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Bible Encyclopedias
Wood
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (usually עֵ, also rendered "tree;" ζῦλον ). The East, especially Egypt (Hasselquist, p. 70; Norden, p. 361), is remarkably destitute of forests, and Palestine. is nearly as barren of them, except in some of the northern and eastern districts. (See TREE). Consequently the inhabitants are obliged to use, instead of fire-wood, dried grass (Matthew 6:30; Luke 12:28), or plants, leaves, straw (Matthew 3, 12; Mishna, Shabb. 3, 1)', and, in the absence of these, dung (Ezekiel 4:12; Ezekiel 4:15; see Prokesch, Erinner. 2, 248), and in Babylon mineral pitch (Diod. Sic. 2, 12). Comp. Korte, Reis. p. 577; Taverner, 1, 280; Arvieux, 1, 152; Robinson, 1, 342; 3, 293; Wellsted, 2, 60. (See FUEL).
An unusual supply was required for the sacrificial fire. (See BURNT- OFFERING). Charcoal was also used. (See COAL). That the advantage of forests was a common property does not follow from Lamentations 4:4, and is of itself very improbable in a land where a strict system of proprietorship was in vogue. For the various fabrics of this material (See HANDICRAFT). The chief trades concerned were carpenters (Exodus 35:30 sq.), cabinetmakers (Exodus 25:10 sq.; Exodus 37:1; Exodus 37:10; Exodus 37:15; Exodus 37:25, etc.), wheelwrights, (Judges 4:13; 1 Samuel 6:7; 1 Kings 7:33; 1 Kings 9:19; Hosea 10:11, etc.), basket-weavers (Numbers 6:15 sq.; Deuteronomy 26:2; Deuteronomy 26:4; Judges 6:19), and (unlawfully) image carvers. (See IDOL). On the other hand, we find no trace of cooperage (not even in Jeremiah 48:12, where כֵּלַי denotes not casks, but vessels generally). Anciently, as still, the Orientals used leather bottles, horns, and jars, instead of barrels; but pails (wooden buckets) were probably unknown (Leviticus 15:12 ?). The tools of wood-workers were the axe or hatchet ( קִרְדֹּם or גִּרְזֶן ), the saw (מִשּׂוֹר ), the plane (מִקְצוּעָה ), and the auger (Talm. מקרח, Mishna, Chel. 13:4). See, generally, Bellerman, Handb. 1, 232 sq. As ships were not built by the Hebrews, and stone was the ready material for building, architecture had little use for wood. SEE. HOUSE.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Wood'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/w/wood.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
