Song 1:9 | TNotes | STEP | 1:9 The shepherd frequently calls the woman darling (literally companion) to show his respect for her as a partner and friend as well as a lover (1:15 ; 2:2 , 10 , 13 ; 4:1 , 7 ; 5:2 ; 6:4 ). • In the ancient Near East, a charge of horsemen on stallions was sometimes diverted by letting loose a mare in heat. This so distracted the attacking horses that they broke the charge. Similarly, the woman’s beauty drives other men to distraction.

a1:9►

b1:15►

c2:2►

d10►

e13►

f4:1►

g7►

h5:2►

i6:4►

‏ Song of Solomon 1:9

1:9 ^a The shepherd frequently calls the woman darling (literally companion) to show his respect for her as a partner and friend as well as a lover (1:15 ^b; 2:2 ^c, 10 ^d, 13 ^e; 4:1 ^f, 7 ^g; 5:2 ^h; 6:4 ⁱ).

• In the ancient Near East, a charge of horsemen on stallions was sometimes diverted by letting loose a mare in heat. This so distracted the attacking horses that they broke the charge. Similarly, the woman’s beauty drives other men to distraction.