Young woman's nighttime search and their speeches of admiration and longing

Young woman's search (Song 5:2–7:10 [5:2–7:11])

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   their separation and her nighttime search5:2–8his desire to be with her; her refusal, and their separation and her fruitless search for him; topics: sleep (yĕšēnâ), grasping, sweet aromas
2. b
   her praise of his body, from the head down5:9–16ten parts praised, including head (rō'š), hair, eyes ('ênayim), belly, legs; mention of ivory (šēn), towers (migdal), Lebanon, lilies (šôšannîm), sources of water; begins: question by daughters of Jerusalem; begins: two lines beginning with Hebrew mah ("how?"); ends: summary statement introduced by this (zeh)
3. c
   her declaration to the daughters of Jerusalem6:1–3her beloved went down (yārad) to his garden (gan); begins: question by daughters of Jerusalem
4. d
   CENTER: his praise of her unique beauty6:4–9
5. c′
   her declaration to the daughters of Jerusalem6:10–12she went down (yārad) to the garden (gannâ); begins: question by daughters of Jerusalem
6. b′
   his praise of her body, from the feet up6:13–7:7[7:1–8]; ten parts praised, including head (rō'š), hair, eyes ('ênayim), belly, legs; mention of ivory (šēn), towers (migdal), Lebanon, lilies (šôšannîm), sources of water; begins: question by daughters of Jerusalem; begins: two lines beginning with Hebrew mah ("what?"; "how!"); ends: summary statement introduced by this (zō't)
7. a′
   their union7:8–10[7:9–11]; his desire to be united with her; her agreement; topics: sleep (yĕšēnîm), grasping, sweet aromas