terebinth

The Hebrew words ’elah and ’alah refer to any of three species of terebinth mentioned in the Bible: 1) the Atlantic terebinth Pistacia atlantica, 2) the Palestinian terebinth Pistacia palaestina, and 3) the Lentisk Terebinth Pistacia lentiscus, also called the mastic tree.

According to Zohary (Plants of the Bible, Cambridge University Press, 1982), the Atlantic terebinth, also called the teil tree, is found in the Negev, Lower Galilee, and the Dan Valley. Hepper (Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, Baker Book House, 1992) says it was once abundant in Gilead, the trunk and bark being a possible source for aromatic resin (mastic) exported to Egypt. It is a dry-land tree that grows in the border areas between ever-green woodlands and the dwarf-shrub steppes (note “valley of Elah” in 1 Samuel 17:2 et al.). The nuts of the Atlantic terebinth are used for dyeing and tanning animal skins, but they can be eaten if roasted. They are often sold in Arab markets, are bigger than the nuts of the Palestinian terebinth, and are quite different from the true pistachio nuts.

The Palestinian terebinth is found mostly on wooded hills, often together with the common oak. Its little round nuts can be eaten whole, fresh, or roasted, and it is probably these nuts (boten) that were carried to Egypt by the sons of Jacob (Genesis 43:11).

The lentisk terebinth is a shrub or bush that grew in the hills of Gilead, and may be the source of the “balm/resin” (tsori in Hebrew) carried by the Ishmaelites in Genesis 37:25, and by the sons of Jacob to Egypt along with pistachio nuts in Genesis 43:11. The fact that Genesis 37:25 et al. all mention Gilead in connection with the resin tsori, suggests that its source was a plant unique to Palestine. That is why it could be used to trade for goods from Egypt. The references in Jeremiah (8:22 and 46:11) presumably refer to the salve made from the terebinth resin.

Terebinths look like oaks but have pinnate leaves. The Atlantic terebinth may reach a height of 10 meters (33 feet). The Palestinian terebinth species is shorter, reaching to 5 meters (17 feet). The lentisk terebinth, or mastic (gum) tree, is a small shrub or tree 1-3 meters (3-10 feet) in height that produces a sweet-smelling resin when the stem or branches are cut. The resin dries into hard lumps, which are then ground and dissolved in olive oil for medicinal use, per-fume, incense, varnish, and glue.

Both of the larger terebinths were revered by ancient Israelites and other peoples. They built shrines and altars in the terebinth groves, and sometimes buried people there. The resin of the lentisk terebinth was highly prized for its medicinal value, which is why the Ishmaelites and the sons of Jacob were carrying them as trade goods to Egypt. Sirach 24:16 uses the wide-spreading branches terebinth as a metaphor for wisdom.

Pistacia palaestina, Wikimedia Commons
Pistacia atlantica, Wikimedia Commons
Mastic resin hanging from mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) tree, Wikimedia Commons

Source: Each According to its Kind: Plants and Trees in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

Translation commentary on Susanna 1:54

If integrated into the book of Daniel: 13.54.

Now then, if you really saw her, tell me this: Under what tree did you see them being intimate with each other?: Good News Translation condenses the information here (also Contemporary English Version) and makes Daniel’s question more easily understood; but it could be even clearer if it is expressed as “Now if you really did see that Susanna was making love with a young man, tell me, what tree were they under?”

Under a mastic tree: There is a play on words here. In the next verse Daniel will say that God will “cut” the man in two. In Greek the words for mastic tree (schinon) and “cut” (schisei) sound similar. Another play on “evergreen oak” (prinon) and “saw” (prisai) occurs in verses 58-59, when Daniel questions the other man. A contrast is implied between the two trees. The mastic tree is a small tree (unrelated to the sweet gum or black gum tree of the United States), while the “evergreen oak” is large. The two men could not possibly have confused them. This is why Good News Translation refers here to a “small gum tree” (also Contemporary English Version) and to a “large oak tree” in verse 58. Translators may easily refer to the small and large trees, but will probably have to rely on footnotes to explain the plays on words (so Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation), the connection between each tree and the punishment Daniel threatens. (This same type of problem appears in Amos 8.1-2.) Mastic itself is a resin secreted by the mastic tree when the bark is injured. It is used today in the making of varnish and medicinally as an astringent.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Shorter Books of the Deuterocanon. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2006. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.