1 NOTES – CHAPTER 2:

Rose.2 The name of two different of the : 1. Most authorities think that the referred to in {Song of Solomon 2:1} and {:1} (where it is rendered ‘crocus’) is not what we know as the rose today, but a low- growing bulbous producing from two to four yellow flowers on each stalk. This flower is noted for its fragrance. Other scholars have suggested the mountain tulip, anemone, saffron, or crocus as the flower in question. All of these flowers grew wild in Palestine. This particular flower is translated crocus by the RSV, NIV, and NASB {Is. 35:1} and asphodel by the NEB {Song 2:1; Is. 35:2}. The flower we call the “Rose of Sharon” is a native of and is not the one mentioned by Solomon {Song 2:1}. 2. The rose of {Ecclesiastes 24:14; 39:13} (NEB) is thought to be the oleander. This shrub grows to a height of about 3.6 meters (12 feet) and has pink or white flowers.

It is probable that is the correct rendering. Two species, Narcissus Tazetta, L., and N. serotinas, L., grow in the Holy Land. Here and in Isaiah 35:1 "Hebrew habazzeleth, the autumn crocus". This is the Colchicum autumnale (Natural Order, Liliaceae). A Targum3 on {Song 2:1} explains the Hebrew word as "narcissus", a very common plant in the plains and mountains of Palestine and a great favorite with the natives. Two species, N. tazetta and N. serolinus (Natural Order, Amaryllideae), occur, the latter being the finer; they are autumn plants. All authorities agree that the so-called "rose" was some kind of bulbed plant.

The rose is mentioned in the Apocrypha (Ecclus. 24:14; 39:13). There are seven species of rose that grow in the Holy Land. The most widely distributed of these is Rosa Phoenicia, Boiss., which grows on the coast and in the mountains. A pink rose with fragrant petals is cultivated in Damascus for the sake of its essential oil, the famous attar of . Rose water and syrup of rose leaves are also extensively manufactured throughout the country.

Sharon is the name of Mediterranean coastal plain between Joppa and Caesarea. In the time of Song of Solomon it was a place of great fertility. However, there is also a trans-Jordanic Sharon and according to Eusebius and Jerome, there is also another district of this name between Tabor and the Sea of Galilee.

1 Descriptions of the plants are from New Unger's Bible Dictionary, originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois., 1988; and Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2 Rose [2261 chabatstseleth (khab-ats-tseh'-leth) ] of uncertain derivation; probably a meadow- saffron, a crocus, a rose probably meadow-saffron. 3 Ancient translations of parts of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew language into Aramaic. The word Targum is related to a Hebrew term meaning "translation." These translations were sometimes literal and exact, but often were paraphrased. Many translators took the opportunity to comment upon the Hebrew texts. In a sense, some Targumim (plural) are a form of commentary on the Bible. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

. CHAPTER 4

3750 karkom- saffron; an orange-yellow flower of the crocus family, used for flavoring in drinks and confections in order to promote perspiration for cooling of the body.

The product of many varieties of crocus, a flower which grew from a and produced light- blue flowers. Crocus blooms were gathered, dried, and pressed into cakes of saffron. Saffron was used as a coloring for curries and stews. It was also used as a perfume for the floors of theaters and for weddings. Solomon was the only Bible writer to refer to saffron {Song 4:14}. An aromatic, composed of the styles of several species of crocus, principally C. cancellatus, Herb. Bot. They are of an orange color and are principally used to impart an agreeable odor and flavor to boiled rice.