Difference between revisions of "Forest"

<p> [[Palestine]] was more wooded very anciently than afterward; the celebrated oaks and terebinths here and there were perhaps relics of a primeval forest on the highlands. But in the Bible the woods appear in the valleys and defiles leading from the highlands to the lowlands, so they were not extensive. "The wood of Ephraim" clothed the sides of the hills which descend to the plain of [[Jezreel]] and the plain itself near Bethshah (&nbsp;Joshua 17:15-18), and extended once to [[Tabor]] which still has many forest trees. That "of Bethel" lay in the ravine going down to the plain of Jericho. That "of Hareth" on the border of the [[Philistine]] plain in the S. of Judah (&nbsp;1 Samuel 22:5). That "of [[Kirjath]] Jearim" (&nbsp;1 Samuel 8:2; &nbsp;Psalms 132:6), meaning" town of the woods", on the confines of Judah and Benjamin; "the fields of the wood" from which David brought up the ark to [[Zion]] mean this forest town. </p> <p> That "of Ziph-wilderness," where David hid, S.E. of [[Hebron]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15, etc.). Ephraim wood, a portion of the region E. of [[Jordan]] near Mahanaim, where the battle with [[Absalom]] took place (&nbsp;2 Samuel 18:6; &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:23), on the high lands, a little way from the valley of the Jordan. (See [[Ephraim]] WOOD.) "The house of the forest of Lebanon" (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:2) was so-called as being fitted up with cedar, and probably with forest-like rows of cedar pillars. "Forest" often symbolizes pride doomed to destruction; (&nbsp;Isaiah 10:18; &nbsp;Isaiah 32:19) the [[Assyrian]] host dense and lifted up as the trees of the forest; (&nbsp;Isaiah 37:24) "the forest of his Carmel," i.e., its most luxuriant forest, image for their proud army. </p> <p> [[Forest]] also symbolizes unfruitfulness as opposed to cultivated lands (&nbsp;Isaiah 29:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 32:15). Besides ya'ar , implying "abundance of trees", there is another [[Hebrew]] term, choresh from a root "to cut down," implying a wood diminished by cutting (&nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4). In &nbsp;Isaiah 17:9 for "bough" translated "his strong cities shall be as the leavings of woods," what the axeman leaves when he cuts down the grove (&nbsp;Isaiah 17:6). In &nbsp;Ezekiel 31:3, "with a shadowing shroud," explain with an overshadowing thicket. A third term is pardeec , related to "paradise" (&nbsp;Nehemiah 2:8), "forest") a park, a plantation under a "keeper." The [[Persian]] kings preserved the forests throughout the empire with care, having wardens of the several forests, without whose sanction no tree could be felled. </p>

<p> 1. <i> choresh </i> , 'thick intricate wood,' &nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4; also translated 'wood' in &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15,16,18,19 . </p> <p> 2. <i> yaar </i> , a 'forest.' This is the word commonly used for both 'wood' and 'forest;' to be distinguished from a third word, <i> pardes, </i> &nbsp;Nehemiah 2:8 , which signifies 'a park,' with cultivated trees, whereas the other is wild. </p> <p> Several forests are specified under the word <i> yaar. </i> </p> <p> <i> 1. </i> The forest in ARABIA, &nbsp; Isaiah 21:13; its situation is unknown. </p> <p> <i> 2. </i> The 'forest of his CARMEL.' &nbsp; 2 Kings 19:23; &nbsp;Isaiah 37:24 .This reads in the <i> margin, </i> and in the R.V., 'forest of his fruitful field,' and does not refer to any forest connected with Carmel. </p> <p> <i> 3. </i> The forest of HARETH, &nbsp; 1 Samuel 22:5 : situated in Judah, but not known. </p> <p> <i> 4. </i> The forest of LEBANON. &nbsp; 1 Kings 7:2; &nbsp;1 Kings 10:17,21; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:16,20 . </p> <p> The context shows that these passages do not refer to the forest <i> at </i> Lebanon; but that Solomon had a house at [[Jerusalem]] built of the trees <i> from </i> Lebanon, and called it 'the house of the forest of Lebanon.' The actual forest at Lebanon is often referred to for its noble trees. </p> <p> <i> 5. </i> The wood of EPHRAIM in which Absalom was slain, on the east of the Jordan. &nbsp; 2 Samuel 18:6,8,17 . This has not been identified. It has been suggested that the pride and defeat of Ephraim mentioned in &nbsp;Judges 12:1-6 caused some forest to be called after the name of that tribe. This place, by its swamps, morasses and pits, 'devoured' the [[Israelites]] by preventing their escape. