Palm tree in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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What is a Palm tree?
PALM TREE
The date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is found from the Indus to the Nile, through most of Northern Africa, and upon all the warmer shores of the Mediterranean, but it is now rare in Palestine. Yet in ancient times, when the land was peopled with many industrious inhabitants, it was very common. Lev 23:40; Deut 34:3; Judg 1:16; Joel 3:13; 1 Chr 4:5. Ancient historians corroborate this statement, and inform us that the region of the Dead Sea was noted for the palm, of which there were groves twelve miles in extent. The general figure and appearance of this tree is familiar to our minds from pictures and descriptions. It grows in sandy soils, in hot and dry climates, but flourishes best in the vicinity of streams and where it can be watered, and in valleys and plains, especially where the water is moderately salt or brackish. It is always green and grows to a great height - from 60 to 100 feet. Its straight and slender trunk rises very high before it puts forth any leaves, and its foliage is in one mass at the top. Song 7:7; Jer 10:5. This ever green and stately tree is the emblem of the righteous. Ps 1:3 and Ps 92:12. The columns of costly edifices were sometimes hewn in imitation of its trunk, as may be observed in some of the ruins of Egypt. Palm trees were carved upon the doors of the temple. 1 Kgs 6:32; comp. Eze 41:19. It is a peculiarity of palms and similar endogenous trees that the diameter of the trunk is as great as it ever becomes when the tree first rises above the ground, as seen in the cut of young palms. Hence there is growth yet completeness almost from the first. Strictly speaking, the palm has no branches, but at the summit from forty to eighty leaf-stalks spring forth, which are intended in Neh 8:15. These are set around the trunk in circles of about six. The lower row is of great length, and the vast leaves, often 12 feet in length, bend themselves in a curve toward the earth; as the circles ascend the leaves are shorter. In the month of February there sprout from between the junctures of the lower stalks and the trunk little scales, which develop a kind of bud, the germ of the coming fruit. These germs are contained in a thick and tough skin not unlike leather. Date-Palm. (After Photograph) According to the account of a modern traveller, a single tree in Barbary and Egypt bears from fifteen to twenty large clusters of dates, weighing from fifteen to twenty pounds each. The palm tree lives more than two hundred years, and is most productive from the thirtieth until the eightieth year. The Arabs speak of three hundred and sixty uses to which the different parts of the palm tree are applied. The inhabitants of Egypt, Arabia, and Persia depend much on the fruit of the palm tree for their subsistence. Camels feed on the seed, and the leaves, branches, fibres, and sap are all very valuable. When the dates are ripe they are plucked by the hand or shaken into a net, which is held below. The person who ascends the lofty trunk is assisted by the ragged processes or scales with which the body of the tree is armed. The dates ripen at different times, so that a tree is commonly ascended two or three times in a season. When gathered they are spread upon mats in the open air, and after a few days begin to be used. Some are eaten fresh, and some are laid aside for future use. Others yield a rich syrup; which being expressed, the remaining mass is steeped in hot water, and after being macerated and cleansed affords a pleasant drink. These different kinds of syrups are the celebrated date-wine, which was greatly prized in ancient times by the Orientals. Some suppose it to be the "strong drink" often named in the Scriptures; but this term rather designates all intoxicating liquors except wine. See Wine. The shoots, which are annually cut away from the bottom of the tree, and the leaves themselves, are used for making ropes, baskets, sacks, mats, fans, hats, and sandals. The Hebrews were accustomed to carry the leaves, which they called "branches," in the solemn festivities of the feast of tabernacles, and to strew them in the way of triumphal processions. Thus branches were spread in the way of Christ upon his entry into Jerusalem. John 12:13. They were anciently used as a symbol of victory, and carried before the conqueror in triumphal processions. Hence the force and beauty of the figure in Rev 7:9. The former abundance of the palm and the estimation in which the Hebrews held it are seen from many Bible names and references. Phoenicia and Phoenice came from the Greek name of the palm; Elim and Elath, or "trees," refer evidently to this species; Hazezontamar, "the filling of the palm trees," is identified with En-gedi, Gen 14:7; 2 Chr 20:2, whose palm trees are mentioned by Josephus and Pliny; Tamar, "a palm," occurs twice in Ezekiel for a place, and, referring to the tree as tall, straight, and graceful, was a favorite female name among the Hebrews; Baaltamar, "the sanctuary of the palm," occurs; Bethany is "the house of dates;" and Jericho is often called "the city of palm trees." This tree is found upon ancient Hebrew coins as the symbol of Judaea, and Roman coins struck after the conquest of Judaea have a palm with an inscription commemorating the event.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'palm tree' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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