Zion is a favoured image in the Bible, which can refer to the holy city or even to a certain person. Originally Zion was the name of the southernmost hill on which the Canaanite fortress-city of Jebus was located. It was conquered by David around 1000 B.C. and renamed Jerusalem (see 1Chronicles 11;4-5 and 2Samuel 5;6-7). Situated on the borders of Judah and Israel, it became David’s capital. As the city expanded, the name Zion came to be applied to the whole city.
Later on Zion gets a symbolic role in the Bible especially at Isaiah and the Lamentations; just a few examples:
Lamentations 1;4-8
4 The
ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her
gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she
is in bitterness.
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Isaiah 33:20
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
Isaiah 37;21-22
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7 Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.
Isaiah 33:20
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
Isaiah 37;21-22
21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:
22 This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
We can see that Zion is actually identified with Jerusalem in the Old Testament and since it is the capital of the whole kingdom, therefore also standing for the Lord's chosen nation. Zion is also the bride of God, and in most of the abstract context has a feminine aspect.
No wonder, when Alexander creates a rhetoric and elevated atmosphere by using Biblical allegories and metaphores, he would give his lady the role Zion. For further explanation just read the cited Bible verses and for more citations please check the following link on Bible Gateway which I used for this entry.
22 This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
We can see that Zion is actually identified with Jerusalem in the Old Testament and since it is the capital of the whole kingdom, therefore also standing for the Lord's chosen nation. Zion is also the bride of God, and in most of the abstract context has a feminine aspect.
No wonder, when Alexander creates a rhetoric and elevated atmosphere by using Biblical allegories and metaphores, he would give his lady the role Zion. For further explanation just read the cited Bible verses and for more citations please check the following link on Bible Gateway which I used for this entry.
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