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Isaiah 32:15 (a) This type is used to describe the abundant blessing that accompanies the unhindered ministry of the [[Holy]] Spirit. When He is recognized, is present and is working in power, then there is an abundance of life, hearts are enriched, souls are saved, and [[Christians]] become fruitful. </p> <p> &nbsp;Isaiah 44:23 (b) This is a picture of the rich blessing that the earth will enjoy when the Lord [[Jesus]] [[Christ]] returns to earth to reign on the throne of David. (See &nbsp;Psalm 29:9). </p> <p> &nbsp;Jeremiah 5:6 (c) The forest is probably a type of the great group of nations of the world, out of which would come a conqueror. (See also &nbsp;Ezekiel 15:6). </p>

<p> is the rendering in the Auth. Vers. of three distinct Heb. words. (See [[Topographical Terms]]). </p> <p> '''1.''' Usually and most properly יִעִר, ''Ya'Ar,'' or יִעֲרָה, ''Yaa'Rah'' (once rendered; "wood," &nbsp;Deuteronomy 19:5), signifying a dense woods from its ''Redundancy Or Luxuriance,'' such as is seen in the growth of forest-trees, and in use restricted (with the exception of &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:26, and &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:1, in which it refers to honey) to an abundance of trees. It is the name given to all the great primeval forests of Syria, where the stately trees grew (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:6; &nbsp;Isaiah 44:14), and where the wild beasts had their homes (&nbsp;Jeremiah 5:6; &nbsp;Micah 5:8). Hosea (&nbsp;Hosea 2:12) appears to use it as equivalent to the Arabic ''Ya'Ur,'' a ''Rugged And [[Desolate]] Place,'' like ''Midbar'' or "wilderness." (See [[Wood]]). </p> <p> '''2.''' חֹרֶשׁ, ''Cho'Resh,'' is apparently derived from a [[Chaldee]] root, חֲרִשׁ, to be entangled, and would therefore signify ''A Thicket'' of trees or bushes, such as might afford a safe hiding-place (comp. &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15), and such as is now often seen in Palestine on the sites of ruined cities (comp. &nbsp;Isaiah 17:9). It applies to woods of less extent, the word itself, according to others, involving, the idea of what is cut down (from חָרִשׁ, Gesen. ''Thes.'' page 530): it is only twice (&nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15 sq.; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4) applied to woods properly so called; its sense, however, is illustrated in the other passages in which it occurs, viz. &nbsp;Isaiah 17:9 (A.V. "bough"), where the comparison is to the solitary relic of an ancient forest, and &nbsp;Ezekiel 31:3, where it applies to trees or foliage sufficient to afford shelter (Vulg. ''Frondibus Nemorosus;'' A.V. "with a shadowing shroud"). The term occurs seven times in Scripture, but is only once rendered forest" In the forests (Sept. ἐν τοῖς δρυμοῖς ) he built castles and towers" (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4). The locality here referred to appears to be the south of Judah, where the mountains were formerly, and are in places still, clothed with dwarf oaks and tangled shrubberies. (See [[Thicket]]). </p> <p> '''3.''' פִּרְדֵּס, ''Pardes','' a word of foreign origin, like the Greek παράδεισος, and the Arabic ''Pardasun,'' q.d. ''Park,'' means ''An Enclosed Garden'' or [[Plantation]] attached to a palace, intended either for ornament or for containing animals of the chase (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:5; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:13; comp. Xenophon, Cyrop. 