The Hills of Carmel

The name Carmel means “Orchard.” This fertile region to the north, some 30 miles [50 km] in length, is bedecked with vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees. The headland of this hilly range is unforgettable in its grace and beauty. Isaiah 35:2 speaks of “the splendor of Carmel” as a symbol of the fruitful glory of the restored land of Israel.

The slopes of Carmel still contain orchards, olive groves, and vines. During the spring, these slopes are carpeted with a magnificent display of flowers. “Your head upon you is like Carmel,” said Solomon to the Shulammite maiden, perhaps alluding to the luxuriousness of her hair or to the way in which her shapely head rose majestically from her neck.—Song of Solomon 7:5.

The splendor that was characteristic of the hills of Carmel reminds us of the spiritual beauty Jehovah has bestowed upon his modern-day organization of worshipers. (Isaiah 35:1, 2) Jehovah’s Witnesses truly live in a spiritual paradise, and they agree with the sentiments of King David, who wrote: “The measuring lines themselves have fallen for me in pleasant places. Really, my own possession has proved agreeable to me.”—Psalm 16:6.