He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.
The verse walks through Solomon's travelling carriage part by part: posts, base, seat and inside. Commentators read each piece as a picture of the King Himself, and one question runs underneath: who built it, and for whom?
The carriage is the King's own work
Before the materials comes the maker. One writer presses that point, then draws a practical conclusion:
Andrew MillerThe "bed" or "chariot" is the royal carriage. But note especially, it is the King's own workmanship. "King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon." Christ provides everything, and prepares everything for His people. He leaves nothing for us to do, except to enter into what He has finished.
The materials as a portrait of Christ
One writer reads the items as a description of the Person the carriage belongs to, and notes which one comes last:
Hamilton SmithIn the details of the palanquin, do we not see great truths set out about the Person of Christ — the support of our souls and the foundations of our faith? The cedar wood speaks of His perfect humanity, fragrant and incorruptible. The pillars of silver tell of His redeeming power. The gold speaks of His divine righteousness, the purple of His royalty, and the pavement of love, of divine love, the foundation of all. Love comes last: as one has said, "There is something beyond gold, there is nothing beyond love."
A palanquin is a covered seat carried on poles. It is a royal litter, not a wheeled cart. Some translations call it a "palanquin" or "litter," others a "chariot," and the ESV a "carriage."
The five materials together
One commentator starts with the King's name, then gathers all five materials into one statement:
The Song of SolomonKing Solomon, whose name means peacefulness, is a faint picture of Christ, the Prince of Peace in His coming reign of glory. … The pillars, or supports, are of silver. Silver speaks of purity, and of the Word of God (see Ps. 12:6). It is also the symbol of redemption. (See Ex. 30:11-16. Everyone who was numbered had to give a half shekel of silver as the ransom for his soul.) … So put this all together, and you get an incorruptible glory (cedar wood) and royal splendour (purple) founded on redemption (silver), based on divine righteousness (gold) and the Lord's love for His people.
The gold base: divine righteousness
Another writer reads the gold as righteousness, and is careful about whose it is. He also says when the scene happens:
William Kelly"He made the pillars of it of silver." There was grace there. "The base of it of gold" — divine righteousness — just as much for Israel as for us. It is no question of man's righteousness at any time. "The covering of it of purple" — as suits a royal person. "The middle of it being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem." I need not say that the groundwork of it all is love. … It is anticipative: He is not yet come; but that is what He is to be when He comes for her. So you see it is not at all the scene of someone taken away into heaven: that is not the point at all. It is One coming — coming to the earth.
The daughters of Jerusalem
The last phrase names those the love is for. Commentators link these daughters to Israel as a whole:
Andrew Miller"Love" is the spring of it all — God is love. "The daughters of Jerusalem" and "the daughters of Zion" may refer to the cities and tribes of Israel. For all of them, divine love has paved the way for their national dignity and millennial glory.
One reference work ties the same phrase to the bride herself:
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe bride is not simply a person. She is symbolic of the earthly Jerusalem, and of the remnant whose names are registered as connected with God's foundation. She takes in all the faithful of Israel, looked on as "the daughters of Jerusalem," which represents the whole nation.
Translations differ over small words here. Where the ESV says "its back of gold," others read the base or support. Where the ESV says love "by" the daughters of Jerusalem, others read love "for" them. The commentators quoted above follow the second reading in each case.
Summary
- Made — the carriage is the King's own workmanship. His people have nothing to build, only to enter what He has finished.
- Cedar — wood that does not decay. It pictures His humanity: fragrant and incorruptible.
- Silver — the supports rest on redemption, the ransom price paid for each soul.
- Gold and purple — the base is divine righteousness, never man's. The seat is royalty, fitting a King who is coming to the earth.
- Love — the pavement comes last and holds up all the rest. It is love for the daughters of Jerusalem, that is, for all Israel. There is something beyond gold, but nothing beyond love.