Difference between revisions of "Oil Tree"

<p> '''Oil Tree.''' (Hebrew, '''ets shemen''' ). The [[Hebrew]] words occur in &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:15. (Authorized Version, "pine branches"), &nbsp;1 Kings 6:23, ( ''"Olive Tree"'' ), and in &nbsp;Isaiah 41:19. ( ''"Oil Tree"'' ). </p> <p> From the passage in Nehemiah, where the '''ets shemen''' is mentioned as distinct from the olive tree, if may perhaps be identified with the ''Zackum'' tree of the Arabs, the '''Balanites aegyptiaca''' , a well-known and abundant shrub, or small tree, in the plain of Jordan. The zackum oil is held in high repute by the Arabs, for its medicinal properties. ''See '' [[Olive]] ''.'' </p>

<p> ''''''Eets Shemen''''' (&nbsp;Isaiah 41:19), but in KJV &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:15 "pine branches." Probably the '''''Zackum''''' or '''''Βalanites Αegyptiaca''''' is meant. Distinct from the '''''Zayit''''' , "olive tree." The '''''Zackum''''' is a small tree abundant in the [[Jordan]] plain. It is found all the way from India to Syria, Abyssinia, and the Niger. The zackum oil is highly esteemed by the Arabs as a remedy for wounds. </p>

<p> ''''' oil ''''' ''''' trē ''''' ( שׁמן עץ , <i> ''''' ‛ēc ''''' </i> <i> ''''' shemen ''''' </i> (&nbsp; Isaiah 41:19 ), margin "oleaster," in &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:15 , translated "wild olive," the King James Version "pine"; שׁמן עצי , <i> ''''' ‛ācē ''''' </i> <i> ''''' shemen ''''' </i> , in &nbsp;1 Kings 6:23 , &nbsp;1 Kings 6:31 , &nbsp;1 Kings 6:32 , translated "olive wood"): The name "oleaster" used to be applied to the wild olive, but now belongs to quite another plant, the silver-berry, <i> Eleagnus hortensis </i> (Natural Order <i> Elaeagnaceae </i> ), known in Arabic as Zeizafan. It is a pretty shrub with sweet-smelling white flowers and silver-grey-green leaves. It is difficult to see how all the three references can apply to this tree; it will suit the first two, but this small shrub would never supply wood for carpentry work such as that mentioned in 1 Kings, hence, the translation "olive wood." On the other hand, in the reference in &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:15 , olive branches are mentioned just before, so the translation "wild olive" (the difference being too slight) is improbable. Post suggests the translation of <i> ''''' 'ec ''''' </i> <i> ''''' shemen ''''' </i> by [[Pine]] (which see), which if accepted would suit all the requirements. </p>