Walled cities of Bible times had guards posted on the walls to warn of approaching danger (2 Sam 18:26). These words of Solomon’s bride showed that armed guards also policed the area inside the walls, particularly at night.

Their job was to patrol the streets and keep order, much as policemen do in today’s modern cities. Solomon’s Shulamite bride apparently went into the streets at night to search for the king. She may have been mistreated by the guards because they thought she was a prostitute.

Song of Solomon 1:7 – The watchman that went about the city found me, they smote [beat, NIV] me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil [cloak, NIV] from me.