Bible Dictionaries
Broom Tree

Holman Bible Dictionary

A bush that often grows large enough to provide shade (1 Kings 19:4-5 ). Its foliage and roots were often used as fuel (Job 30:4; Psalm 120:4 ). Its white flowers with maroon center beautify the Dead Sea area. Bees buzz among its blooms. The name Rithmah—a place along the route of the Exodus (Numbers 33:18-19 )—was named for this shrub (rothem ). Although KJV, NAS identify the bush as the juniper, modern scholars agree that the bush intended by the Hebrew writer was the broom tree—Retama raetam (NIV, REB, NRSV).