Because of the fragrance of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love you.
Read Chapter 1
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
After this, you went up to the priest. Consider what followed. Was it not that of which David speaks: “Like the ointment upon the head, which went down to the beard, even Aaron’s beard”? This is the ointment of which Solomon, too, says, “Your name is ointment poured out, therefore have the maidens loved you and drawn you.” How many souls regenerated this day have loved you, Lord Jesus, and have said, “Draw us after you, we are running after the odor of your garments,” that they might drink in the odor of your resurrection.
Consider now why this is done, for “the eyes of a wise man are in his head.” Therefore the ointment flows down to the beard, that is to say, to the beauty of youth; and therefore, Aaron’s beard, that we, too, may become a chosen race, priestly and precious, for we are all anointed with spiritual grace for a share in the kingdom of God and in the priesthood. - "On the Mysteries 6.29–30"
fragrant: In Scripture a sweet odor stands for a good reputation, as the Apostle says in 2 Corinthians 2:15 (Nicholas of Lyra)
maidens: that is, the churches that constitute the one Catholic Church. (St. Bede) or the heavenly angels (St. Bernard) or the believing Gentiles (Nicholas of Lyra) or refers to the most blessed apostles who left the world and loved him. (St. Hippolytus)
And as we are examining his name, the seal of all we have said may be found in the oracle of Solomon the wisest of the wise, where he says in the Song of Songs: “Your name is as ointment poured forth.” Solomon, being supplied with divine wisdom, and thought worthy of more mystical revelations about Christ and his church, and speaking of him as heavenly bridegroom and her as bride, speaks as if to [Christ] and says, “Your name, O Bridegroom, is ointment,” and not simply ointment, but “ointment poured forth.” And what name could be more suggestive of ointment poured forth than the name of Christ? For there could be no Christ, and no name of Christ, unless ointment had been poured forth. And in what has gone before I have shown of what nature the ointment was with which Christ was anointed. - "Proof of the Gospel 4.16"
To, is in the Septuagint; but not in Hebrew or Complutensian. (Calmet)
Grace must draw, and then people will run, John vi. 44., and xii. 32., and Philippians iii. 12. (St. Ambrose) (Bossuet)
Rooms. Where there is abundance of wine and ointments. The extraordinary favours of heaven are not granted to all, Matthew xiii. 11. (Calmet)
Righteous. The apostles, and faithful souls, (Haydock) and all who form a right judgment of things, (Menochius) having their thoughts, works, and actions composed. (Tirinus)
Black. Or brown, ver. 5. (Haydock)
The Egyptians were of a less fair complexion, and she had been exposed to the sun, ver. 5. (Calmet)
The synagogue gloried in her advantages; but the Gentiles being chosen by Christ, obtain the palm. (Theodoret)
Though outwardly afflicted, the Church is inwardly fair. (Worthington)
Cedar. Or of the Arabs, who dwelt in tents, made of black goat's hair. (Calmet)
The tents of the eastern kings were equal in magnificence to our palaces. (Bernier, Val...
[Jesus] was anointed with this oil when he became incarnate. For it was not that the man existed first, then received the Holy Spirit afterwards. Rather, because he became incarnate by the mediation of the Holy Spirit, the man was anointed with this oil at the moment of his creation. - "Commentary on the Song of Songs 14"
“It is as when the precious ointment upon the head runs down over the beard, the beard of Aaron.” Oh, if only there were time to explore together each verse; even a day would not suffice! We have read in Exodus the account of how oil is prepared for the anointing of the priest; we have read, too, of the different kind of balm used to anoint kings. There was still another unguent for prophets. What more is there to say? All these oils of unction were different, each with its own spiritual symbolism.… Nothing is ever made sacred except by anointing. It is with this in view that young maidens say in the Song of Solomon, “Your name is a spreading perfume: we will run after you in the odor of your ointments.” - "Homilies on the Psalms 45 (Psalm 132)"
Draw me: That is, with thy grace: otherwise I should not be able to come to thee. This metaphor shews that we cannot of ourselves come to Christ our Lord, unless he draws us by his grace, which is laid up in his storerooms: that is, in the mysteries of Faith, which God in his goodness and love for mankind hath revealed, first by his servant Moses in the Old Law in figure only, and afterwards in reality by his only begotten Son Jesus Christ.
