Why is acacia wood in the bible

They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and prostrated themselves to their gods. The area known as Shiitim was so named because of the abundance of acacia a plus , but it was a place of idol worship and lowness of morality, which dragged the children of Israel down.

The Midrash Rabba even says that the spring of Shittim watered Sodom. We, like the children of Israel, have a tendency to lose our way when we begin to feel unworthy and impure.

The ark being built of these same trees was meant to reinforce the understanding that moral failure was not a function of trees, or springs of water but a matter of choice. You must be logged in to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Eretz Israel I have not seen large specimens of these trees in the Middle East.

Perhaps such trees were present at the time of the wanderers in Sinai. It is interesting to note that one of the freewill offerings which the children of Israel could bring for the tabernacle was acacia wood Exodus Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

Acacia Acacia wood is mentioned only in connection with the tabernacle Exodus chapters 37 and Uses of Acacia Acacia References. Plants Images. Plant Photo Index. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. And so on. What IS acacia wood? What are its properties? What is is about those properties that made it such a good selection for the task at hand? These are the kind of questions one can ask as they read. Insects find the taste of acacia wood distasteful, and its density makes it difficult for water or other decaying agents to penetrate.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary p. The wood had properties within it that made it super resistant to decay. Well, that makes sense because the tabernacle was assembled, disassembled, moved, and used by the Israelite priests for over years. Moses received the instructions for the building of the tabernacle on Mount Sinai Exod. Items constructed for the tabernacle of acacia shittim wood include: the ark of the covenant and its poles; the table of showbread and its poles; the brazen altar and its poles; the incense altar and its poles; and all the poles for the hanging of the curtains and the supports Exod.

The acacia wood was so precious that Exod. City in the plains of Moab located just east of the Jordan River. Acacia wood was a valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, and Shittim would have been a key locale for trade and commerce.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary.