conditions (1:6; 11:4; 12:2) make sense for Palestine but not for Egypt. The allusion to the north-south direction of the winds, too, is appropriate in reference to Palestine (see Song 4:16; Prov 25:23; Job 37:9, 17; Sir 43:20; Luke 12:55). Moreover, the text refers to reservoirs (2:6) and wells (12:6). These are typical of Palestine but not of Egypt. Importantly, the mention of “almond” presupposes familiarity with the tree (see Notes at 12:5), which makes the Palestinian setting probable. The almond