I went down to the nut orchard to look at the blossoms [H3] of the valley,
to see whether the vines had budded, whether the [pomegranates] were in bloom. (Song of Sol 6:11)
to see whether the vines had budded, whether the [pomegranates] were in bloom. (Song of Sol 6:11)
Thankfully, our Heavenly Father included detailed description and imagery throughout His Word. He communicates to us through parables (as did His Son), and we must be ALERT and pay attention to what the Word of יהוה is communicating to us of the ways of יהוה! While man is in the process of genetically modifying and corrupting creation, the witness of creation continues to bear faithful testimony to the ways of יהוה. Thus, in several instances, the witness of creation exposes the lying pen of the scribes [Jer 8:8]. Whether the lying pen was intentional or unintentional does not matter, what should matter is that we not forget the witness of creation; and, like an impartial judge, we should investigate thoroughly any discrepancies between the witnesses of creation and the pen of the scribes.
In Song of Solomon, the lover vividly describes the eyes of his beloved:
The lover first compares her eyes within her locks to that of a dove. If you google the image of a dove, you will see [pun intended] that the eyes of a dove basically consist of the iris and the pupil (less the white part of the eye as in the case of humans). Then in the following verses, the lover describes the shape of the temple or the “house” of the eye. The translators translated the comparison as a “slice of a pomegranate”. However, this is NOT an accurate description to the witness of creation. Creation testifies that the temple which houses our eyes is shaped like an almond as opposed to a pomegranate. So the lover is describing his beloved's eyes which, to him, look like the eye of a dove that is superimposed over a slice of an almond: “Thy temples are like a slice of ALMOND within thy locks.”
This serves as one instance when the word "pomegranate" was written for "almond". Let us also consider another witness: a similar error was made by the respected historian Josephus when describing the lampstand (menorah). When describing the almond blossoms on the menorah, Josephus also used the word “pomegranates” instead of the word “almonds”.
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From Book 3, Chapter 6 of The Antiquities of the Jews:
“Over against this table, near the southern wall, was set a candlestick of cast gold, hollow within, being of the weight of one hundred pounds, which the Hebrews call Chinchares, if it be turned into the Greek language, it denotes a talent. It was made with its knops, and lilies, and POMEGRANATES, and bowls (which ornaments amounted to seventy in all); by which means the shaft elevated itself on high from a single base, and spread itself into as many branches as there are planets, including the sun among them.” |
Why is This Important?
This is important because of what is written in Song of Solomon. Song of Solomon (6:11) describes someone going down into a garden of nuts to see if something is ABIB:
First, please note the word translated as "blossoms" [H3]. According to the Strong's Concordance, H3 is the same as H24 which means "abib". And note that abib can also refer to blossoming (click here for detailed explanation). So the passage is describing someone going down into the nut orchard to look at the "abib" or blossoms of the valley, to see whether a tree was flourishing (blossoming). However, it was NOT a "pomegranate" tree that they were looking at (neither was it barley).
Actually, the lover went down into the orchard to see the ABIB of the valley...whether the ALMOND TREE budded and blossomed! Why would the lover do this? Perhaps because he knew the significance of the budding and blossoming (abib) of the almond tree. Perhaps he knew that the budding and blossoming of the almond tree heralded the beginning of months...the month abib...the season when the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt...the season when the dead and living were brought up...referring to the dead bones of Joseph and the living children of Israel. Furthermore, the Song of Solomon also mentions "nitzan" or blossoming...a time which marked the end of winter:
(Note the word "nitzan" refers to blossoms as opposed to the word "Nisan" which refers to the name derived from a Babylonian month.)
Additionally, Song of Solomon 5:2-6 describes the beloved who was “sleeping” or NOT being WATCHFUL and ALERT; her Lover came to her door and knocked trying to awaken her - his hair drenched with the dampness of the night; by the time she finally awakened and opened the door, her Lover was gone. May the bride of Messiah - the Righteous Branch - not be like this beloved who was not remaining watchful and alert at the proper time.The parable of the ten virgins echoes this story.
Our awesome Heavenly Father created the almond tree to be the first of the fruit trees to awaken or “resurrect” from it slumber. The very name for the word almond in the Hebrew is associated with being "alert" and "watchful". He mercifully left hints of the season when He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm (branch)...the season when the dead and living were/are brought up...a season we were to remember throughout the generations...a season we were to NEVER forget:
Additionally, Song of Solomon 5:2-6 describes the beloved who was “sleeping” or NOT being WATCHFUL and ALERT; her Lover came to her door and knocked trying to awaken her - his hair drenched with the dampness of the night; by the time she finally awakened and opened the door, her Lover was gone. May the bride of Messiah - the Righteous Branch - not be like this beloved who was not remaining watchful and alert at the proper time.The parable of the ten virgins echoes this story.
Our awesome Heavenly Father created the almond tree to be the first of the fruit trees to awaken or “resurrect” from it slumber. The very name for the word almond in the Hebrew is associated with being "alert" and "watchful". He mercifully left hints of the season when He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm (branch)...the season when the dead and living were/are brought up...a season we were to remember throughout the generations...a season we were to NEVER forget:
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AWAKE, AWAKE, you His branches! Awaken and sober up from the drunkenness and darkness of Babylon! Open the almond-shaped temple of your eyes and be watchful lest you be like the beloved in Song of Solomon who was “sleeping” and not being WATCHFUL and ALERT when her lover came to her door! DO NOT be like the beloved who did not open the door when her lover knocked because she was not expecting him at the time he came for her!
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