925. In the Holy Land, barley was mainly used to feed animals because its protein content was less than wheat. It was also the chief grain of the poor people and so it became a symbol of poverty. Barley was such a staple grain of the Hebrews that it furnished them with units of measurement-three barley grains laid end to end were equal to an inch, about twenty-four to a "span," and forty-eight to a "cubit" (about seventeen inches).
926. The tall papyrus reed or bulrush was one of the most abundant plants to grow along the banks of the Nile. At the top of its fifteen-foot stem is a plume of wispy stalks that resemble feathers. Papyrus furnished the world's first material for making paper. In fact our word paper is derived from it. The stem was pressed flat under heavy weights until it dried. It was then cut into sheets of suitable size, which were polished with ivory to make a smooth writing surface. Sometimes sheets were glued or sewn together to make long rolls of paper, usually about thirty feet long. One roll has been discovered that is 130 feet in length! Each end of the roll was attached to a handle to make winding easier.
927. In Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, the younger of two sons squandered his half of the inheritance. He then became so poor that he would fill his belly with the husks that the swine ate (Luke 15:16). Husks came from the pods of the carob tree, also commonly called the locust, which were fed to farm animals.
928. The carob tree grows beans in a pod that resemble our green peas. Today in the Near East the pods provide fodder for animals and food for very poor people, although in Jesus' time humans did not eat them unless they were famished as the prodigal son.
929. Some think that the "locust" (Matt 3:4) John the Baptist ate in the wilderness was not the insect but rather the pod from the carob tree. For this reason the carob is sometimes called "Saint John's bread tree."
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Thursday, December 17, 2015
The Plant Kingdom V
920. Wormwood is used to symbolize bitterness because it has a unique bitterness taste. The plant has many species that grow in Palestine. It is almost more of a shrub, though it can grow quite tall. It is in the same plant family as mugwart and western sagebrush. These plants all have a bitter taste and strong odor. The Hebrews thought of bitter things as poisonous and thus symbols of calamity and sorrow, but they used wormwood as a seasoning, a tonic, and a worm medicine.
921. Balm of Gilead refers to a fragrant resin that is obtained from cuts in the bark of trees. It is used for both perfumes and medicines. Several different plants produce such resins, and no one is sure which one Jeremiah meant. It might have been the Jericho balsam, but a more likely possibility is liquidambar, which produces the gum known as storax or stacte, which is still used in medicine. It is almost identical to the tree Americans call red gum or sweet gum.
922. Compared to the desert, Canaan must have seemed like paradise, with its vineyards and its orchards of olives, figs, dates, and pomegranates. Next to the grape, the fig was the Israelites' most valued crop. It provided a large part of their daily food. Both figs and dates were eaten either fresh or dried. Fig fruits were also used medicinally; and the sheaths of date clusters provided a sap that was used to make a kind of wine as well as a syrup called "honey" in the Bible.
923. Pomegranates grow wild as large shrubs or small trees in many parts of the Near East. So important was this "apple with grains," filled with many red-colored, juicy seeds, to the Israelites that it was used as a design to decorate the Temple and also coins in Jerusalem.
924. Along the Nile and throughout the ancient Near East, the most important grain crops were wheat and barley. Both grains have been cultivated in Egypt and the Near East since the earliest recorded times. The earliest evidence comes from near Mount Carmel, on the coast of northern Israel. It dates from about nine thousand years ago.
921. Balm of Gilead refers to a fragrant resin that is obtained from cuts in the bark of trees. It is used for both perfumes and medicines. Several different plants produce such resins, and no one is sure which one Jeremiah meant. It might have been the Jericho balsam, but a more likely possibility is liquidambar, which produces the gum known as storax or stacte, which is still used in medicine. It is almost identical to the tree Americans call red gum or sweet gum.
922. Compared to the desert, Canaan must have seemed like paradise, with its vineyards and its orchards of olives, figs, dates, and pomegranates. Next to the grape, the fig was the Israelites' most valued crop. It provided a large part of their daily food. Both figs and dates were eaten either fresh or dried. Fig fruits were also used medicinally; and the sheaths of date clusters provided a sap that was used to make a kind of wine as well as a syrup called "honey" in the Bible.
923. Pomegranates grow wild as large shrubs or small trees in many parts of the Near East. So important was this "apple with grains," filled with many red-colored, juicy seeds, to the Israelites that it was used as a design to decorate the Temple and also coins in Jerusalem.
924. Along the Nile and throughout the ancient Near East, the most important grain crops were wheat and barley. Both grains have been cultivated in Egypt and the Near East since the earliest recorded times. The earliest evidence comes from near Mount Carmel, on the coast of northern Israel. It dates from about nine thousand years ago.
