during the intertestamental period (Sir. 42:11), even if it is only a dream. However, in the earlier periods women could walk through a populated area alone at night, as Ruth did in her visit to the threshing floor (Ruth 3).12 Nevertheless, none of this is compelling, and the environment of the Song can be situated in a variety of possible times and places. This itself may betray the intention of the Song to speak more widely of love than a defined historical circumstance would allow. Even so, the