The Hebrew word translated as cleft mountains
has the root btr, which means cut into pieces
or cut into halves.
This suggests cleavage and may indicate that the mountains stand for the woman’s breasts.1 It could also be the name of a place, Beitar, a hilly area in the west of Jerusalem. So there may be a play on words.
For now, the man must leave her and turn
away to the mountains, but the cleft shape of the mountains serves to point him forward to the future consummation that he so desires. There is a day coming when he will indeed be able to romp like a deer on those spice-laden mountains (see Song of Solomon 8:14). Her no
to his appeal to come away with him (Song of Solomon 2:10) is a not yet, my love,
not a never.
2
17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.