FRUIT-TREES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
The Cultivated Olive (§ 1). The Mulberry, Almond, and
The Wild Olive (§ 2). Pomegranate (§ 5).
The Fig (§ 3). The Apple (§ 6).
The Sycamore (§ 4). The Date-palm (§ 7).
Olive- and fig-trees and grape-vines were cultivated in Palestine by the Canaanites long before the advent of the Israelites. In the old parable of Jotham (Judges ix. 7-15) these appear as the characteristic plants of the land. The olive-tree belongs to the cultivated plants of the Mediterranean region. Its habitat is south hither Asia, where it was early improved and made to yield i. The paying crops. It requires calcareous Cultivated soil and a mean temperature of Olive. 15° C. (60° F.), and must be protected against strong winds and excessive heat. In the earliest times the olive was cultivated throughout Palestine (Deut. xxviii. 48); and oliveoil has always been one of the chief products of the country (Deut. viii. 8; Joel i. 10; Amos iv. 9, etc.). The regions particularly rich in olives were
Fruit-Trees Fry
THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
the low plains of the coast, where the royal gardens were located (I Chron. xxvii. 28), the region of the bay of Akko (Deut. xxxiii. 24), and the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Josephus, War, II., xxi. 2). The export, especially to Egypt, was considerable (Hosea, xii. 1), likewise to Phenicia (Ezek. xxvii. 17; cf.
I Kings v. 11). Olive orchards are planted with seedlings, which are then improved. The tree does not bear for ten years, and only after thirty years does it yield a full crop. On an average, there is a full yield every second year, and with good care, a half-crop in the intermediate years. The tree, according to Pliny (Hist, not., XVI., xliv. 90, XVII., xxx. ), may live 200 years; and very old olive-trees may be seen in Palestine to-day. An old stump will continue to send up new stems, as if its vitality were indestructible. The oil is found not in the kernel of the stone but in the juicy flesh of the fruit, which ripens in September and October. The fruit is gathered when purple, before it gets black and overripe, as the oil has a much finer flavor then. Olives were eaten everywhere, either raw or pickled, after the bitter taste had been removed by allowing them to lie in brine. The finest oil was obtained by placing the bruised ripe olives in a basket and allowing them to drip without being pressed (Ex. xxix. 40, etc.). Such oil was used for the golden candlesticks and in the preparation of the holy anointing oil. Most of the olives were trodden and mashed in stone presses, just as were grapes (.Mic. vi. 15; Joel ii. 24). Many such oilpresses are still seen in Palestine.
The wild olive, or oleaster (Rom. xi. 17 sqq.),
which is also referred to in the Old Testament, but
by a different name (I Kings vi. 23, 31, 33; Neh.
viii. 15), must not be confused with the cultivated
olive. This had short, broad leaves and thorny
branches, and yielded an inferior
2. The quality of oil used only in the prepara-
Wild tion of ointment. The wood, on the
Olive. other hand, furnished good timber.
The olive-tree, perennially green and
always rejuvenating itself, was a favorite symbol of
prosperity (Ps. lii. 8, cxxviii. 3; Jer. xi. 16); and
the falling off of the leaves after a frost was typical
of the early destruction of the wicked (Job xv. 33).
In case the tree lost its branches, wild olive
branches were grafted on the cultivated stock (Rom.
xi. 17.) For the Orientals olives and olive-oil are
necessities, and the failure of the olive crop is a
national calamity (Amos. iv. 9; Hab. hi. 17; cf.
II Kings iv. 2 sqq.).
The home of the fig-tree is likewise in hither Asia, and in ancient times it was planted throughout Palestine (Num. xiii. 23; Deut. viii. 8, etc.). It has a smooth trunk, gray bark, attains a height of fifteen to eighteen feet, and its dense foliage affords a splendid shade (I Kings iv. 25; II Kings xviii. 31; Micah iv. 4). It is noted for its vitality
and its ability to thrive on any soil; 3. The Fig. though in Palestine its fruit is not
particularly large. In the Old Testament three varieties of figs are distinguished: (1) Bikkurim, early figs that ripen in June; (2) te'enim, late figs, which begin to ripen in August, growing on branches that were forced in January;
(3) phaggim., late figs, which, still green in the autumn, hang on the tree all winter and ripen in the spring, when the sap rises. It was such winter figs that Jesus expected to find on the leafy figtree as early as the Passover (Matt. xxi. 19). Fi"s are very nutritious, and are eaten both fresh and dried, in the latter case pressed into cakes (I Sam. xxv. 18; II Kings xx. 7). In antiquity the healing power of figs was generally known and prized (Pliny, Hist, nat., XXIIL, lxiii.; II Kings xx. 7).
The sycamore (Ficus Sycomorus), mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, is one of the commonest trees of ancient and modern Egypt, which was considered its habitat, hence Pliny speaks of it as Ficus Mgyptia (Hist, nat., XIII., xiv; 4. The cf. Diodorus, i. 34; Ps. lxxviii. 47)!
Sycamore. It is common in Palestine and Syria (II Chron. i. 15), e.g., at Gaza, Jaffa, Ramleh and Beirut; and the present Haifa used to be called " the City of Sycamores " (Strabo, xvi. 758, etc.). It grows best on low ground, and was found, therefore, chiefly near the coast, in the valley of the Jordan, on the plains of lower Galilee, and in the Shephelah (I Kings x. 27; I Chron. xxvii. 28; Isa. ix. 10). It attains considerable size and height, and its wide-spreading branches, covered with beautiful green leaves, make a magnificent shade. The fruit is yellow, resembling the fig in appearance and odor, and has a sweetish, insipid taste (Strabo, xvii. 823). It was eaten by poor people; but, to be made edible, just before ripening the fruit had to be pierced so that a part of the juice could escape (Amos vii. 14; Theophrastus, Hist, plantarum, iv. 2). The wood is very durable, particularly in water, and serves chiefly for building purposes (Isa. ix. 10). In Egypt it was used for mummy cases.
The mulberry-tree is mentioned only in I Maec.
vi. 34, unless Luke xvii. 6 refers to it. The white
mulberry (Morus alba), now planted extensively
on Mount Lebanon for silk- worms,
5. The Mul- was introduced into Palestine compara-
berry, Al- tively late. Before its advent, the
mond, black mulberry (Morus nigra) was
and Pome- cultivated, from the fruit of which an
granate. intoxicating drink was, and is still, made. The almond-tree (Amygdalus communis) grows wild in Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and Mesopotamia, but in hither Asia and Palestine it has been cultivated from remotest times (Gen. xliii. 11; Num. xvii. 8; Jer. i. 11; Eccles. xii. 5). It puts out its leaves as early as the end of January. before any of the other fruit-trees, and hence, perhaps, the Hebrew name shakedh, " the waking one." The pomegranate-tree (Punica Granatum) is indigenous to hither Asia; it was common, both wild and cultivated, in Egypt (Num. xx. 5), Arabia, Syria, and Palestine (Num. xiii. 23; Deut. viii. 8; I Sam. xiv. 2), and the frequent use of the name Rimmon as a place-name shows the prevalence of the tree in Canaan (Josh. xv. 32, xix. 13; Judges xx. 45). Pliny mentions eight varieties. In size and shape the pomegranate resembles an orange; it has a bright red color shining out from a yellow and white background, and is juicy and refreshing. From the juice a sort of fruit-wine is prepared (Cant. viii. 2; Pliny, Hist, not., XIV., xix.). Withits