OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

THE SHULAMMITE GIRL IN KING SOLOMON’S CAMP (1:1–3:5)

• 1

  • Song of songs (1)

  • Young woman (2-7)

  • Daughters of Jerusalem (8)

  • King (9-11)

    • “We will make for you gold ornaments” (11)

  • Young woman (12-14)

    • ‘My dear one is like a fragrant bag of myrrh’ (13)

  • Shepherd (15)

    • “You are beautiful, my beloved”

  • Young woman (16, 17)

    • “You are beautiful, my dear one” (16)

• 2

  • Young woman (1)

    • “I am but a saffron”

  • Shepherd (2)

    • ‘My beloved is like a lily’

  • Young woman (3-14)

    • ‘Do not arouse love until it feels inclined’ (7)

    • Shepherd quoted (10b-14)

      • “My beautiful one, come away with me” (10b, 13)

  • Young woman’s brothers (15)

    • “Catch the foxes for us”

  • Young woman (16, 17)

    • “My dear one is mine and I am his” (16)

• 3

  • Young woman (1-5)

    • ‘At night, I sought the one I love’ (1)

THE SHULAMMITE IN JERUSALEM (3:6–8:4)

• 3

  • Daughters of Zion (6-11)

    • Solomon’s procession described

• 4

  • Shepherd (1-5)

    • “You are beautiful, my beloved” (1)

  • Young woman (6)

  • Shepherd (7-16a)

    • ‘You have captured my heart, my bride’ (9)

  • Young woman (16b)

• 5

  • Shepherd (1a)

  • Women of Jerusalem (1b)

    • ‘Become intoxicated with affection!’

  • Young woman (2-8)

    • Relates her dream

  • Daughters of Jerusalem (9)

    • “How is your dear one better than any other?”

  • Young woman (10-16)

    • “He stands out among ten thousand” (10)

• 6

  • Daughters of Jerusalem (1)

  • Young woman (2, 3)

    • “I am my dear one’s, and my dear one is mine” (3)

  • King (4-10)

    • “You are as beautiful as Tirzah” (4)

    • Women quoted (10)

  • Young woman (11, 12)

  • King (and others) (13a)

  • Young woman (13b)

  • King (and others) (13c)

• 7

  • King (1-9a)

    • “How pleasant you are, O beloved girl” (6)

  • Young woman (9b-13)

    • “I am my dear one’s, and his desire is for me” (10)

• 8

  • Young woman (1-4)

    • “If only you were like my brother” (1)

THE SHULAMMITE RETURNS, HER LOYALTY PROVED (8:5-14)

• 8

  • Young woman’s brothers (5a)

    • ‘Who is this, leaning upon her dear one?’

  • Young woman (5b-7)

    • “Love is as strong as death is” (6)

  • Young woman’s brothers (8, 9)

    • “If she is a wall, . . . but if she is a door, . . .” (9)

  • Young woman (10-12)

    • “I am a wall” (10)

  • Shepherd (13)

    • ‘Let me hear your voice’

  • Young woman (14)

    • “Be swift like a gazelle”