009 Various Plants and Flowers

Various Plants and Flowers vThe Bay Tree of Scripture is a native of Palestine. It was a tree of rapid growth and of speedy decay, of thick foliage and wide-spread branches (Psalms 37:35). vBitter Herbs were eaten at the Passover Supper (Exodus 12:1-51). Repentance and self-judgment were to accompany the memorial of redemption. There are many native plants of a bitter kind, as wild lettuce, chicory, etc. vBramble, Briers, Thorns, Thistle, Pricks, Nettles. There are about 20 Hebrew words denoting various prickly plants, emblematic of the curse, and which abound in Palestine. The references in Scripture to these plants are numerous. vBulrush, Rushes, Flags, Reeds, etc. These various words signify the papyrus plant of Egypt, now extinct, and from which the earliest paper was derived. This plant is still found in certain marshy places in Palestine. vCockle was a destructive weed and exceedingly offensive to the smell. It must have been a well-known Arabian plant (Job 31:40); it is translated "wild grapes" in Isaiah 5:2; Isaiah 5:4. vThe Elm Tree (Hosea 4:13,) is elsewhere translated "teil tree," under the spreading branches of which idolatrous rites were performed. vGall and Wormwood are the names of two poisonous plants; the latter was eaten, and the former yielded a drink, while both are used as the expression of Divine judgment Jeremiah 8:14, etc. vGrass is used as the expression of what is transitory and perishable (Isaiah 40:6-8, etc). The grasses of Palestine are more numerous than in any other country. vHemlock, an exceedingly bitter and poisonous plant (Hosea 10:4). Hay, cut or dried grass, as food for cattle was unknown among the Hebrews; it simply signifies full grown grass (Proverbs 27:25). vHyssop was employed in the sprinkling of blood (Exod. mi.), and in the purification of the Leper (Leviticus 14:1-57) What plant was used cannot be determined with certainty. It is frequently employed as the expression of nature in its lowest and worst forms. vThe Lily of Palestine, of which their are several species, has been pronounced by travelers to be exquisitely beautiful. This fair and lovely flower is frequently referred to in the Scriptures. vThe Mulberry Trees of 2 Samuel 5:23-24 cannot be identified, but the reference in the text is evidently to a grove of trees whose tall branches would convey the rustling sound intended by Jehovah. vThe Pine Tree is twice referred to by Isaiah, chapters 41:19; 60:13. "It is quite unknown to what tree this term applied."-Sir Joseph Hooker. vThe Poplar was used by Jacob (Genesis 30:37), and under its pale and abundant foliage idolatrous rites were anciently practiced (Hosea 4:13). vThe Rose of Palestine is twice referred to in Scripture (Isaiah 35:1-10 and Song of Solomon 2:1). What particular flower is indicated by the "Rose" and "Lily" cannot be determined. Beauty and fragrance are however characteristics of the Palestine roses. vTares are mentioned only in Matthew 13:24-30. The seeds of this wheat-like grass are poisonous to man and beast and hurtful to all cereals. The age and durability of some of these trees are very remarkable,, and are referred to by the grandest of the prophets (Isaiah) in illustration of the long ages of Jehovah’s earthly people in the millennium. Here is a list of a few well-known trees and their ages, extracted from Dr. Dunn’s valuable book on "Biblical Natural Science,"Vol 2, page 497: