A father tells his son a story about a young man who was caught in a ploy that played his inexperience against his own sexual desires.
The young man was out in the street with the simple minded boys and ventured too close to this woman’s corner. The evening was ending and he should have been on his way home. She was out prowling for someone just like him. She was bold, crass and knew what she wanted. He was simple, directionless and undecided. She would set his course for him.
The mention of her fellowship offerings has two basic interpretations:
First, the fellowship offerings of Leviticus 4 and 7:11-12 are focused on fellowship with God and with other believers. The meat would be brought home, prepared and served with a delicious meal intended to be shared with others as a sign of fellowship. This woman is saying to the young man:
- I am also a believer
- I am in fellowship with God
- I need to eat this meal with another person to properly fulfill my sacrifice.
- I have prepared a delicious meal that I’d like to share with you.
Almost as an after-thought, she then hints that a sexual encounter could be a possibility after the meal and gives several reasons why it would be possible and why it would be desirable.
The second interpretation says that the woman has made a vow to pay a certain fee to the Temple if the Lord answered her prayer or fulfilled a request she had made. Well, today of all days, the Lord has answered her prayer, but she has no cash to pay her vow. The young man would be doing her a favor if he let her sell her body to him. Plus, she has no cash because her husband took the money bag and is on a long journey and will not be back for many days.
Stupid is as stupid does, so “he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter.”
In 7:17 the myrrh, aloes and cinnamon are exotic imports from Arabia and India. These same incense and spices are used to describe the woman’s private garden in Song of Solomon 4:10-16 as a euphemism for the woman’s naked body and private sexual parts. |