Friday, December 11, 2015
The Plant Kingdom lV
915. Hyssop is mentioned in the Bible on many occasions, but no plant we know of today by that name is a native species of the Middle East. It is thought that the plant referred to might be the herb marjoram, which is fragrant and comes from Syria.
916. The lily, though mentioned often in the Bible, is most likely not the common flower that goes by that name.
917. Mandrakes are a flowering herb that bears fruit in the spring. They are said to have powers and can serve as an aphrodisiac, which we know from Leah and Rachel's quarrel over their husband, Jacob, visiting their separate tents whether it was worth sharing some mandrakes in order to promote conception.
918. Myrtle has beautiful pink blossoms with a delicate fragrance; the leaves are also quite fragrant. The myrtle was used by Isaiah as a symbol of God's continuous care and provision of Israel (Isa. 41:19-20). The branches were used for festivals as well (Neh. 8:15-16).
919. Roses are not native to the Bible lands, and so it is unlikely that the blooms we know as roses actually grew there. More likely other flowers were being referred to. Roses are mentioned several times in the apocryphal books and once in Song of Solomon.
916. The lily, though mentioned often in the Bible, is most likely not the common flower that goes by that name.
917. Mandrakes are a flowering herb that bears fruit in the spring. They are said to have powers and can serve as an aphrodisiac, which we know from Leah and Rachel's quarrel over their husband, Jacob, visiting their separate tents whether it was worth sharing some mandrakes in order to promote conception.
918. Myrtle has beautiful pink blossoms with a delicate fragrance; the leaves are also quite fragrant. The myrtle was used by Isaiah as a symbol of God's continuous care and provision of Israel (Isa. 41:19-20). The branches were used for festivals as well (Neh. 8:15-16).
919. Roses are not native to the Bible lands, and so it is unlikely that the blooms we know as roses actually grew there. More likely other flowers were being referred to. Roses are mentioned several times in the apocryphal books and once in Song of Solomon.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
The Plant Kingdom lll
910. Sycamore trees vary from continent to continent. Those talked about in the Bible (Egypt and Palestine) are sturdy evergreen trees that bear figs. The Egyptians cultivated it for lumber as well as fruit, but in Israel it was mainly grown for the fruit. The sycamore tree is perhaps best remembered for its helping Zaccheus, a short man, see Jesus as He passed by.
911. Willow trees generally grow near streams in the Middle East. Most Bible references to the trees associate them with water as a result-"the willow of the brook" for instance.
912. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is perhaps the most notorious tree in history. The only source of temptation for Adam and Eve in the Garden was the tree from which God had told them not to eat.
913. The castor oil plant grows and withers quickly, especially when handled, and some believe it may be the "gourd" plant Jonah refers to in Jonah 4. The spiky, dark green leaves and reddish, yarnball blooms do not make gourds, however.
914. The city of Ashkelon was famed in the ancient world for the profusion of fruits and vegetables that grew in its fertile soil. One vegetable was the small onion or scallion, for which the city became noted in Roman times. Our word scallion comes from the Latin caepa Ascalonia, which means "onion of Ashkelon."
911. Willow trees generally grow near streams in the Middle East. Most Bible references to the trees associate them with water as a result-"the willow of the brook" for instance.
912. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is perhaps the most notorious tree in history. The only source of temptation for Adam and Eve in the Garden was the tree from which God had told them not to eat.
913. The castor oil plant grows and withers quickly, especially when handled, and some believe it may be the "gourd" plant Jonah refers to in Jonah 4. The spiky, dark green leaves and reddish, yarnball blooms do not make gourds, however.
914. The city of Ashkelon was famed in the ancient world for the profusion of fruits and vegetables that grew in its fertile soil. One vegetable was the small onion or scallion, for which the city became noted in Roman times. Our word scallion comes from the Latin caepa Ascalonia, which means "onion of Ashkelon."
Monday, December 7, 2015
The Plant Kingdom ll
905. Cutting down an olive tree actually rejuvenates it. At the time of cutting, new and more vigorous sprouts grow up out of the roots. The roots are extremely long-lived, and it is almost impossible to kill an olive tree merely by chopping it down. The olive branch is the symbol of peace in the ancient world, and it is fitting that it is associated with Jesus, who is known as the "Prince of Peace."
906. Solomon built smelters, (construction) a shipyard, and a port at Eziongeber (today known as Elath). His smelters were located in a seemingly unlikely place, an inhospitable desert where water was scarce. There was good reason for building them there, however. The smelters utilized some of the principles of the modern blast furnace. A constant and powerful wind roars down the valley where Solomon's smelters stood, and it acted as bellows that kept the furnace fires burning at high temperatures.
