14 Lily

Like a lily among the thorns, so is my beloved among the daughters.

Song of Songs 2.

The relationship at the heart of the Song of Songs — the love between the King and his beloved — has been understood classically as a metaphor for the relationship between G-d and Israel. The beauty of the lily, and its identification with the people of Israel, may explain why this image was used so widely in the ancient world, starting with its presence as a decorative element in Solomon’s Temple. It is found on ancient coins from the period of Ezra and Nehemiah and, much later, on Crusader shields.