To this charming scene, therefore, does the captivated monarch compare the view of the Shulamite. ‏מְחוֹלָה‎, from ‏חוּל‎, to turn round, a dance, the joyous dancing on a festive occasion. ‏ַחְנֶה‎, prop. a camp, also a multitude, a band of people, Gen. l. 9. ‏מַחֲנַיִם‎ is the regular dual, and not the plural (Sept., Vulg., Gesenius, Döpke, &c.), and is here used because this dance consisted of a band arranged in a double line, something like our country dance. On the different kinds of Oriental dances, see Rosenmüller, Orient. ii. 19–22; Wilkinson, Manners, &c., ii. 328–340. Saalschütz, Archäologie der Hebräer, vol. i. 302. The words ‏כִּמְחֹלַת הַמַּחֲנַיִם‎ have elicited a variety of interpretations. Some take ‏מַחֲנַיִם‎ as a proper name, and say that reference is here made to some particular mode of worship practised in that place in consequence of Jacob’s sojourn there; but this is purely imaginary. Others again suppose that an allusion is made to Gen. xxxii. 2, 3, and hence render ‏מַחֲנַיִם‎ by ‏מַחֲנֵי אֱלֹהִים‎ or ‏צְבָאוֹת‎; but this is unfounded, since we have not the slightest intimation in that passage that the angels were engaged in dancing. 2. How beautiful are thy feet in sandals! The Shulamite, in obedience to the king’s request, returns, and as she advances, Solomon is arrested by her beautiful feet, with which he begins his last highly flattering delineation of her beauty, and his last attempt to win her affections. ‏נְעָלִים‎, Chald. ‏סַנְדְלִין‎, sandals, formed an important part of an Oriental costume (Ezek. xvi. 10; Judith xvi. 9). The ladies bestowed great pains upon, and evinced much taste in ornamenting this article of dress, which attracted the notice of the opposite sex. ‏בַּת נָדִיב‎ does not mean a descendant of a titled family, but, according to a common Hebrew idiom, which applies ‏בַּת בֵּן‎, and other terms of human kindred to relations of every kind, expresses that she herself was of a noble character. Comp. 1 Sam. i. 16; Gesen. § 106, 2 a; Ewald, § 287 f.