1:3, 12). It is found only three times in the Bible, and is once translated forest. In &nbsp;Nehemiah 2:8, Asaph is called "the keeper of the king's forest" (Sept. τοῦ παραδείσου )'','' where it appropriately expresses the care with which the forests of Palestine were preserved under the Persian rule, a regular warden being appointed, without whose sanction no tree could be felled. [[Elsewhere]] the word describes an orchard (&nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:5; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:13). (See [[Orchard]]). </p> <p> Although Palestine has never, in historical times, been a woodland country, yet there can be no doubt that it contained much more wood formerly than it has at present. Tracts of woodland are mentioned by travelers in Palestine, but rarely what we should call a forest. There are still some remnants of ancient oak forests on the mountains of Bashan, Gilead, Hermon, and Galilee. One solitary grove of cedars exists on Lebanon, but fir-trees are there abundant. The other forests of Palestine (&nbsp;2 Kings 2:23; &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:25; &nbsp;1 Samuel 7:2, etc.) have almost disappeared. Yet here and there, in every district of the country, north and south, east and west, one meets with a solitary oak or terebinth of huge dimensions, as at Hebron, and the valley of Elah, and Shiloh, and Daniel These are the last trees of the forests, and serve to indicate what the forests of Palestine once were. Hence it is probable that the highlands were once covered with a primeval forest, of which the celebrated oaks and terebinths (e.g. those of Abraham, Tabor, etc.) scattered here and there were the relics. The woods and forests mentioned in the Bible appear to have been situated where they are usually found in cultivated countries, in the valleys and defiles that lead down from the high to the low lands, and in the adjacent plains. They were therefore of no great size, and correspond rather with the idea of the Latin saltus than with our forest. The following are those that occur in Scripture. (See [[Tree]]). </p> <p> '''(1.)''' The most extensive was ''The Forest (Yaar,'' "wood") ''Of Ephraim,'' implying a region of Ephraim covered with forests where Mount [[Jearim]] ''(Hill Of Forests)'' was situated (&nbsp;Joshua 15:10); or in allusion to the name of the city Kirjath-jearim (&nbsp;1 Samuel 7:1-2). It clothed the slopes of the hills that bordered the plain of Jezreel, and the plain itself in the neighborhood of [[Bethshan]] (&nbsp;Joshua 17:15 sq.), extending, perhaps, at one time to Tabor, which is translated δρυμός by [[Theodotion]] (&nbsp;Hosea 5:1), and which is still well covered with forest-trees (Stanley, p. 350). It is, perhaps, the same with the wood of Ephratah (&nbsp;Psalms 132:6). (See [[Ephratah]]). </p> <p> '''(2.)''' There was a ''Trans-Jordanic Forest (Yaar,'' "wood") ''Of Ephraim'' (&nbsp;2 Samuel 18:6; Sept. δρυμός )''.'' It was here that the army of Absalom was defeated, and he himself slain. It lay near, probably a little to the west of, the town of Mahanaim, where David had his headquarters, and where he received the first tidings of the fate of his son (17:26; 18:24). Why a forest east of the Jordan should bear the name [[Ephraim]] cannot now be determined; but one thing is certain — in the noble oaks which still clothe the hills of Gilead north of the [[Jabbok]] we see the remnants of "the wood of Ephraim," and the representative of that "great oak" in one of whose branches Absalom was strangely imprisoned (18:9; see Porter's ''Handbook For Syria And Palestine,'' pages 311, 314). Winer places it on the west side of the Jordan; but a comparison of &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:26; &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:3; &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:23, proves the reverse. The statement in 18:23, in particular, marks its position as on the highlands, at some little distance from the valley of the Jordan (comp. Joseph. ''Ant.'' 7:10, 12). (See [[Wood Of Ephraim]]). </p> <p> '''(3.)''' The ''Forest (Yaar,'' Sept. πόλις, A.V. "forest") ''Of Hareth,'' in