“They shall again
Live beneath
My shadow.
They shall flourish
Life a garden.
They shall blossom
Like the vine.
Their fragrance shall be
Like the wine of Lebanon.”
The Israelites will once again live in the shadow of Yahweh. They would flourish like a lush garden. They would blossom like a wonderful vineyard. They would have the fragrance of Lebanese wine.
“I will heal
Their disloyalty.
I will love them
Freely.
My anger
Has turned
From them.
I will be
Like the dew
To Israel.
He shall blossom
Like the lily.
He shall strike root
Like the forests of Lebanon.
His shoots
Shall spread out.
His beauty shall be
Like the olive tree.
His fragrance shall be
Like Lebanon.”
Yahweh, via Hosea, said that he was going to heal the disloyalty of Israel. He would love them freely, since his anger had turned from them. He was going to be like the morning dew to Israel. He was going to make them blossom again like the lilies. He was going to have them set down strong roots, like the forests of the Lebanon cedar trees. Their shoots would spread out all over the place. Their beauty would be like that of an olive tree. Their fragrance would be like the Lebanon cedar trees.
Female lover
“I am my beloved’s.
His desire is for me.
Come!
My beloved!
Let us go forth into the fields.
Let us lodge in the villages.
Let us go out early to the vineyards.
Let us see
Whether the vines have budded,
Whether the grape blossoms have opened,
Whether the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.
The mandrakes give forth fragrance.
Over our doors are all choice fruits.
There are new as well as old.
I have laid up for you.
O my beloved!”
This female lover responded that she belonged to her lover. She knew that he has a desire for her. She asked her lover to go into the fields and lodge in the villages. She wanted them to go out into the vineyards early in the day. She wanted to check whether the vines had budded, whether the grape blossoms were open, and whether the pomegranates were in bloom. She wanted to give her love to him there in vineyards where the mandrakes gave off their fragrance. There would be all kinds of choice fruits, both old and new. She had prepared them for him. She wanted her lover.
Male lover
“You have ravished my heart!
My sister!
My bride!
You have ravished my heart
With a glance of your eyes,
With one jewel of your necklace.
How sweet is your love!
My sister!
My bride!
How much better is your love
Than wine!
The fragrance of your oils is better
Than any spice!
Your lips distil nectar!
My bride!
Honey and milk are under your tongue.
The scent of your garments is
Like the scent of Lebanon.”
This male lover than goes into a praise of her wonders. He calls her a bride and a sister. Sister is a term of endearment in Egyptian poetry. Bride is used as an aspiration term, what he wants to happen. She has ravished his heart. She has stolen his heart with her glancing eyes and jeweled necklace. Her love is sweet and better than wine. Her fragrance is better than any spices. Her lips are like fruity nectar. She seems to have milk and honey under her tongue just like the Promised Land was always full of milk and honey. Her garments smelt like Lebanon. I assume that this was a good smell of cedar wood.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 