Tyndale Open Study NotesSong of Songs 3

In this dramatic scene, the woman is already apart from her lover and is terrified that she will not see him soon. One night, her worries push her out of bed to search frantically for him. She finds him and takes him to meet her mother.

• The poem partly describes a lover's determination to overcome all obstacles to be with their beloved.

• Since the women of Jerusalem are mentioned often (Song of Solomon 3:5), the city is likely Jerusalem. Searching all its streets and squares was a bold effort.

• The king of Israel would probably not be outside in the city at night. If he had his sixty-man entourage with him (Song of Solomon 3:7–8), she would find him easily. Instead, the woman seems to be looking for an ordinary man in everyday places.

• The watchmen in ancient towns or cities were like police. They enforced social customs and laws. Positioned on city walls, they watched for attacks and ensured that any traffic entering or leaving the city was safe.

• The woman may have been stopped because she was not a city resident and was unfamiliar. It was not appropriate for a woman to be out alone at night. This scene highlights the woman's strong desire for the man, as she ignored social rules and safety concerns.

• In the three-character dramatic interpretation, Solomon's humility and generosity are evident when he attends a wedding of a woman who chose a common shepherd's love over his. With Solomon there, this ordinary wedding becomes a grand ceremony.

• If the Song is an anthology, this poem seems to describe Solomon's wedding procession. People are amazed by the luxury of his carriage and the power of his entourage. This reflects the importance of marriage, similar to how expensive and beautiful wedding dresses and tuxedos do in modern weddings.

• King Solomon's carriage was made from materials that matched his wealth and power. It included the same costly Lebanese wood used to build the Temple (1 Kings 5:5–6).

• inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem: Despite all his splendor, Solomon was admired and served with love, even by his servants.

This is the only clear mention of a wedding in the Song. The text calls the woman a "bride" in Song of Solomon 4:8–12 and 5:1.