the mountains of Judah, to which David withdrew to avoid the fury of Saul (&nbsp;1 Samuel 22:5), was somewhere on the border of the Philistine plain, in the southern part of Judah. (See [[Hareth]]). </p> <p> '''(4.)''' The ''Wood (Choresh,'' Sept. ὄρος, A.V. "wood") ''In The [[Wilderness]] Of Ziph,'' in which David concealed himself (&nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15 sq.), lay south- east of Hebron. (See [[Ziph]]). </p> <p> '''(5.)''' ''The Forest (Yaar,'' Sept. δρυμός, A.V. "wood") ''Of Bethel'' (&nbsp;2 Kings 2:23-24) was situated in the ravine which descends to the plain of Jericho. — (See [[Bethel]]). — </p> <p> '''(6.)''' The ''Forest (Yaar,'' δρυμός, "wood") through which the Israelites passed in their pursuit of the [[Philistines]] (&nbsp;1 Samuel 14:25) was probably near [[Aijalon]] (1 Samuel 5:31), in one of the valleys leading down to the plain of Philistia. (See [[Saul]]). </p> <p> '''(7.)''' ''The Woods (Choresh,'' δρυμός, "forest") in which Jotham placed his forts (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4) must have been similarly situated. (See [[Jotham]]). </p> <p> '''(8.)''' The plain of [[Sharon]] was partly covered with wood (Strab. 17:758), whence the Sept. gives δρυμοί as an equivalent for that name in &nbsp;Isaiah 65:10. It has still a fair amount of wood (Stanley, page 260). SEE SHARON. </p> <p> '''(9.)''' ''The [[Excellency]] Or [[Pride]] Of The Jordan,'' so called from its green and shady banks, clothed with willows, tamarisks, and cane, in which lions made their covert (&nbsp;Zechariah 11:3; &nbsp;Jeremiah 12:5). (See Jordan). </p> <p> '''(10.)''' ''The Forest (Yaar) Of Cedars On Mount Lebanon'' (&nbsp;2 Kings 19:23; &nbsp;Hosea 14:5-6), which must have been much more extensive formerly than at present; although, on the assumption that the "cedar" of [[Scripture]] is the ''Pinus Cedrus,'' or so-called " cedar of Lebanon," its growth is by no means confined, among those mountains, to the famous clump of ancient trees which has alone engaged the attention of travelers. (See [[Cedar]]). The American missionaries and others, travalling by unfrequented routes, have found woods of less ancient cedar-trees in other places. (See 1. Lebanon)'''''' "The house of the ''Forest (Yaar)'' of Lebanon" is several times mentioned. It appears to have been a part of the royal palace built by Solomon at Jerusalem, and used as an armory (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:2 sq.; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:17-21; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:16-20). The house had "four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars, and it was covered with ceda, above upon thee beams." Hence, in all probability, its name (see Keil, ad loc.). (See Solomon). </p> <p> "The forest (yaar, δρυμός ) ''Of Carmel''' is a phrase used is &nbsp;2 Kings 19:23, and &nbsp;Isaiah 37:24, in reference to the ravages committed by the army of Sennacherib on the land of Israel. The meaning of the clause, יִעִר כִּרְמַלוֹ ("forest of his Carmel"), seems to be ''Its Garden'' forest; that is,' the garden-like cedar forests of Lebanon, to which reference is made (see Keil on Kings, and [[Alexander]] on Isaiah, ad loc.). </p> <p> '''(11.)''' The ''Forest (Yaar)'' in Arabia" occurs in &nbsp;Isaiah 21:13. The phrase is remarkable, because Arabia is a country singularly destitute of trees. In no part of it are there any, traces of forests.' (The Sept. translates the passage ἐν τῷ δρυμῷ ἑσπὲρας; and Lowth and others adopt. it; but the Masoretic reading is preferable.) The meaning of the word יִעִר in this place is probably the same as that of the Arabic yaur, a rugged region, whether wooded or not. (See [[Arabia]]). </p> <p> '''(12.)''' In &nbsp;Zechariah 11:2 there is a singular expression "Howl, [[O]] ye oaks of Bashan, for the ''Forest Of The Vintage'' is come down." The Hebrew יִעִר הִבֵּצַוֹר (Sept. ὁ δρυμὸς ὁ σύμφυτος ) rather signifies "the fortified forest" (Vulg. ''Saltus'' munitus), and it is probable that Jerusalem is thus figuratively alluded to, the houses of which are