“The fig trees
Do not blossom.
There is no fruit
On the vines.
The produce
Of the olive tree fails.
The fields yield
No food.
The flock is cut off
From the fold.
There is no herd
In the stalls.”
These farmers have hit bad times. The fig trees were not blossoming, while there were no fruits of grapes on the vines in the vineyard. The fields were not yielding any kind of food. The flocks were running aimlessly, while the herd was not in its stalls. Things were in bad shape.
Male lover
“My beloved speaks.
He says to me.
‘Arise!
My love!
My fair one!
Come away!
Now the winter is past.
The rain is over.
The rain is gone.
The flowers appear on the earth.
The time of singing has come.
The voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs.
The vines are in blossom.
They give forth fragrance.
Arise!
My love!
My fair one!
Come away!
O my dove!
In the clefts of the rock,
In the covert of the cliff,
Let me see your face.
Let me hear your voice.
Your voice is sweet.
Your face is lovely.’”
This female lover recounts the words of her male lover. In a phrase that is repeated twice within a couple of verses, we have that wonderful love request. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away with me! Will she go? Was this request enough to make her leave her home? He tells her why she should do this now. It is springtime. The winter has gone. The rains are gone. The flowers are appearing. The turtledove birds are singing. The fig trees have figs. The vines are blossoming with a sweet smell. It was time to go with him as he repeated the phrases from above. This turtledove lives in the rocks and the cliffs. He wanted to see her lovely face and to hear her sweet voice, a clear presentation of springtime romantic love.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 