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daughters of Sion, modestly confesses: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the
valleys" (S. of S. 2: 1). To which the shepherd lover replies: "As the lily among thorns,
so is my love among the daughters." This context seems to favour the simple saffron or
lily rather than the rose. In any case, we can rejoice in this wonderful blossoming even
though we remain uncertain as to what flower is actually intended by the long Hebrew
word chabatstseleth.
The allusion to Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon in verse 2 is a glance back to the terrible
desolation left by the Assyrian invader:
"The earth mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon
is like a wilderness: and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits" (Isa. 33: 9).
There is a further connection between these two chapters (33: & 35:) in verse 8.
The statement in chapter 33: 8: "The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man
ceaseth", is surely referred to in Isa. 35: 8, even though the words translated
"wayfaring men" in the two passages are not exactly the same.
Before we go further with our examination of the chapter, let us obtain what help we
can from its structure: