Mount Carmel is not a single mountain peak, but a long range that extends about thirteen miles eastward from the Mediterranean Sea, just south of the modern city of Haifa. Here Elijah confronted 850 pagan prophets with a test of fire (1 Kings 18). Mount Carmel from a distance.

The language of the verses of chapter 7 are pure erotic poetry. There are references to historic Mount Carmel (which lies near the Mediterranean, west of the Sea of Galilee), the richness of the prized purple dye, ivory towers, and the Pools of Heshbon. The king delights in his bride’s loveliness and the loveliness of her nature:

How beautiful and pleasant you are,
O loved one, with all your delights!
Your stature is like a palm tree,
and your breasts are like its clusters.
I say I will climb the palm tree
and lay hold of its fruit.
Oh may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
and the scent of your breath like apples,
and your mouth like the best wine…

King Sihon refused passage to the Israelites through his land, and he attacked Israel at Jahaz. Israel defeated him, occupying the land between the Arnon and Jabbok Rivers, including the capital city, Heshbon. As they moved north, they defeated King Og of Bashan at Edrei (Deuteronomy 2:30).

The unbridled sexual desire has also been stirred in his beloved wife as well, as she invites him to:

Come, my beloved,
let us go out into the fields
and lodge in the villages;
let us go out early to the vineyards
and see whether the vines have budded,
whether the grape blossoms have opened
and the pomegranates are in bloom.
There I will give you my love.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.