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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Almond and Almond Tree
The almond is a native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and
fruit it resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink
colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, "shaked",
signifying "wakeful, hastening," is given to it on account of
its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February, and
sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, it is referred to as
illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age comes. There are
others, however, who still contend for the old interpretation here.
"The almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a
naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms (reddish or flesh-coloured in
the beginning) seem at the time of their fall exactly like white
snow-flakes. In this way the almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of
old age, with its silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful
condition." In Jer. 1:11 "I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]...for
I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it" the word is used as
an emblem of promptitude. Jacob desired his sons (Gen. 43:11) to take
with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc., as a
present to Joseph, probably because this tree was not a native of Egypt.
Aaron's rod yielded almonds (Num. 17:8; Heb. 9:4). Moses was directed to
make certain parts of the candlestick for the ark of carved work
"like unto almonds" (Ex. 25:33, 34). The Hebrew word luz ,
translated "hazel" in the Authorized Version (Gen. 30:37), is
rendered in the Revised Version "almond." It is probable that
luz denotes the wild almond, while shaked denotes the cultivated
variety.
The Almond Tree
This word is found in (Genesis 43:11; Exodus 25:33,34; 37:19,20;
Numbers 17:8; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Jeremiah 1:11) in the text of the
Authorized Version. It is invariably represented by the same Hebrew
word, shaked meaning hasten. (Jeremiah 1:11,12) The almond tree is a
native of Asia and North Africa, but it is cultivated in the milder
parts of Europe." It resembles the peach tree in form, blossom and
fruit. It is in fact only another species of the same genus." The
height of the tree is about 12 or 14 feet; the flowers are pink, and
arranged for the most part in pairs, the leaves are long, ovate, with a
serrated margin and an acute point. The covering of the fruit is down
and succulent, enclosing the hard shell which contains the kernel. It is
this but for which the tree is chiefly valued. It is curious to observe,
in connection with the almond bowls of the golden candlestick, that, in
the language of lapidaries, almonds are pieces of rock crystal, even now
used in adorning branch candlesticks.
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible
Dictionaries
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