THE SONG OF SONGS
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Well..the pure love between a man and a woman is a gift from God. And the intimacy that follows is also a gift from God which is holy. Sex and sexual intimacy between a man and a woman done in Gods will is an amazing gift and is holy. I say holy a number of times because if Hollywood were to do a rendition of this book, hypothetically speaking, it would be peverted.
There are possibly some clues in that book that point to Azal mentioned in Zechariah 14:5 as being one of Solomon's chariot cities.
Azal is known to be the river/valley at the southern point of the Mount of Olives, between the hills of Jabel Mukaber (Hill of Evil Council) and Abu Tor (Hill of Evil Counsel). It's mouth is about 1/3 mile down the Kidron Valley from the kings' gardens, which were just east of the City of David near the well of En Rogel.
We read in Solomon’s Song that he went down into his gardens; and then someone (either he, or his beloved; it’s not clear from the text), went down the valley desiring to inspect the grove of nut trees there. And before realizing it, wandering through the grove brought that person to a place of chariots.
Taken at face value, the last sentence just doesn’t make any sense (in any translation). Yet it couldn’t be clearer within the context of Azal being a chariot city because the passage’s sequence matches the geography perfectly: Solomon went down the steps from the royal City of David into the king’s gardens, and then either he or his beloved wandered down the valley through a grove of fruit and nut trees until (before realizing it, the distance being short) (s)he reached the place where chariots were kept.
There was some kind of town at the mouth of Azal Valley because there is a nearly 1/3 mile-long aqueduct that was chiseled through solid rock 80' underground that channeled water from a cistern near the well of En Rogel to Azal.
Solomon built … all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses; whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled. … Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 9:17, 19; 10:26, NIV
Azal is known to be the river/valley at the southern point of the Mount of Olives, between the hills of Jabel Mukaber (Hill of Evil Council) and Abu Tor (Hill of Evil Counsel). It's mouth is about 1/3 mile down the Kidron Valley from the kings' gardens, which were just east of the City of David near the well of En Rogel.
We read in Solomon’s Song that he went down into his gardens; and then someone (either he, or his beloved; it’s not clear from the text), went down the valley desiring to inspect the grove of nut trees there. And before realizing it, wandering through the grove brought that person to a place of chariots.
My beloved [Solomon] has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. … I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom. Before I realized it, my desire set me among the royal chariots of my people. Song of Solomon 6:2, 11-12, NIV
Taken at face value, the last sentence just doesn’t make any sense (in any translation). Yet it couldn’t be clearer within the context of Azal being a chariot city because the passage’s sequence matches the geography perfectly: Solomon went down the steps from the royal City of David into the king’s gardens, and then either he or his beloved wandered down the valley through a grove of fruit and nut trees until (before realizing it, the distance being short) (s)he reached the place where chariots were kept.
There was some kind of town at the mouth of Azal Valley because there is a nearly 1/3 mile-long aqueduct that was chiseled through solid rock 80' underground that channeled water from a cistern near the well of En Rogel to Azal.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that he undertook expeditions to discover what life was like on various levels. Once he disguised himself as a simple country shepherd lad, and in that state he had met this young lady. They fell in love, and after they had promised themselves to each other, he went away and was gone for some time. The Shulammite girl cries out for him in her loneliness.
Then comes the announcement that the king in all his glory is coming to visit the valley. While the girl is interested in this, she is not really concerned because her heart longs for her lover. But suddenly she receives word that the king wants to see her. She doesn't know why until she goes to see him, and discovers that he is her shepherd lad. He takes her away and they are married in the palace.
See more here: Overview of Song of Solomon: A Love Song and a Hymn | RayStedman.org
Then comes the announcement that the king in all his glory is coming to visit the valley. While the girl is interested in this, she is not really concerned because her heart longs for her lover. But suddenly she receives word that the king wants to see her. She doesn't know why until she goes to see him, and discovers that he is her shepherd lad. He takes her away and they are married in the palace.
See more here: Overview of Song of Solomon: A Love Song and a Hymn | RayStedman.org
Thanks for the imput Magenta. that web site is very interesting. I was impressed by the way they explain the relationship between Songs and the other books mentioned. I was also relieved to know that the Lady in Song had a full set of clean teeth lol
It's been a while since I read the Song of Songs, but it didn't impress me as being erotic.