close together as the trees of a forest (compare &nbsp;Micah 3:12; see Henderson, ''Of The Minor Prophets,'' ad loc.). It may, however, refer to the devastation of that region, for the greater portion of Peaea was, and still is, covered with forests of oak and terebinth (&nbsp;Isaiah 2:13,; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:6; comp. Buckingham's Palestine, page 103 sq., 240 sq.; Stanley, p. 324). (See [[Bashan]]). </p> <p> Forest is used symbolically to denote a city, kingdom, polity, or the like (Ezekiel 14:26). [[Devoted]] kingdoms are also represented under the image of a forest, which God threatens to burn or cut down. (See &nbsp;Isaiah 10:17-19; &nbsp;Isaiah 10:34, where the briers and thorns denote the common people; "the glory of the forest" are the nobles and those of highest rank and importance. See also &nbsp;Isaiah 32:19; &nbsp;Isaiah 37:24; &nbsp;Jeremiah 21:14; &nbsp;Jeremiah 22:7; &nbsp;Jeremiah 46:23; &nbsp;Zechariah 11:2.) It was also an image of unfruitfulness as contrasted with a cultivated field or vineyard (&nbsp;Isaiah 29:17; &nbsp;Isaiah 32:15; &nbsp;Jeremiah 26:18; &nbsp;Hosea 2:12). (See Palestine). </p>

<p> '''''for´est''''' : </p> <p> (1) חרשׁ , <i> '''''ḥōresh''''' </i> (compare proper name <i> '''''Harosheth''''' </i> ), &nbsp;2 Chronicles 27:4 . In &nbsp;1 Samuel 23:15 translated "wood"; in &nbsp; Isaiah 17:9 , "wood"; in &nbsp;Ezekiel 31:3 , "forest-like shade." [[Applied]] to any thick growth of vegetation but not necessarily so extensive as (3). </p> <p> (2) פרדּס , <i> '''''pardēṣ''''' </i> ̌ <i> : </i> &nbsp; Nehemiah 2:8 , margin "park"; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:5 , the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:13 , English [[Versions]] of the Bible "orchard," the Revised Version, margin "paradise." A word of Persian origin signifying probably an enclosure. See [[Paradise]] . </p> <p> (3) יער , <i> '''''ya‛ar''''' </i> from root meaning "rugged"; compare Arabic <i> '''''wa‛ar''''' </i> , "a rugged, stony region." It is sometimes rendered "forest" and sometimes (but less often in the Revised Version (British and American)) "wood." It is used of certain definite wooded tracts: "the forest in Arabia" (&nbsp;Isaiah 21:13 , margin "thickets"); "the forest of Carmel" (&nbsp;2 Kings 19:23 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "of his fruitful field"); "the forest of Hereth" (&nbsp; 1 Samuel 22:5 ); "the forest of Lebanon" (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:2 f; &nbsp; 1 Kings 10:17-21; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 9:16-20 ); "the forest of Ephraim," east of the Jordan (&nbsp;2 Samuel 18:6 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:8 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:17 ). The word <i> '''''ya‛ar''''' </i> appears also in well-known Kiriath-jearim, "the city of forests," and Mr. Jearim (&nbsp;Joshua 15:10 ). Among numerous other references the following may be cited: &nbsp;Deuteronomy 19:5; &nbsp;Joshua 17:15 , &nbsp;Joshua 17:18; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 16:33; &nbsp;2 Kings 2:24; &nbsp;Psalm 80:13; &nbsp;Psalm 83:14; &nbsp;Psalm 96:12; &nbsp;Psalm 132:6; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 2:6; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:3; &nbsp;1 Samuel 7:2; &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:25 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 14:26; &nbsp;Jeremiah 4:29; &nbsp;Jeremiah 46:23; &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:29; &nbsp;Micah 3:12; &nbsp;Micah 7:14 . </p> <p> (4) סבך , <i> '''''ṣebhakh''''' </i> , from root meaning "to interweave." A "thicket" (&nbsp;Genesis 22:13; &nbsp;Jeremiah 4:7 ); "thicket of trees" (&nbsp;Psalm 74:5 ); "thickets of the forest" (&nbsp;Isaiah 9:18; &nbsp;Isaiah 10:34 ). </p> <p> (5) עבים , <i> '''''‛ābhı̄m''''' </i> , "thicket" (&nbsp;Jeremiah 4:29 ). </p> <p> From many references it is evident that Palestine had in Old Testament times much more extensive forests and woodlands than today. For a discussion of the subject see [[Botany]] . </p>