3:1-4Many scholars agree that in these verses the girl is recalling a dream that caused her to become so concerned about her lover’s whereabouts that she arose in the middle of the night to search for him. When you love someone, you will do all you can to ensure the safety of that person and care for his or her needs, even at a cost to your personal comfort. This is demonstrated most often in small actions—getting your spouse a glass of water, leaving work early to attend some function your child is involved in, or sacrificing your personal comfort to tend to the needs of a friend.
Life Application Study BibleSong of SongsChapter 3
Song of Songs 3
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1079, 1080
3Song of Songs 3
1lyearned for him, but he did not come. 2Sol said to myself, “I will get up and roam the city, searching in all its streets and squares. I will search for the one I love.” So I searched everywhere but did not find him. 3The watchmen stopped me as they made their rounds, and I asked, “Have you seen the one I love?” 4Then scarcely had I left them when I found my love! I caught and held him tightly, then I brought him to my mother’s house, into my mother’s bed, where I had been conceived.
5Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,by the gazelles and wild deer,not to awaken love until the time is right.*
3. Memories of engagement
Young Women of Jerusalem
66 Who is this sweeping in from the wildernesslike a cloud of smoke?
who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincenseand every kind of spice?
7Look, it is Solomon's carriage,surrounded by sixty heroic men,the best of Israel’s soldiers.
8They are all skilled swordsmen,experienced warriors.Each wears a sword on his thigh,ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.
9King Solomon’s carriage is builtof wood imported from Lebanon.
10Its posts are silver,its canopy gold;its cushions are purple.It was decorated with loveby the young women of Jerusalem.Young Woman
11Come out to see King Solomon,young women of Jerusalem.*He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day,his most joyous day.Young ManYou are beautiful, my darling,beautiful beyond words.Your eyes are like dovesbehind your veil.Your hair fails in waves,
Textual footnotes
- 3:5 Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
Life Application Notes 3 notes
3:6-5:1Here the scene changes. Some believe that the wedding procession is described in 3:6-11, the wedding night in 4:1-5:1, and the consummation of the marriage in 4:16-5:1. Another possible explanation is that the period of Solomon’s engagement to the girl is being remembered. In the previous section (2:8-3:5), Solomon and the girl fell in love. In this section, Solomon returns
3:7,9Solomon's carriage was probably a covered and curtained couch for a single passenger that was carried on the shoulders of men.
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Study feature · page 1080
3:11 Hebrew of Zion.