# General Information: The woman is described as the epitome of beauty in ancient Israel. Not all cultures share the same the same standards. In the ancient Near East, it was common to describe a woman using words involving animals. In many cultures today, this can be considered offensive. In Chapter 4:1-15 the man speaks to the woman. # Your eyes are doves "You are very gentle". See how you translated this in Song of Songs 1:15. # my love "you whom I love." See Song of Songs 1:9. # Your hair is like a flock of goats going down from Mount Gilead "Your hair is as dark as storm clouds above a fertile land". Goats in Israel were usually dark in color. People thought of Mount Gilead as beautiful and fertile. If you remove the simile of the goats, you may have to remove the simile of the mountain as well.