Oriental Gall-Oak {Quercus infecloria).
tree. It is also called the Kermes oak {Quercus coccife- ra), from an insect (kermes, of the genus coccus) which adheres to the branches of this bushy evergreen shrub, in the form of small reddish balls about the size of a pea. This affords a crimson dye, formerly celebrated, but now superseded by cochineal. This dye was used by the ancient Hebrews; for the word told ("bin), which de- notes a worm, and particularly the kermes worm, de- notes also the dye prepared from it (Isa. i, 18 ; Lam. iv, 5), and is accordingly rendered kokkivov in those pas- sages where it occurs. For a description of the oaks of Palestine, see Dr. Hooker's paper read before the Lin- nteau Society, June, 1861.
The oak is, in fact, less frequently mentioned in the original than in the A. V., where it occurs so often as to suggest that the oak is as conspicuous and as common in Palestine as in this country. But in Syria oaks are by no means common, except in hilly regions, where the elevation gives the effect of a more northern climate; and even in such circumstances it does not attain the gr.fndeur in which it often appears in our latitudes. Indeed, Syria has not the species (Quercits robur) which forms the glory of our own forests. The " oaks of Ba- shan" are in Scripture mentioned with peculiar distinc- tion (Isa. ii, 1.3 ; Zech. xi, 2), as if in the hills beyond the Jordan the oaks had been more abundant and of larger growtli than elsewhere. Of these the Tyrians used to make their oars (Ezek. xxvii, 6; comp. Theophr. Plant. Vj 8; Val. Flac. ii, G44; Strabo, iv, 195), and idolaters
their images (Isa. xliv, 14). They are abundant even at the present day. In the hilly regions of Bashan and Gilead, Burckhardt repeatedly mentions forests of thick oaks — thicker than any forests he had seen in Syria, making a grateful shade, and imparting to the scenery a European character {Syria, p. 265, 348). On that side of the river a thick oak forest occurs as far south as the vicinity of Amman, the capital of the Ammonites (p. 356). Oaks of low stature are frequent in the hills and plains near the sources of the Jordan (p. 45, 312, 315) ; and some of large dimensions are found in differ- ent parts of the country, beside the natural reservoirs of water fed by springs (p. 193, 315). On the lower slopes of Lebanon low oak-trees are numerous, and the inhab- itants employ their branches in the construction of the flat roofs of their dwellings (p. 4, 7, 18, 193, 312, etc.). Lord Lindsay also makes frequent mention of oaks in Palestine. He confirms their existing abundance in the countries of Bashan and Gilead. He calls them "noble prickly oaks," and " evergreen oaks," and notices a vari- ety of the latter with a broader leaf than usual {Travels, ii, 132, 124, 137; see also Pococke, East, iii, 270; Has- selquist, Trav. p. 554). But oak-trees are by no means wanting on the west of the Jordan, in the proper Land of Canaan. Lord Lindsay describes the hills of southern Judaaa about Hebron as covered to the top with low shrubs of the prickly oak. Fine park scenery, composed chiefly of prickly and evergreen oaks, occurs between Samaria and Mount Carmel. The same trees abound on the southern prolongations of that mountain, and on the banks of the Kishon. The thick woods which cover Mount Tabor are composed chiefly of oaks and pista- chio-trees; and oaks are found in the valleys which trend from that mountain (Lindsay, ii, 51, 77, 85). Hasselquist found groves of the Kermes oak {Qiiercus cocciferu) in the valleys beyond the plains of Acre, on the road to Nazareth {Travels, p. 153). Under oaks the dead were buried (Gen. xxxv, 8; comp. 1 Sam. xxxi, 13 ; 1 Chron. xi, 12), offerings were made to idols (Hos. iv, 13; comp. Virg. Gear, iii, 332; Ovid, Met. vii, 743 sq. ; Kicsling. De Siiperstitione Israel, sub qnercub. cult. [Leips. 1748]), and national assemblies were held (Judg. ix, 6, 37). Single oaks of great height served also as landmarks (1 Sam. x, 3), and bore a distinguish- ing name (Judg. ix, 6, 37, where "^N, oak, is mista- kenly rendered jjlaiii in the English version). See Meoxeniji; Oak- worship.
Oak of Reformation. During the turmoil which preceded the Reformation various insurrections took place in different parts of England. The insurrec- tion in Norfolk was headed by one Ket, a tanner, who assumed to himself the power of judicature under an old oak, called thence the Oak of Reformation. The rebels were 20,000 strong; but the earl of Warwick, with COOO foot and 1500 horse, quickly dispersed them. Several of the leaders were executed, and Ket was hanged m chains. — Eadie, Eccles. Cycl. s. v.
Oak-Avorship. Jhe oak has in all ages been looked upon as the most important of all the trees of the forest. Groves of oak-trees were even in the earli- est times reckoned peculiarlj^ appropriate places for re- ligious resort ; and, as we learn from Ezek. vi, 13, they were likewise the scene of idolatrous practices. Altars were set up under them (.Josh, xxiv, 26), and, probably in the East as well as in the West, appointments to meet at conspicuous oaks were made, and many affairs were transacted or treated of under their shade, as we read in Homer, Theocritus, and other poets. It was common among the Hebrews to sit under oaks (Judg. vi, 11; 1 Kings xiii, 14). Jacob buried idolatrous im- ages under an oak (Gen. xxxv, 4) ; and Deborali, Re- bekah's nurse, was buried under one of these trees (Gen. xxxv, 8; see 1 Chron. x, 12). Abimelech was made king under an oak (Judg. ix, 6). Idolatry was prac- ticed under oaks (Isa. i, 29 ; Ivii, 5 ; Hos. iv, 13). Idols were made of oaks (Isa. xliv, 14). See Baal; Grove.