the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Bush
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (סְנֶה, seneh'; Sept. and N.T. βάτος ) occurs in the account of the burning- bush, in which Jehovah manifested himself to Moses at Horeb (Exodus 3:2-4; Deuteronomy 33:16; 2 Esdras 14:1; 2 Esdras 14:3; Matthew 12:26; Acts 7:30), and signifies a thorn, more particularly the bramble (q.v.). But Pococke observes that the bramble does not at all grow in these regions. Gesenius states that the Syriac and Arabic word seneh, which is the same as the Hebrew, denotes the senna, folia sennae. We know that this plant is an indigene of Arabia. Rosenmü ller inclines to the opinion that the holy bush was of the hawthorn species. Prof. Robinson, in 1838, saw on the mountains of Horeb a willow and two hawthorns growing, with many shrubs, and great quantities of fragrant hyssop and thyme. What particular plant or bush seneh denotes it is difficult to say. See THORN. The professor, while resting at the ancient convent of Sinai, saw the great church. He says, "Back of the altar we were shown the chapel covering the place where the burning-bush is said to have stood, now regarded as the most holy spot in the peninsula; and as Moses put off his shoes in order to approach it, so all who now visit it must do the same. The spot is covered with silver, and the whole chapel richly carpeted. Near by they show also the well from which (as they say) Moses watered Jethro's flocks" (Researches, 1, 144). (See BURNING-BUSH).
The Hebrew word rendered "bushes" in Job 30:4; Job 30:7, is שַׂיחִ (si'ach), and means shrubs in general, as in Genesis 2:5; Genesis 21:15. The only other word so rendered (נִהֲללַים, nahalolim', margin, "commendable trees") in our version of Isaiah 7:19, signifies pastures.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Bush'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/bush.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
