Song of Songs 2:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It suggests that this statement anticipates the establishment of God the Word’s dwelling, as disclosed in the Gospel, foretold by the Prophets, and fully manifested in the incarnation of the Son. The Divine voice bore witness through actions, and the fulfillment agrees with the word of promise, as the Prophet declares: ‘As many as have heard, so many as have seen’ (Psalm 47:9). The soul states, ‘the voice of my Brother’—that is, what we have heard—‘behold this One is coming’—this we have observed with our own eyes; “many and manifold is God who spoke to the fathers in the prophets of old” (this represents hearing the voice); “in the last days He has spoken to us in the Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). This is echoed in the Bride's proclamation, ‘Behold he comes, riding upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills,’ akin to and harmonious with the chamois in a unique and specific manner while simultaneously comparing it to ‘the young firkin.’ The chamois symbolizes keen vision in the Nazirite of all, for it is noted that this creature, known for its extraordinary sight, derives its name from this very trait. Thus, the One who watches over all, with whom everything is in sight, is called the God of all creation because He observes everything. Therefore, since God manifested in the flesh to confront the forces of opposition, He is compared to a chamois, gazing down from the heavens to the earth, and to a young deer, leaping over mountains and hills, symbolizing His victory over the evil heights of demonic antagonism. Scripture refers to mountains as things bewildered by His stronghold, as David notes, laid down ‘in the heart of the sea’ (Psalm 45:3), submerged in a place akin to the abyss. Concerning these mountains, the Lord spoke to His disciples: ‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove’ (referring to the evil one tormenting those under demonic influences): ‘and nothing shall be impossible unto you’ (Matthew 17:20). Therefore, as it is naturally characteristic of young deer to vanquish venomous creatures, turning them to flight through their breath and the quality of their essence, so the One referred to as the Bridegroom is compared to ‘the chamois’ and ‘the young deer,’ symbolizing His ability to trample and eradicate opposing forces denoted as mountains and hills. Thus the Bridegroom's voice serves as the voice through which ‘God spoke in the prophets,’ and following this voice, the Word came, ‘leaping’ upon the resistant mountains ‘and skipping upon the hills,’ bringing every hostile power, both low and high, under His feet. The differentiation between hills and mountains clarifies that he who oversees the resistors is similarly brought low, subdued by strength and might. For both the lion and the dragon, representing the highest threats, and the serpent and the scorpion, representing the lowest, are equally overcome. For instance, among the crowds that followed the Lord were mountains—demons—either in synagogues, the land of the Gergesenes, or elsewhere, which rose above human nature. These encompassed both hills and mountains, both the high and the low. However, the young firkin, known for slaying serpents, along with the disciples transforming into this nature, when He declares: ‘I give you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions’ (Luke 10:19), crushes them all equally, putting some to flight while leaping onto others, demonstrating that the greatness of virtue is unhindered by the heights of vice. The mountains of Bethel, as their name implies, allude to a high and heavenly existence; Bethel translates to ‘the house of God,’ which is why it is said ‘on the mountains of Bethel.’ The eye of the soul, which has been purified and sharpened, perceives them, riding alongside divine beings on the heights beyond resistance; it speaks of future events as though they were present, viewing hope as an active endeavor because of the assurance of grace to come. For it states that ‘He’ who bounds swiftly from hill to hill, demonstrates His presence while remaining still, hiding behind the wall, and conversing ‘through the windows.’ The literal interpretation reads: ‘This One is standing behind our wall, looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice.’ Thus, what is described in this word, if understood through the senses, paints a picture where the beloved converses lovingly with the bride within the house, separated by a wall, yet communicating freely, with the head peeking through the window and the eye penetrating past the screens. However, the higher perception remains focused on the understanding gathered from prior study. The word progressively guides human nature toward God, first illuminating it through the Prophets and the commandments of the law. In this way, the Prophets serve as ‘windows’ letting in light, while the laws’ fabric provides ‘merges’ through which a ray of true light penetrates. Afterward, there is a perfect illumination with light when ‘the true Light’ (Matthew 4:16) shines upon those who ‘sit in darkness and the shadow of death,’ dissolving within our nature. Thus, the initial rays of prophetic and legal concepts illuminate the soul through the ‘windows’ and ‘shadows’ we comprehend, sparking the desire to behold the sun in the open sky. Ultimately, this desire is fulfilled in reality.