907. Forest trees served as a symbol of holiness to the Israelites. The names of both the oak and the terebinth, the two most common forest trees of the Holy Land, were derived from Hebrew words meaning "God." David's son Solomon, in the fourth year of his reign, began work on the magnificent Temple at Jerusalem. The walls of the Temple were built of marble, but they were roofed and lined inside with wood from the cedar of Lebanon.
908. Oak trees were used as burial places (Gen. 35:8; 1 Chron. 10:12). Three species of the oak tree grow in Palestine; it is believed the tabor oak is the one referred to in the Scripture.
909. Palm trees were especially abundant in the Jordan Valley, and Jericho is known as the "City of Palm Trees." Symbolically the trees were used to depict grace. The date palm also symbolized rejoicing; when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowds waved palm branches to celebrate and honor Him.
906. Solomon built smelters, (construction) a shipyard, and a port at Eziongeber (today known as Elath). His smelters were located in a seemingly unlikely place, an inhospitable desert where water was scarce. There was good reason for building them there, however. The smelters utilized some of the principles of the modern blast furnace. A constant and powerful wind roars down the valley where Solomon's smelters stood, and it acted as bellows that kept the furnace fires burning at high temperatures.
907. Forest trees served as a symbol of holiness to the Israelites. The names of both the oak and the terebinth, the two most common forest trees of the Holy Land, were derived from Hebrew words meaning "God." David's son Solomon, in the fourth year of his reign, began work on the magnificent Temple at Jerusalem. The walls of the Temple were built of marble, but they were roofed and lined inside with wood from the cedar of Lebanon.
908. Oak trees were used as burial places (Gen. 35:8; 1 Chron. 10:12). Three species of the oak tree grow in Palestine; it is believed the tabor oak is the one referred to in the Scripture.
909. Palm trees were especially abundant in the Jordan Valley, and Jericho is known as the "City of Palm Trees." Symbolically the trees were used to depict grace. The date palm also symbolized rejoicing; when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowds waved palm branches to celebrate and honor Him.
Friday, December 4, 2015
The Plant Kingdom l
900. Almond trees were admired for their beautiful blossoms by the ancients. The pretty blooms were even used in artwork, such as on the ark (Exod. 25: 33-34). The nuts, and oil taken from the nuts were used for food. Almond blossoms had a special religious significance for the Hebrews, who in ancient times carved them on the golden candlesticks in the tabernacle, and who still carry them to this day to the synagogue for festivals.
901. Apple trees are only mentioned in two books of the Bible: Proverbs and Song of Solomon. As a result, it is not clear if the "apple" tree was in fact apple-bearing, or if perhaps the "apples" might have been apricots or even figs.
902. Cedar trees came from Lebanon and were greatly prized for their height, strength, and the durability of the wood. The temples of early Israel utilized the mighty trees for their buildings. Cedar wood is mentioned for use in cleansing rituals, but it is now believed that specific reference was actually to a different type of wood, Phoenician juniper.
903. Solomon had the tall cedars felled by the thousands to supply timber for the temple and for his fabulous palace, which he named "the House of the Forest of Lebanon." He sent shifts of ten thousand Israelites a month to aid the native workers in cutting down the forests.
904. Only barren slopes remain where the cedars used to be. Only a few scattered groves survived the axes of empire after empire. One small grove is preserved in a park about eighty miles north of Beirut, Lebanon.
901. Apple trees are only mentioned in two books of the Bible: Proverbs and Song of Solomon. As a result, it is not clear if the "apple" tree was in fact apple-bearing, or if perhaps the "apples" might have been apricots or even figs.
902. Cedar trees came from Lebanon and were greatly prized for their height, strength, and the durability of the wood. The temples of early Israel utilized the mighty trees for their buildings. Cedar wood is mentioned for use in cleansing rituals, but it is now believed that specific reference was actually to a different type of wood, Phoenician juniper.
903. Solomon had the tall cedars felled by the thousands to supply timber for the temple and for his fabulous palace, which he named "the House of the Forest of Lebanon." He sent shifts of ten thousand Israelites a month to aid the native workers in cutting down the forests.
904. Only barren slopes remain where the cedars used to be. Only a few scattered groves survived the axes of empire after empire. One small grove is preserved in a park about eighty miles north of Beirut, Lebanon.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
The Animal Kingdom Vlll
894. The Israelites knew about monkeys from their stay in Egypt, because the African baboon was sacred to the god Thoth and was sometimes even kept as a pet. The monkey brought back by Solomon's fleet possibly was the rhesus, the kind most often seen in zoos.
