Difference between revisions of "Oak"

<p> '''''Eeyl''''' , from '''''Uwl''''' "strong," as the Latin '''''Robur''''' . The terebinth or turpentine tree. Eloth, Elim, etc., take their name hence; so for "teil tree" (&nbsp;Isaiah 6:13; &nbsp;Isaiah 1:29), and for "elms" (&nbsp;Hosea 4:13), '''''Eelah''''' ; '''''Allon''''' is the "oaks"; also '''''Eelon''''' is "the oak." The '''''Quercus Psedo-Coccifera''''' is the most abundant in Palestine, covering [[Carmel]] with dense brushwood eight to twelve feet high. Its roots are dug up as fuel in the valleys S. of Lebanon, where the living tree is no longer to be seen. Abram's oak near Hebron is of this species, still flourishing in the midst of a field, the stock 23 ft. in girth, and the branch spreading over a circle 90 ft. in diameter. </p> <p> It is probably sprung from some far back offshoot of the original grove under which he pitched his tent (&nbsp;Genesis 13:18), "Abram dwelt at the oaks of [[Mamre]] in Hebron." The '''''Quercus Aegilops''''' , or "prickly cupped Valonia oak", is found on the hills E. of [[Nazareth]] and Tabor. The '''''Quercus Infectoria''''' or "dyeing oak" is seldom higher than 30 ft., growing on the eastern sides of [[Lebanon]] and the hills of Galilee; its gall-nuts, formed by the puncture of an insect, contain tannin and gallic acid used for dyeing and ink. Dr. Hooker conjectures the two aegilops to represent the "oaks of Bashan" (&nbsp;Isaiah 2:13). [[Deborah]] was buried under an oak (&nbsp;Genesis 35:8). So Saul (&nbsp;1 Samuel 31:13). Idolaters sacrificed under oaks (&nbsp;Isaiah 1:29). Under one Joshua set up a pillar at [[Shechem]] to commemorate the nation's covenant with God (&nbsp;Joshua 24:26). The "tree" in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 4) is ''''''Ilan''''' , any "strong tree". </p>

<p> As many as six varieties of the oak are found in Palestine. Dr. Robinson speaks of one at Hebron which had a trunk twenty-two and a half feet in circumference; and saw the crests and sides of the hills beyond the [[Jordan]] still clothed, as in ancient times, with magnificent oaks, &nbsp;Isaiah 2:13 &nbsp; Zechariah 11:2 . The oak is often referred to in Scripture, &nbsp;Genesis 35:8 &nbsp; Isaiah 44:14 &nbsp; Amos 2:9 . There is, however, a second [[Hebrew]] word often translated "oak," which is supposed to denote the terebinth or turpentine-tree, called butm by the Arabs, &nbsp;Genesis 35:4 &nbsp; Judges 6:11,19 &nbsp; 2 Samuel 18:9,14 . It is translated "elm" in &nbsp;Hosea 4.13 , and "teil-tree" in &nbsp;Isaiah 6:13 , in which passages the true oak is also mentioned. In many passages where "plain" or "plains" occurs, we should probably understand "terebinth" or "a grove of terebinths," &nbsp;Genesis 12:6 &nbsp; 13:18 &nbsp; 14:13 &nbsp; 18:1 &nbsp; Deuteronomy 11:30 &nbsp; Judges 9:6 . </p> <p> This tree was found in all countries around the Mediterranean, and in [[Palestine]] grew to a large size. It was very long-lived. For many ages after Christ, a tree of this kind near [[Heron]] was superstitiously venerated as one of those under which [[Abraham]] dwelt at Mamre. Under the welcome shade of oaks and other large trees many public affairs were transacted; sacrifices were offered, courts were held, and kings were crowned, &nbsp;Joshua 24:26 &nbsp; Judges 6:11,19 &nbsp; 9:6 . See [[Grove]] </p>

<li> 'Allon, always rendered "oak." Probably the evergreen oak (called also ilex and holm oak) is intended. The oak woods of Bashan are frequently alluded to (&nbsp;Isaiah 2:13; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:6 ). Three species of oaks are found in Palestine, of which the "prickly evergreen oak" (Quercus coccifera) is the most abundant. "It covers the rocky hills of Palestine with a dense brushwood of trees from 8 to 12 feet high, branching from the base, thickly covered with small evergreen rigid leaves, and bearing acorns copiously." The so-called Abraham's oak at Hebron is of this species. Tristram says that this oak near Hebron "has for several centuries taken the place of the once renowned terebinth which marked the site of Mamre on the other side of the city. The terebinth existed at Mamre in the time of Vespasian, and under it the captive [[Jews]] were sold as slaves. It disappeared about A.D. 330, and no tree now marks the grove of Mamre. The present oak is the noblest tree in Southern Palestine, being 23 feet in girth, and the diameter of the foliage, which is unsymmetrical, being about 90 feet." (See [[Hebron; Teil-Tree]] ) <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Oak'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/o/oak.