Section 468
I. Her cheeks are said to "be comely with rows of Jewels"
The word jewels is not in the Hebrew text, but supplied by our translators; and the word Torim, translated rows, sometimes signifies turtles, which gave occasion to the Septuagint to render the words thus: "How beautiful are thy cheeks, as the turtle dove's." R. Aben Ezra thinks that the bridles of those horses, to which she is compared, had the images of turtles upon them; others,[3385] that these were some ornaments of women, as jewels and ear-rings, which had the figures of turtles upon them, and therefore were called turtles, or turturellas, according to Drusius; even as those pieces of money, which had the figure of a lamb upon them, are called lambs, Genesis 33:19, Job 42:11. Now the cheeks of the church being said to be comely with these, shew her innocency and harmlessness, her love, chastity, faithfulness and beauty; all which appear in this creature. The Targum renders it bridles, and very well refers it to the law given on mount Sinai to the people of Israel; which is as a bridle, both to restrain persons from sin, who are by nature as the horse and mule, without understanding, and also to guide and direct them in the right way, that they may not depart from it; and on these bridles were rows of jewels or precious stones. The word Tor, which is the singular of this in our text, signifies an order, or disposition, and course of things;[3386] see Esther 2:12, 15 and is not amiss rendered by our translators, rows, that is, of jewels, or precious stones; and by them are intended, either,
1st, The precepts of the moral law;[3387] which, 1. Are beautifully ranked and disposed in order; the precepts thereof are so strictly and closely joined together, that he that offends in one point, breaks the link, and so is guilty of all. 2. These are so many rows of jewels, valuable and excellent, and are "more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold." Or else,
2dly, The ordinances of the ceremonial law; which may be compared to rows of jewels, 1. For the variety of them; this law is "a law of commandments," of many commandments, "contained in ordinances," which, as they were carnal, so they were divers (see Ephesians 2:15; Hebrews 9:10). 2. For the excellency of them, as they prefigured the Lord Jesus Christ; it is true, after Christ the substance was come, they were "weak and beggarly elements," useless and insignificant; but before Christ's coming, they were lively representations of him, exceeding useful to the saints, and highly valued by them.
Now the church's cheeks, that is, the outward face and appearance of the church, were comely and desirable in the eyes of Christ, being adorned with these rows of jewels; her outward conversation being according to the laws of God, she appeared beautiful and delightful, for "holiness becomes the house of God" for ever: there was a beauty in ceremonial worship; the tabernacles of God were amiable to the saints, and the saints themselves were so to Christ, in their attendance on the service and ordinances of God: the statutes and ordinances with which the external face of the church was beautified, were such as were not given to other people during that dispensation; which manifestly shewed that God had a peculiar regard for them.