Goodly Trees
Easton's Bible Dictionary [1]
Leviticus 23:40 Nehemiah 8:15
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
is the rendering of עֵוֹ הָדָר , Ets Hadar', Tree Of Splendor, the Fruit ( פְּדַי , "boughs") of which (Sept. Καρπὸς Ζύλου Ώραῖος , Vulg. Fructus Arboris Pulcherrimae), The Israelites were directed to take (i.e., carry about in festive procession) on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, in memory of their having dwelt in booths in the wilderness ( Leviticus 23:40). The tree generally conceded to be meant is the Citron (Celsius, Hierobot. 1:252), the fruit of which Josephus states was that in the hands of the Jews on the day of the festival of the Scenopegia, when they pelted king Jannseus with it (Ant. 13:13, 5). (See Citron). Others regard the Olive as meant, this being the tree mentioned in the parallel account of Nehemiah 8:15. It would seem, however, that no specific tree is intended, but any one of sufficient size and beauty to be suitable to the occasion (Ursini Arboret. Bibl. page 577. (See Tree).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [3]
( פרי עץ הדר , perı̄ ‛ēc hādhār , "the fruit (the King James Version "boughs") of goodly (= beautiful or noble) trees"): One of the four species of plants used in the Feast of Tabernacles ( Leviticus 23:40 ). In the Talmud ( Ṣukkāh 35 a ) this is explained to be the citron ( Citrus medica ) known in Hebrew as 'ethrōgh ̌ . This tradition is ancient, at least as old as the Maccabees. Josephus ( Ant. , Xiii , xiii, 5) records that Alexander Janneus, while serving at the altar during this feast, was pelted by the infuriated Jews with citrons. This fruit also figures on coins of this period. It is probable that the citron tree ( Malum Persica ) was imported from Babylon by Jews returning from the captivity. A citron is now carried in the synagogue by every orthodox Jew in one hand, and the lūlābh (of myrtle, willow, and palm branch) in the other, on each day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Originally the "goodly trees" had a much more generic sense, and the term is so interpreted by the Septuagint and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible , 390-405 ad) See Feasts And Fasts; Booth .
