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."
