Come back, come back, O Shulammite; come back, come back, that we may gaze on you! Why would you gaze on the Shulammite as on the dance of Mahanaim? (Song of Songs 6:13)

The friends call for the Beloved to return.

Some perceive the Lover berating the friends for staring at the Beloved's dance. Others have the friends ask the Lover why he stares at her.

Above these verses close the sixth chapter. Others have this opening the seventh chapter.

The meaning of Shulammite, used only here, is uncertain. There are many learned speculations.

The meaning of Mahanaim is debated. The King James treats it to mean "company of two armies." The Bloch's find "rows of dancers."

Is this the beginning or the end? Are we fighting or dancing? What is our reality?