O
- OAK There are six Hebrew words rendered “oak.”
(1.) ‘El occurs only in the word El-paran (Genesis 14:6). The LXX.
renders by “terebinth.” In the plural form this word occurs in Isaiah 1:29;
57:5 (A.V. marg. and R.V., “among the oaks”); 61:3 (“trees”). The word
properly means strongly, mighty, and hence a strong tree.
(2.) ‘Elah, Genesis 35:4, “under the oak which was by Shechem” (R.V.
marg., “terebinth”). Isaiah 6:13, A.V., “teil-tree;” R.V., “terebinth.” Isaiah
1:30, R.V. marg., “terebinth.” Absalom in his flight was caught in the
branches of a “great oak” (2 Samuel 18:9; R.V. marg., “terebinth”).
(3.) ‘Elon, Judges 4:11; 9:6 (R.V., “oak;” A.V., following the Targum,
“plain”) properly the deciduous species of oak shedding its foliage in
autumn.
(4.) ‘Elan, only in Daniel 4:11,14,20, rendered “tree” in Nebuchadnezzar’s
dream. Probably some species of the oak is intended.
(5.) ‘Allah, Joshua 24:26. The place here referred to is called Allon-moreh
(“the oak of Moreh,” as in R.V.) in Genesis 12:6 and 35:4.
(6.) ‘Allon, always rendered “oak.” Probably the evergreen oak (called also
ilex and holm oak) is intended. The oak woods of Bashan are frequently
alluded to (Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6). Three species of oaks are found in
Palestine, of which the “prickly evergreen oak” (Quercus coccifera) is the
most abundant. “It covers the rocky hills of Palestine with a dense
brushwood of trees from 8 to 12 feet high, branching from the base, thickly
covered with small evergreen rigid leaves, and bearing acorns copiously.”
The so-called Abraham’s oak at Hebron is of this species. Tristram says
that this oak near Hebron “has for several centuries taken the place of the
once renowned terebinth which marked the site of Mamre on the other side
of the city. The terebinth existed at Mamre in the time of Vespasian, and
under it the captive Jews were sold as slaves. It disappeared about A.D.
330, and no tree now marks the grove of Mamre. The present oak is the
noblest tree in Southern Palestine, being 23 feet in girth, and the diameter