895. Peacocks were the last of the precious cargo mentioned from Ophir, and although the common peacock is native only to southern India and Ceylon, people have spread it around the world. It is hardy and can endure a wide range of climates and living conditions.
896. The Israelites were familiar with quail, for wall paintings in Egyptian tombs dating from the time of the Exodus show that people caught the birds in nets for food. However, they had probably never seen so many of them at one time as when God sent them quail in the wilderness (Exod. 16:13).
897. Migratory quail are short-winged and have only weak powers of flight. They are often blown off course by strong winds and fall exhausted onto the nearest land. God used this very process to cause quail to fall on the Israelite camp. The Bible states that there was a wind that brought the quail from the sea and that the quail fell to earth in the evening.
898. The rooster was a little different from its wild-pheasant ancestor, the red jungle fowl. It was found from Pakistan to Java until recent decades, when new breeds of chickens were developed. The red jungle fowl closely resembles the barnyard chicken both in appearance and in habits, except that it can fly.
899. The chicken may have been domesticated as early as fifty-two hundred years ago in India, The birds were raised at that time for the sport of cockfighting, and were not bred for food until several centuries before the time of Jesus.
895. Peacocks were the last of the precious cargo mentioned from Ophir, and although the common peacock is native only to southern India and Ceylon, people have spread it around the world. It is hardy and can endure a wide range of climates and living conditions.
896. The Israelites were familiar with quail, for wall paintings in Egyptian tombs dating from the time of the Exodus show that people caught the birds in nets for food. However, they had probably never seen so many of them at one time as when God sent them quail in the wilderness (Exod. 16:13).
897. Migratory quail are short-winged and have only weak powers of flight. They are often blown off course by strong winds and fall exhausted onto the nearest land. God used this very process to cause quail to fall on the Israelite camp. The Bible states that there was a wind that brought the quail from the sea and that the quail fell to earth in the evening.
898. The rooster was a little different from its wild-pheasant ancestor, the red jungle fowl. It was found from Pakistan to Java until recent decades, when new breeds of chickens were developed. The red jungle fowl closely resembles the barnyard chicken both in appearance and in habits, except that it can fly.
899. The chicken may have been domesticated as early as fifty-two hundred years ago in India, The birds were raised at that time for the sport of cockfighting, and were not bred for food until several centuries before the time of Jesus.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
The Animal Kingdom Vll
889. The earliest statements about bird migrations came from Jeremiah. No one in the ancient world, however, seemed to know for sure where migrating birds came from, why they left, or where they flew next. "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons; and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration" (Jer. 8:7). The white stork is unmistakable in flight because of its sharply pointed head and extended neck, long dangling legs, and slowly flapping wings. Flocks of several thousand of them pass over the Holy Land at a time.
890. Sparrows were eaten as food. They were carefully hunted and sold in the marketplace. Jesus spoke of two sparrows being sold for a farthing.
891. Jonah was swallowed by "a great fish." There has been considerable dispute, however, about what sea creature is large enough to swallow anything the size of a human. A likely creature that swallowed Jonah is a true fish-the man-eating white shark, often found in the Mediterranean. This shark is extremely large, occasionally up to sixty feet in length, and it is quite capable of swallowing a human. It can also store food in its belly for many days without digesting it.
892. Snakes, or serpents, are part of the reptile family and receive some mention in the Bible. Satan appeared as a serpent to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Moses held up a brass serpent figure to cure the bites of snakes on the people. Later it became a worshiped object. Interestingly most of the references found in the New Testament are metaphorical rather than literal.
893. Lizards are the most common reptile in the Bible region. They were an unclean creeping animal as described in Leviticus 11:29-39, and though common, they were not appreciated as a food source.
890. Sparrows were eaten as food. They were carefully hunted and sold in the marketplace. Jesus spoke of two sparrows being sold for a farthing.
891. Jonah was swallowed by "a great fish." There has been considerable dispute, however, about what sea creature is large enough to swallow anything the size of a human. A likely creature that swallowed Jonah is a true fish-the man-eating white shark, often found in the Mediterranean. This shark is extremely large, occasionally up to sixty feet in length, and it is quite capable of swallowing a human. It can also store food in its belly for many days without digesting it.
892. Snakes, or serpents, are part of the reptile family and receive some mention in the Bible. Satan appeared as a serpent to Eve in the Garden of Eden. Moses held up a brass serpent figure to cure the bites of snakes on the people. Later it became a worshiped object. Interestingly most of the references found in the New Testament are metaphorical rather than literal.
893. Lizards are the most common reptile in the Bible region. They were an unclean creeping animal as described in Leviticus 11:29-39, and though common, they were not appreciated as a food source.
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