1. What does "the rose of Sharon" in Songs of Solomon 2:1 signify? In Songs of Solomon (called Song of Songs by the Jewish), the verse says, "I am the rose of Sharon." Sharon is a place in Israel that is part of the northern plain towards the coast, but geography is more than just location. The Bible student needs to know what the terrain was like and how the people reacted to it. Was it an area of difficulity or an area of ease? A desert without water would be an area of difficulty. Syria was sometimes called Aram, and people needed a way to travel from Syria, Mesopotamia ("between the two rivers" – Iraq), and other points northeast of Israel to Egypt and other points southwest. They often used the Fertile Crescent, which was in the shape of a moon set on its side and a very fertile land.

Mesopotamia and Egypt were two superpowers that alternated between being strong and weak. Canaan was like a land bridge between the two, and people traveled from one superpower to the other by going through Canaan. Isaiah 19:23 (a Messianic word picture) shows the polarity between the two powers in talking about the Second Coming ("in that day", the Assyrians and Egyptians will have peaceful access to each other and all serve the Lord). One should note that Canaan, Israel, and Palestine are the same.

2. Discuss the physical regions of Israel. The physical regions of Israel from the coast eastward are: (1) the coastal plain (a subset area was Sharon), (2) Shephelah, (3) the central hills, (4) the Jordan valley, which was a major drop in the terrain, and (5) across the Jordan and back up to the Transjordanian Highlands (Golan Heights come up to the Sea of Galilee on the Syrian side).

The Valley of Jezreel was a flat area in the central hills. Shephelah was lowlands between the coastal plains and the central hills. From the Sea of Galilee towards Jezreel was a place to grow crops (cash cropping). From Jezreel to Jerusalem was back into the mountains. The Jordan River runs south from the Sea of Galilee. The fifth area is the Transjordanian Highlands. Shittim (not now inhabited, no water, no crops, in Dead Sea area) was a subset of the highlands. Joel 3:18 (a Messiah word picture) says that when Messiah comes, the central hills area (mountains) will have sweet crops and not have to worry about draught. Shittim will be well-watered.

3. Discuss the Isaiah 65:10 and the use of the word "Sharon". In Isaiah 65:10 (a Messiah word picture), Sharon was part of the coastal plains to the north. It was composed of swamplands, and people usually went around it. Isaiah says, "In that day," Sharon will be like a pastureland. Ironically, a very beautiful rose grows in the midst of this very ugly land (Songs of Solomon 2:1), so this verse is a complement by way of contrast.

4. Discuss the travel routes in and through Israel. There were three main travel routes through Israel: (a) the King's Highway (an area of ease and an international route used between Mesopotamia and Egypt. From Mesopotamia, travel south down the Transjordanian highway and travel due east to Egypt), (b) the coastal highway which traveled the coastal plain (an area of ease), and (c) the Way of the Patriarchs because the patriarchs traveled north and south on it. This was a local route, not an international route. It ran through Jerusalem, Sheckem, Dothan, and other towns. This highway was between the other two highways.

5. How can one apply geography in Old Testament interpretation? A case study in Genesis 13 (Abraham and Lot in conflict) showed them moving north and south from one place to another along the Way of the Patriarchs. In a later class, the discussion will consider exactly where they were when they came into conflict. In Genesis 32, when Esau and Jacob reunited, the route taken by Jacob will also be the topic of a future class.

6. Name some related books on manners and customs. A good book is The Oxford Bible Atlas.

7. State the case study for Lesson 10. Determine the meaning of Asherah.

				Tom of Bethany

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Lesson 10. The Religious Activities of Israel's Neighbors

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