The man compares her to an army with its banners. The main point is majesty. The sight of an army gathered for battle can be terrifying. The same term (awesome
) is used to describe the terrifying Babylonian army in Habakkuk 1:7. The woman’s beauty captures the man’s attention in a way that makes his knees knock.1
This is a new note in the man’s description of the woman. A city is not a comfortable, domesticated image of beauty, like a dove or a flock of sheep, rather it is a proud, glorious, and awe-inspiring image.2
4 Tu es belle, mon amie, comme Thirtsa, Agréable comme Jérusalem, Mais terrible comme des troupes sous leurs bannières.