Whereas the setting so far had been Israel, it now shifts to the Shulammite's home that was evidently in Lebanon (cf. 4:8, 15).
2:8-9 The girl described her young lover coming for a visit in these verses. He was obviously eager to see her.
2:10-13 She related his invitation to take a walk in the countryside. His invitation, "Arise . . . come along,"(vv. 10, 13) brackets a beautiful description of spring that was as much a feeling in Solomon's heart as a season of the year.
"Whenever any couple falls in love, it is spring for them because their lives are fresh; everything in life has a new perspective; what was black and white is now in color; what was dark is light."54
2:14 The desire to be alone with one's lover is both natural and legitimate. Unfortunately it sometimes departs after marriage.
2:15 Probably the Shulammite began speaking here. She was evidently urging Solomon poetically to deal with some problems in their relationship rather than telling him to clear the literal foxes out of her family's vineyards. "Foxes"may refer to "the ravages of the aging process that can sap the beauty and vitality of persons (the vines' or vineyards)."55They may refer to the other women in Solomon's life and court.56Probably they refer generally to hostile forces that could spoil their love.57All couples encounter some potentially destructive situations in their relationships that need dealing with occasionally. Often the woman senses these first, as here, but the man should take the initiative in dispelling them.
2:16-17 Even though they faced problems, the Shulammite rejoiced in the security of her beloved's love and in the assurance that he would take care of his responsibilities to her (v. 16b).
Verse 17 probably looks forward to their wedding and to its physical consummation. "Bether"is a transliteration rather than a translation. Since no Bether mountains exist in this part of the Middle East, it seems preferable to translate the Hebrew word (bater) as "cleavage"or "separation."The mountains of cleavage then may be an allusion to the Shulammite's breasts.58
