Song of Solomon 2:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I am the rose of Sharon— I am a rose of the field. We have here followed all the ancient versions, in preference to those of the moderns, who generally, interpret שׁרון Sharon as a proper name; yet a little attention to the context will convince us, that the bride does not here mean to extol the charms of her person, but rather the contrary. The Bridegroom had just before called her fair; she, with a becoming modesty, represents her beauty as nothing extraordinary, as a mere common wild-flower. But this the Bridegroom denies, insisting upon it that she as much surpasses the generality, as the flower of the lily does that of the bramble; and she again in return speaks with admiration of the Bridegroom. The words may have a still further force, and imply a tacit comparison. The rose of Sharon expresses eminence; whereas she calls herself a rose of the field, in opposition to the rose of the garden, which has more beauty, and is distinguished for its richness and variety of colouring; whereas the rose of the field, and the lily of the valley, owe their distinction to the less ornamented flowers which grow around them. See the New Translation and Houbigant.