Tree (Hastings' Dictionary)

The Holy Land is not now a land of trees. Even the mountain to|)s are for the most part bare, and none of the primeval forests have been preserved. This very fact emphasizes the importance and value of trees, wherever they are planted or grow spontaneously. A large part of the trees that exist are cultivated for their fruits, as the palm, fig, apple, pear, ajiricot, peach, plum, banana, oranj;e, lemon, citron, walnut, pistachio; or their leaves, as the mulberry ; or their wood, as the pine.

Solitary trees or small groves are planted by tombs (1 S 31''') or on high places. From ancient limes men loved " n;;^ and (Neh 3'» 1244 is7f ) n;;;'^. ♦ Neh 137 lone. 1 1 Mac 144» ; cf. Grimm, ad luc. I 2 Mac 3"> ; cf. Grimm, ad (oo. ; 1 Mac 144a, 2 Mac S«< ■mvi \>t BIS. I /W v. V. 2, Ti. T. 2. U AnI. XIX. vi. 1 flO teespass-offeki:ng TRIBE to rest under such trees (Gn IS*- », 1 S 22"). When the hail broke ' every tree ' in E^'ypt (Ex 9^), it was a national disaster.

A fruit tree near a besiej,'ed city was not to be cut down (Dt 20'^), but to be kept for the use of the besieged. Otlier trees might be cut (v.-"). 'A tree planted by watercourses' (Ps 1') was an emblem of vigour (cf. the vision in Dn 4). The expression ' tree of life ' (Gn 3, ^) was afterwards applied figuratively (Pr 3'* 11^° 13'- 15^). A tree is known by its truit (Mt 12^). Allusion is made to the great variety of trees which nourish in Palestine (Lv 19-^, Ec 2^).

Under ' the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ' (Gn 2" 3") our first parents fell. Under the trees of Getli- scmane our Saviour accepted His Fatlier's will (Mt o|;;iG-i6) T[,g < jree of life ' in heaven has food and healing for the nations (Rev 22-'- '■').

The trees of Palestine and Syria are tamnrisk, orange, lemon, citron, zakkflm, Pride of India, jujube, maple, pistachio, terebinth, sumach, mo- ringa, mastich, carob, redbud, acacia, almond, cherry, plum, apple, pear, service tree, medlar, liawthorn, olive, axh, cordia, castor-oil, elm, hack- berry, mulberry. Jig, syr.omore, plane, walnut, alder, hornbeam, ironwood, hazel, oak, beech, willow, poplar, cypress, juniper, yew, pine, cedar, spruce, palm.

Those which are in italics are mentioned in EV sometimes wrongly (see artt. on individual trees). Tlie chestnut (AV ; RV plane tree) is not found in Palestine. G. E. Post.