SS 2: Lilies and Gazelles

Song of Solomon 2:3 "Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste."

Both the man and woman agree that the woman is like a lily of the valley, a rose of Sharon. The rose of Sharon is described as a kind of crocus. Well, crocuses are pretty. And it's nice when two people are in agreement. And that she is a lily among thorns...he wants nothing to do with any other woman. They are thorns.

The apple tree analogy is interesting. She delights in all parts of the apple tree. The shade, the fruit...etc. The only way to be satisfied is with the fruit. His fruit. She is weak from love, and the only way to give her strength is his love.

He's a stud, he's like a gazelle leaping over hills and all that, so he keeps himself in good shape and commands a lot of power and respect.

The time without his love is like winter - cold, grey. But now that love has come, it's springtime. All is made new, new life has begun.

The foxes bit seems like they want to remove any distraction or stumbling point in their love. They don't want their vineyard ruined.