Walter Jac ob

Box(Buxus longifolia— etz tevot, eshkeroah) The box tree is mentioned three times in the Bible and grows in the Galilee hills. This is a hardy, long-living evergreen reaching a height of twenty feet. Ancient uses include caskets, statuary, musical instruments, writing tablets, combs, and spoons.

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani— rez halabanon) When Solomon used its wood to build the Temple in Jerusalem , the large timbers were floated two hundred miles down the coast to Jaffa and hauled another twenty-five miles cross-country to Jerusalem . It took 183,000 men seven years to build this temple. The oldest specimens are three thousand years old. Eventually the pyramidal form of this tree changes to widespread branches. The wood of this slow-growing tree is durable, fragrant, takes a fine finish and is fungi resistant. Ancient uses include houses and, boats; the resin and oil were used for the protection of man­uscripts and perfume. Medicinally, the oil was used in biblical times to cleanse lepers.

Cypress(Cupressus sempervirens— berosh) Although there is some confusion as to which Hebrew word refers to this tree, the cypress is native to the Land of Israel. It was one of the trees used by Solomon for building the temple in Jerusalem . In Bethar it was a custom that when a boy was born, a cedar tree was planted, and when a girl, a cypress. The English name of the tree is derived from the island of Cyprus , where the tree was wor­shiped. It is an evergreen that grows to a height of eighty feet. Ancient uses include as a windbreak, and for construction, shipbuilding, mummy cases, idols, furniture, lances, musical instruments, and doors. The oil was used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.

Etrog(Citrus medica— etrog) It is not native to Palestine, but believed to be the first of its genus to grow there. By 200 B.C.E., it was used as the“goodly tree.” It is a small evergreen tree. The fruit is one of the four species at the Feast of Sukkot . For this pur­pose, it must have its pistil intact to be kasher and is used together with the lulav. Combined with quince seeds, cloves, lemon, and sugar, it has been made into a jam. The peel had medicinal uses.

Greek Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus,|]. Communis hispanicaB arar) The arar of Jeremiah, often referred to as heath, is believed by most biblical scholars not to refer to a true heath. It is impos­sible to be exact as to the true identity of evergreens in the Bible , so the juniper is but one candidate for the“heath.” Juniper (J.