Consequently, when any soul ardently seeks Him, she perceives His voice from afar, and even as she consults others, she discerns His call before those from whom she seeks assistance. She realizes that He is eager to approach her, energetically rushing past those whose feeble hearts cannot embrace His righteousness. In her vision, He appears to be surveying the prophetic mysteries; as she gathers and contemplates their truths, she captures His gaze, though He looks as through an opening, not as if He is presently here. She perceives Him as if seen through a net. What does 'ego' signify other than that these nets are for our sake, not for Him? Nets represent how the soul remains ensnared in the earthly and base, which often grips and entangles the human mind with powerful traps. Therefore, to one who navigates the affairs of this world yet seeks Him, the Lord reveals Himself through these entanglements. He first stood at the barrier, determined to resolve the discord of spirit and flesh once the wall posing an impediment to unity was dismantled. Then He gazes through the openings. What do these openings signify? The prophet states that the heights of heaven shall be unveiled (Isaiah 24:18). This prophet describes the vistas through which the Lord observed mankind until He came down to dwell among us. Even now, if a soul diligently yearns for Him, abundant mercy awaits: for whoever seeks fervently shall be given more. Thus, if any soul earnestly pursues Him, she discerns His voice from afar; and though she seeks answers from others, His voice reaches her before those she consults. She observes Him rushing toward her, that is, hastening and sprinting, overtaking those whose wavering hearts fail to grasp His righteousness. Moreover, by studying the parables of the prophets and understanding their messages, the soul perceives Him as peering in, yet as if still outside looking through a window.

And since we are called to remain in a state of restlessness and eager pursuit, and as the Word of God swiftly evades, let every soul seeking and yearning to encounter Him remain ever vigilant and industrious.

The bride likens Him to a chamois because of His discernment and prophetic awareness, and to a stag as He subdued the serpent, eradicated the world's iniquities, and bestowed upon His disciples power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and all the might of the enemy (Luke 10:19). He is not only referred to as Man but also as Son of Man, not merely lion, but also the offspring of the lion (Gen. 49:9). The bride may imply that although He is young, He has vanquished the dominion of the wicked serpent.

“Behold, this one comes, riding upon the mountains, leaping upon the hills; like unto the son of my sister is the chamois, or the young deer upon the mountains of Bethel.” This illustrates the destruction of idols orchestrated by the Bridegroom. The mountains and hills of Bethel signify the temples of false gods that were once erected there. The Bridegroom, symbolizing the embodiment of Wisdom, through His teachings and miraculous powers, utterly dismantled and obliterated these idols. The Bride continues: “Behold, this one stands outside our wall, looking in through the windows, peeking through the lattice.” She expresses how the Bridegroom, having humbled every mountain and hill as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 40:4), approaches her. Previously humbled and akin to a desolate state, He fills her and transforms the rough into smooth paths. “Behold, this one stands outside our wall, peering through the windows, peeking through the lattice.” Just as a city encircles itself with walls to guard against enemies, or as a garden builds a fence for protection against passersby or wild animals, so He stands beyond the wall gazing in. Though He has not yet entered her bridal chamber, He examines her through the windows, which symbolize the senses. These windows serve as the means by which good and evil enter and depart from the soul.

“What does it mean to ‘peer through windows’?” It pertains to the way we engage with the law of the Lord day and night (Psalm 1:2) and how we joyfully yet earnestly read the Scriptures. In doing so, we open our senses as windows, allowing the Bridegroom to peer in. When we attentively listen to discussions about God, again, the Bridegroom gazes through the windows and unveils His beauty to us. However, He does more than merely ‘peer through the windows’; He ‘penetrates through the darkness.’ He shields His Bride from the schemes of the devil and the snares of the adversary, and amid trials, He ‘penetrates through the darkness’ to uplift and inspire her in times of distress. This is evident in both the Old and the New Testaments, where faithful believers have drawn solace from Him. When Sarah was taken from Abraham by Pharaoh (Gen. 12), He ‘penetrated through the wilderness,’ providing comfort to Abraham and returning Sarah to him safely. In a similar manner, when the Apostles were imprisoned by the Jews, He encouraged them, instructing them to proclaim the message of godliness fearlessly (v. 10).