- The opening verses imply that the “maid of Shulem” is dancing or being invited to dance; what type of dance? From the description that follows how should this dance be characterized in the context of Middle Eastern culture of that era?
- Who is asking the question in Song of Songs 7:1?
- In Song of Songs 7:2, is the woman necessarily a bat nadiv (nobleman’s daughter)?
- What might be the differences in the description of the woman’s body (Song of Songs 7:2-10) between this text and earlier descriptions? Consider Song of Songs 7:3 in particular.
- How can the comparison of hair to purple be considered complimentary (Song of Songs 7:6)?
- What are the aphrodisiacs in Song of Songs 7:8-10?
- Song of Songs 7:11 contains vocabulary similar to Genesis 3:16. But is there a difference in gestalt/intent?
- The word duda’im (mandrakes) appears in an episode (confrontation) in the lives of Reuben, Leah and Rachel (Genesis 30). What is the context there? What qualities is this plant presumed to possess? Is the role of the duda’im here identical to/similar to the Genesis account?
