.6:1-3.

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A dream of frustration (So 5:2-6:3)

Another dream reflects the girl’s unfulfilled longing as she waits impatiently for her wedding day.

She dreams that while she is asleep, her lover has travelled through the night to come to her and now he knocks on her door (So 5:2).

Only half awake, the girl is slow to get out of bed and answer the door. She finds it a nuisance, as she has just bathed and got herself dressed for bed (So 5:3).

Suddenly she realizes what has happened: her lover has come for her! Excitedly she hurries to the door and opens it to welcome him. But she has delayed too long and now he has gone (So 5:4-6).

She rushes into the streets looking for him, but receives no sympathy from the nightwatchmen. To them a girl in her bedclothes who rushes around the streets at night must be a prostitute, and they treat her harshly (So 5:7).

Desperately the frustrated dreamer appeals to the women of Jerusalem to help her find her lover, but the women’s reply is uncooperative. Why is her lover more special than anyone else’s that they should help her find him (So 5:8-9)?

The girl replies that in appearance, build and personality he surpasses all others (So 5:10-16).

If he is so wonderful, reply the women, they would like to go with her to meet him (So 6:1).

At this the girl remembers that she has not really lost him, for she has only had a dream. She knows where he is. He is at home on the farm, faithful to her as ever (So 6:2-3).