the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Fir Tree
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or ברוש , occurs 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 5:8; 1 Kings 5:10; 1 Kings 6:15; 1 Kings 6:34; 1 Kings 9:11; 2 Kings 19:23; 2 Chronicles 2:8; 2 Chronicles 3:5; Psalms 104:17; Isaiah 14:8; Isaiah 37:24; Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13; Isaiah 60:13; Ezekiel 27:5; Ezekiel 31:8; Hosea 14:8; Nahum 2:3; Zechariah 11:2 . The LXX render it so variously as to show that they knew not what particular tree is meant; the Vulgate, generally by abietes, the "fir-tree." Celsius asserts that it is the cedar; but Millar maintains that it is the fir. The fir tree is an evergreen, of beautiful appearance, whose lofty height, and dense foliage, afford a spacious shelter and shade. The trunk of the tree is very straight. The wood was anciently used for spears, musical instruments, furniture for houses, rafters in building, and for ships. In 2 Samuel 6:5 , it is mentioned that David played on instruments of fir wood; and Dr. Burney, in his "History of Music," observes, "This species of wood, so soft in its nature, and sonorous in its effects, seems to have been preferred by the ancients, as well as moderns, to every other kind for the construction of musical instruments, particularly the bellies of them, on which the tone of them chiefly depends. Those of the harp, lute, guitar, harpsichord, and violin, in present use, are always made of this wood."
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Fir Tree'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/f/fir-tree.html. 1831-2.
