We are now shown an image where the man and woman are coming up from the wilderness. The husband takes care of his wife who is tired. She leans on him. Now she is going to tell how it came about that they got together in love. How it came about that in difficult circumstances, in the wilderness, they want to be of special support to each other—also in days of trouble. She relates how they want to carry each other through life, in love.
The woman brings up an important memory here. This can also happen to us when we sit together quietly. Sometimes it is very special to think back to the beginning of your courtship days. To remember certain moments that were there during that time of young love for each other. How did their love for each other actually start? The wife will share this in the second part of this verse. It is a precious memory for the two lovers who are now married.
The wife now makes her husband reflect on the time when he was sitting under the apple tree. The word awakened
does not refer to waking up from sleep. It refers to the woman who stirred up love in the man in a good way. Here love was aroused for her. This was not done in a provocative way. It was not by arousing sexual desires on the part of the other person, but by genuine interest in each other. She walks past the apple tree. There and then was the beginning of their love. His eyes opened up to her there. They will never forget that special place. It even has a double meaning. The fact is that the man was born near that tree. It is both his birthplace and the place where the love for his wife began. It is simply unforgettable.
5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.