Section 452
I. The persons she speaks to, are "the daughters of Jerusalem"
And seeing these are frequently mentioned in this Song, it will be necessary to consider who are meant by them. R. Sol. Jarchi would have them to be the Gentiles, who, he says, are so called, because Jerusalem shall be the metropolis of all nations, according to Ezekiel 16:61. "I will give them unto thee for daughters;" and that they are, in the same sense, "the daughters of Jerusalem," as the towns of Ekron are called in Joshua 15:45. "the daughters of Ekron; but it is much better to understand them of particular churches, of which, "Jerusalem that is above," or that "general assembly, and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven," is the mother; though I rather think, young converts are intended by them, who, perhaps, had not as yet joined themselves to the church, though they had a very great respect for her, as is manifest from chapter 5:9 they seem to be very weak, and their knowledge of Christ but small, yet desirous of knowing him and seeking him with her. (See chapters 5:8 and 6:1) And it is very evident, that not only the church, but Christ also, had a very great respect for them, from chapter 3:9, 10, 11. They were her friends and companions, distinct from mother's children, mentioned in the following verse, and were far from being enemies either to Christ or his church.