Song of Solomon 3:1-4
3:2 a The poem is partly about a lover’s being willing and able to overcome all obstacles in order to be with the beloved.• Since the women of Jerusalem are mentioned frequently (3:5 b), the city is probably Jerusalem. Searching in all its streets and squares was an ambitious effort.
• The king of Israel would probably not be outside in the city at night, and if he had his sixty-man entourage with him (3:7-8 c), she would find him easily. Rather, the woman appears to be looking for a common man in common places.
3:3 d The watchmen of ancient towns or cities were roughly equivalent to police. Guardians of social custom and law, they were posted on the city walls to look out for attack and to assure that any traffic in or out of the city was not threatening.
• The woman may have been stopped because she was not a resident of the city and was not recognized. It was not considered appropriate for a woman to be out alone at night. The scene accentuates the strong desire that the woman must have felt toward the man as she ignored social conventions and safety considerations.
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