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> ''''' ōk ''''' : Several Hebrew words are so translated, but there has always been great doubt as to which words should be translated "oak" and which "terebinth." This uncertainty appears in the [[Septuagint]] and all through English [[Versions]] of the Bible; in recent revisions "terebinth" has been increasingly added in the margin. All the Hebrew words are closely allied and may originally have had simply the meaning of "tree" but it is clear that, when the Old [[Testament]] was written, they indicated some special kind of tree. </p> 1. Hebrew Words and References: <p> The words and references are as follows: </p> <p> (1) אלה , ''''' ' ''''' <i> ēlāh </i> (in the Septuagint usually τερέβινθος , <i> ''''' terébinthos ''''' </i> . in [[Vulgate]] (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) <i> terebinthus </i> , or, more commonly, <i> quercus </i> ) (&nbsp; Genesis 35:4; &nbsp;Judges 6:11 , &nbsp;Judges 6:19; &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:9 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:10 , &nbsp;2 Samuel 18:14; &nbsp;1 Kings 13:14; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 10:12; &nbsp;Isaiah 1:30; &nbsp;Ezekiel 6:13 - in all these margin "terebinth "). In &nbsp; Isaiah 6:13 (the King James Version "teil tree") and &nbsp; Hosea 4:13 (the King James Version "elms") the translation is "terebinths" because of the juxtaposition of <i> ''''' 'allōn ''''' </i> , translated "oaks." "Vale of Elah" (margin "the Terebinth") is found in &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:2 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 17:19; &nbsp;1 Samuel 21:9 . The expression in &nbsp;Isaiah 1:30 , "whose leaf fadeth," is more appropriate to the terebinth than the oak (see below). </p> <p> (2) אלּה , <i> ''''' 'allāh ''''' </i> ( <i> terebinthos </i> , <i> quercus </i> (Vulgate)), apparently a slight variant for <i> ''''' 'ēlāh ''''' </i> ; only in &nbsp; Joshua 24:26; &nbsp;Genesis 35:4 ( <i> ''''' 'ēlāh ''''' </i> ) and in &nbsp;Judges 9:6 ( <i> ''''' 'ēlōn ''''' </i> ). </p> <p> (3) אלים , <i> ''''' 'ēlı̄m ''''' </i> or אילים , <i> ''''' 'eylı̄m ''''' </i> , perhaps plural of <i> ''''' 'ēlāh ''''' </i> occurs in &nbsp; Isaiah 1:29 (margin "terebinths"); &nbsp; Isaiah 57:5 , margin "with idols," the King James Version "idols," margin "oaks"; &nbsp;Isaiah 61:3 , "trees"; &nbsp;Ezekiel 31:14 (text very doubtful), "height," the King James Version margin "upon themselves"; איל , <i> ''''' 'ēl ''''' </i> , in El-paran Septuagint <i> ''''' terebinthos ''''' </i> ) (&nbsp;Genesis 14:6 ), probably means the "tree" or "terebinth" of Paran. [[Celsius]] ( <i> Hierob </i> . 1, 34 ff) argues at length that the above words apply well to the Terebinth (which see) in all the passages in which they occur. </p> <p> (4) אלון , <i> ''''' 'ēlōn ''''' </i> (usually δρῦς , <i> ''''' drús ''''' </i> , "oak"), in &nbsp; Genesis 12:6; &nbsp;Genesis 13:18; &nbsp;Genesis 14:13; &nbsp;Genesis 18:1; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:30; &nbsp;Joshua 19:33; &nbsp;Judges 4:11; &nbsp;Judges 9:6 , &nbsp;Judges 9:37; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:3 (the King James Version "plain"); in all these references the margin has "terebinth" or "terebinths." In &nbsp; Genesis 12:6; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:30 we have "oak" or "oaks" "of the teacher" (Moreh); "oak in Zaanannim" in &nbsp; Judges 4:11; &nbsp;Joshua 19:33; the "oak of Meonenim," margin "the augurs' oak (or, terebinth)" in &nbsp;Judges 9:37 . </p> <p> (5) אלּון , <i> ''''' 'allōn ''''' </i> (commonly δρῦς , <i> ''''' drús ''''' </i> , or βάλανος , <i> ''''' bálanos ''''' </i> ), in &nbsp; Genesis 35:8 (compare &nbsp; Genesis 35:4 ); &nbsp;Hosea 4:13; &nbsp;Isaiah 6:13 , is contrasted with <i> ''''' 'ēlāh ''''' </i> , showing that <i> ''''' 'allōn ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' 'ēlāh ''''' </i> cannot be identical, so no marginal references occur; also in &nbsp;Isaiah 44:14; &nbsp;Amos 2:9 , but in all other passages, the margin "terebinth" or "terebinths" occurs. "Oaks of Bashan" occurs in &nbsp;Isaiah 2:13; &nbsp;Ezekiel 