vine of sodom Summary and Overview

referred to only in Deut. 32:32. Among the many conjectures as to this tree, the most probable is that it is the 'osher of the Arabs, which abounds in the region of the Dead Sea. Its fruit are the so-called "apples of Sodom," which, though beautiful to the eye, are exceedingly bitter to the taste. (See EN-GEDI T0001207.) The people of Israel are referred to here by Moses as being utterly corrupt, bringing forth only bitter fruit.

occurs only in #De 32:32| It is generally supposed that this passage alludes to the celebrated apples of Sodom, of which Josephus speaks, "which indeed resemble edible fruit in color, but, on being plucked by the hand, are dissolved into smoke and ashes." It has been variously identified. Dr. Robinson pronounced in favor of the 'osher fruit, the Asclepias (Calotropis) procera of botanists. He says, "The fruit greatly resembles externally a large smooth apple or orange, hanging in clusters of three or four together, and when ripe is of a yellow color. It is now fair and delicious to the eye and soft to the touch but, on being pressed or struck, it explodes with a puff: like a bladder or puff-hall, leaving in the hand only the shreds of the thin rind and a few fibres. It is indeed filled chiefly with air, which gives it the round form." Dr. Hooker writes," The vine of Sodom always thought might refer to Cucumis calocynthis, which is bitter end powders inside; the term vine would scarcely be given to any but a trailing or other plant of the habit of a vine." His remark that the term vine must refer to some plant of the habit of a vine is conclusive against the claims of all the plants hitherto identified with the vine of Sodom.

VINE OF SODOM . There is reference to this plant only in Deut 32:32. Josephus describes fruits growing near the Dead Sea, "which indeed resemble edible fruit in color, but on being plucked by the hand are dissolved into smoke and ashes." These are the apples of Sodom of which the poets sing, and which are supposed to be mentioned in the above passage. A surprising number of plants has been proposed as the vine of Sodom, while some have supposed that there was here reference merely to a popular fiction, as perhaps in the case of the dragon, satyr, and unicorn. If we are to interpret Deuteronomy and Josephus literally, the colocynth seems best to answer the conditions, because it is the only vine suggested, and abounds in these regions, while its fruit, though beautiful to the eye, is exceedingly nauseous to the taste, and when ripe there is nothing within it but seeds and a dry powder. See Gourd.