Exod. xv. 1, 2, &c.CANTICLES, or Songs. The Hebrews had a custom of composing Songs upon important occasions; for example, Moses made one after the passage of the Red Sea, to thank God for the deliverance of his people, and celebrate the greatness of this Miracle. David composed a mournful Song upon the death of Saul and 2 Sam. i. 18. 2 Sam. iii. 33.Jonathan, and another upon the death of Abner. Jeremiah wrote his Lamentations, which are a Song, wherein he deplores the ruin of Jerusalem; and made another upon the death of Josiah King of Judah. Deborah2 Chron. xxxv. 25. Judg. v. 1, 2, 3, &c. 1 Sam. ii. 1, 2, &c. 2 Sam. xxxviii. 10, 11. & seq. Judith xv. 1. 2. 1 Kings iv. 32. and Barak made a triumphant Hymn after the defeat of Sisera, and Judith after the defeat of Holofernes.
The Canticles, and the xlix Psalm, are Songs to celebrate a wedding, such pieces as the Greeks call Epithalamia. Hannah the Mother of Samuel, and King Hezekiah, returned thanks to God for the favours they had received in solemn and spiritual Songs. The Canticles composed by the Blessed Virgin, by Zachary the Father of John the Baptist, and old Simeon, are of the same nature. They are thanksgivings to God, for blessings received from him. The Scripture says1, that Solomon had composed five thousand Songs, whereof we have that only remaining which is intitled, The Song of Songs, which we shall now speak of in a distinct Article.
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Footnotes
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Fuerunt carmina ejus quinque & mille; literally a thousand and five. Josephus construes it five thousand Odes. But the generality explain it by five thousand pieces in verse, or by five thousand verses. ↩