27:6; &nbsp;Zechariah 11:2 . </p> <p> If (1) (2) (3) refer especially to the terebinth, then (4) and (5) are probably correctly translated "oak." If we may judge at all by present conditions, "oaks" of Bashan is far more correct than "terebinths" of Bashan. </p> 2. Varieties of Oak: <p> There are, according to Post ( <i> [[Flora]] of Palestine </i> , 737-41), no less than 9 species of oak (Natural Order <i> Cupuliferae </i> ) in Syria, and he adds to these 12 sub-varieties. Many of these have no interest except to the botanist. The following species are widespread and distinctive: (1) The "Turkey oak," <i> Quercus cerris </i> , known in Arabic as <i> ''''' Ballût ''''' </i> , as its name implies, abounds all over European [[Turkey]] and [[Greece]] and is common in Palestine. Under favorable conditions it attains to great size, reaching as much as 60 ft. in height. It is distinguished by its large sessile acorns with hemispherical cups covered with long, narrow, almost bristly, scales, giving them a mossy aspect. The wood is hard and of fine grain. Galls are common upon its branches. </p> <p> (2) <i> Quercus lusitanica </i> (or <i> Ballota </i> ), also known in Arabic as <i> ''''' Ballût ''''' </i> , like the last is frequently found dwarfed to a bush, but, when protected, attains a height of 30 ft. or more. The leaves are denate or crenate and last late into the winter, but are shed before the new twigs are developed. The acorns are solitary or few in cluster, and the cupules are more or less smooth. Galls are common, and a variety of this species is often known as <i> Q. infectoria </i> , on account of its liability to infection with galls. </p> <p> (3) The Valonica oak ( <i> Q. aceglops </i> ), known in Arabic as <i> ''''' Mellût ''''' </i> , has large oblong or ovate deciduous leaves, with deep serrations terminating in a bristle-like point, and very large acorns, globular, thick cupules covered with long reflexed scales. The cupules, known commercially as valonica, furnish one of the richest of tanning materials. </p> <p> (4) The Evergreen oak is often classed under the general name "Ilex oak" or Holm (i.e. holly-like) oak. Several varieties are described as occurring in Palestine. <i> Q. ilex </i> usually has rather a shrublike growth, with abundant glossy, dark-green leaves, oval in shape and more or less prickly at the margins, though sometimes entire. The cupules of the acorns are woolly. It shows a marked predilection for the neighborhood of the sea. The <i> Q. coccifera </i> (with var. <i> Q. pseudococcifera </i> ) is known in Arabic as <i> ''''' Sindiān ''''' </i> . The leaves, like the last, usually are prickly. The acorns are solitary or twin, and the hemispherical cupules are more or less velvety. On the <i> Q. coccifera </i> are found the insects which make the well-known Kermes dye. These evergreen oaks are the common trees at sacred tombs, and the once magnificent, but now dying, "Abraham's oak" at Hebron is one of this species. </p> 3. Oaks in Modern Palestine: <p> Oaks occur in all parts of Palestine, in spite of the steady ruthless destruction which has been going on for centuries. All over Carmel, Tabor, around [[Banias]] and in the hills to the West of Nazareth, to mention well-known localities, there are forests of oak; great tracts of country, especially in [[Galilee]] and East of the Jordan, are covered by a stunted brushwood which, were it not for the wood-cutter, would grow into noble trees. [[Solitary]] oaks of magnificent proportions occur in many parts of the land, especially upon hilltops; such trees are saved from destruction because of their "sacred" character. To bury beneath such a tree has ever been a favorite custom (compare &nbsp;Genesis 35:8; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 10:12 ). Large trees like these, seen often from great distances, are frequently landmarks (&nbsp;Joshua 19:33 ) or places of meeting (compare "Oak of Tabor," &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:3 ). The custom of heathen worship beneath oaks or terebinths (&nbsp;Hosea 4:13; &nbsp;Ezekiel 6:13 , etc.) finds its modern counterpart in the cult of the <i> ''''' Wely ''''' </i> in Palestine. The oak is sometimes connected with some historical event, as e.g. Abraham's oak of Mamre now shown at Hebron, and "the oak of weeping," <i> ''''' [[Allon]] ''''' </i> <i> ''''' bacuth ''''' </i> , of &nbsp;Genesis 35:8 . </p>