Oil Tree
Oil Tree
Oil Tree. A tree of uncertain identity. Many oil-producing trees mentioned in the Bible could be identified as the oil tree. Many authorities believe the oleaster or wild olive is the tree meant. It grew to a height of about 4. 5 to 6 meters (15-20 feet) and produced small bitter fruit resembling an olive. The oleaster yielded an inferior oil which was used medicinally.
The oil tree of ( Isa 41:19) is translated olive tree in the RSV, NIV, NEB, and NASB. Also see Olive.
Fuente: Plants Animals Of Bible
Oil-tree
( , ets-shemen; Sept. , ; Vulg. lignum olivse, frondes ligni pulcherrimi; A. V. oil-tree in Isa 41:19, but in 1Ki 11:23, olive-tree, and in Neh 13:15, pine-branches). From the passage in Nehemiah, where it is mentionedas distinct from the zaith or olive-tree, writers have sought to identify it with the Elceagnus angustifoliuzs, Linn., sometimes called the wildolivetree, or narrow-leaved oleaster, on the supposition that this is the zucckun-tree of the Arabs. But Dr. Hooker has shown that the properties and characteristics of the elceagnus do not accord with what travelers have related of the famed zuckum-tree of Palestine, and that the latter is the Balanites AEgyptiaca, a well-known and abundant shrub or small tree in the plain of Jordan. It is found all the way from the peninsula of India and the Ganges to Syria, Abyssinia, and the Niger. The zuckum-oil is held in high repute by the Arabs for its medicinal properties. It is said to be very valuable against wounds and contusions. Comp. Maundrell (Journ. p. 86) and Robinson (Bib. Res. 1:560). SEE BALM. Celsius (Hierob. 1:309) understood by the Hebrew words any fat or resinous tree; but the passage in Nehemiah clearly points to some specific tree.
Several other trees have been adduced, as the different kinds of pine, including the cedar of Lebanon, the cypress, the citrus, the balsam-tree; but there is no special proof in favor of any of these. In the passage in Isaiah the tree in question is mentioned in distinction from the pine; but it is possible that the latter word does not correctly represent the Dr. Post, in the Amer. ed. of Smith’s Dict. of the Bible, objects to the zuckum- tree that it is too small to furnish wood for carved figures, as required by the passage in Kings, or to be classed with the other magnificent trees mentioned in the passage in Isaiah; and that it is only found in the plain of the Jordan, whereas the tree in question is spoken of in the passage in Nehemiah as growing on the mountains. He therefore proposes the stone- pine of Palestine, or Pinus pinea, called snodbar by the Arabs, as fulfilling the required conditions. Dr. Thomson, however, who describes this latter tree, expressly says, It is not found on the mountains of Palestine, because that peculiar sandy formation [required for its growth] is not found there (Land and Book, 2:265). SEE PINE.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Oil-tree
(Isa. 41:19; R.V. marg., “oleaster”), Heb. ‘etz shemen, rendered “olive tree” in 1 Kings 6:23, 31, 32, 33 (R.V., “olive wood”) and “pine branches” in Neh. 8:15 (R.V., “branches of wild olive”), was some tree distinct from the olive. It was probably the oleaster (Eleagnus angustifolius), which grows abundantly in almost all parts of Palestine, especially about Hebron and Samaria. “It has a fine hard wood,” says Tristram, “and yields an inferior oil, but it has no relationship to the olive, which, however, it resembles in general appearance.”
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Oil Tree
‘eets shemen (Isa 41:19), but in KJV Neh 8:15 “pine branches.” Probably the zackum or Balanites Aegyptiaca is meant. Distinct from the zayit, “olive tree.” The zackum is a small tree abundant in the Jordan plain. It is found all the way from India to Syria, Abyssinia, and the Niger. The zackum oil is highly esteemed by the Arabs as a remedy for wounds.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Oil Tree
OIL TREE (ts-shemen, 1Ki 6:23] 1Ki 6:31-33 [plur. tsshemen], AV [Note: Authorized Version.] olive tree, mg. trees of oil or oily trees, RV [Note: Revised Version.] olive wood; Neh 8:15 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] pine branches, RV [Note: Revised Version.] branches of wild olive; Isa 41:19 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RV [Note: Revised Version.] oil tree, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] oleaster). Where there is such variation in translation, it is evident that what particular tree of oil is here referred to is far from determined. The olive itself is improbable from Neh 8:15, where the olive tree is mentioned just before; and that the branches of wild olive should be specially specified, where so like those of the cultivated variety, is improbable. The oleaster (Eleagnus angustifolia), a beautiful and common shrub, would suit, except that it is difficult to see how it could ever have furnished a block of wood sufficient for the two cherubim each ten cubits high (1Ki 6:23); olive wood (as RV [Note: Revised Version.] suggests) would certainly seem more appropriate. Perhaps Posts suggestion that it was some kind of pinethe oil or fat being the resinis as likely as any.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Oil Tree
oil tre ( , ec shemen (Isa 41:19), margin oleaster, in Neh 8:15, translated wild olive, the King James Version pine; , ace shemen, in 1Ki 6:23, 1Ki 6:31, 1Ki 6:32, translated olive wood): The name oleaster used to be applied to the wild olive, but now belongs to quite another plant, the silver-berry, Eleagnus hortensis (Natural Order Elaeagnaceae), known in Arabic as Zeizafan. It is a pretty shrub with sweet-smelling white flowers and silver-grey-green leaves. It is difficult to see how all the three references can apply to this tree; it will suit the first two, but this small shrub would never supply wood for carpentry work such as that mentioned in 1 Kings, hence, the translation olive wood. On the other hand, in the reference in Neh 8:15, olive branches are mentioned just before, so the translation wild olive (the difference being too slight) is improbable. Post suggests the translation of ‘ec shemen by PINE (which see), which if accepted would suit all the requirements.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Oil Tree
This occurs but once in the A.V. (Isa 41:19), but the Hebrew (ets shemen ) occurs also in 1Ki 6:23, where it is translated ‘olive tree;’ and in Neh 8:15, where it is rendered ‘pine branches:’ ‘olive branches’ being mentioned in the same verse would seem to indicate that the ‘tree of oil’ is distinct from the olive tree. Some believe it to be the Balanites AEgyptiaca; but others identify it with the Elaeagnus angustifolius .
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Oil Tree
Oil Tree. (Hebrew, ets shemen). The Hebrew words occur in Neh 8:15. (Authorized Version, “pine branches”), 1Ki 6:23, (“olive tree”), and in Isa 41:19. (“oil tree”).
From the passage in Nehemiah, where the ets shemen is mentioned as distinct from the olive tree, if may perhaps be identified with the zackum tree of the Arabs, the Balanites aegyptiaca, a well-known and abundant shrub, or small tree, in the plain of Jordan. The zackum oil is held in high repute by the Arabs, for its medicinal properties. See Olive.