken, this pious prelate says, may mean "the two Sacraments which the Church administers to her children; the Font in Baptism being represented by the former, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper by the other part of the figure."[2]
