The wedding night. He has been describing her as he sees her. Now he gives her an invitation in Chapter 4, verses 8-15
verse eight With me from Lebanon O bride, with me from Lebanon come. Descend from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, and from the dens of lions and the mountians of leopards.
She is a virgin. Lebanon is a country to the north of them. He is describing mountain peaks where no one goes. Where the lions and leopards have their dens. He is saying that she has kept herself as a virgin like the lions and leopards keep their dens totally out of reach. Now he is asking her to change that and give herself to him.
verse nine You have made my heart beat fast, my sister, my bride. You have made my heart beat fast with one glance of your eyes, with one strand of your necklace.
Don’t be thrown off by the word sister here. He is using both sister and bride to say how equal they are. None of this: I’m the guy and I control things and I have needs, and now you are my wife so do what I say. He is married and he is saying that they are equal, and he is asking her to offer her body to him. He is also telling her that she turns him on, heats him up, makes his heart beat faster.
verses ten and eleven How beautiful is your lovemaking, my sister, my bride. How much better is your lovemaking than wine and the fragrance of your persumes than any spice. Honey from the comb, your lips drip, my bride. Honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
Some versions use the word love, where this version uses lovemaking. Either way he has moved from viewing and describing what he sees to describing what he touches and smells and tastes. He wouldn’t know that is tastes like home and milk under her tongue if he was doing some type of kissing. The fragrance of her perfume is the combination of the spices she is using plus her natural odor. Spices are good, but on you they become great.
Guys if you are into the baseball metaphor, he is way past first base, but not all the way yet.
verses twelve through fifteen You are a garden locked, my sister, my bride. You are a garden locked, a fountain sealed. Your tender shoots are a paradise of pomengranates with delicious fruits; henna blossoms with nard plants, nard and saffron; fragrant reed and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes — with all the best spices. A fountain of gardens you are, a well of fresh water and steams flowing from Lebanon.
In this society they would build their house around a special garden. The best spices were grown in this area that was locked away from the public. I don’t understand much of the symbolism here but the locked garden, the fountain sealed are talking about her being a virgin. And the water flowing from Lebanon is referring to how her vagina has self lubricated and is ready to go.
Next, her response and what he thinks of it.
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