DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50017#0216
132 PLANTS IN SCRIPTURE
therefore it is said that King David 1 appointed Baal-
hanan to be over his olive trees and sycamores, which
were in great plenty; and it is accordingly delivered,
that “ Solomon made cedars to be as the sycamore
trees that are in the vale for abundance.” 2 That is, he
planted many, though they did not come to perfection
in his days.
And as it grew plentifully about the plains, so was
the fruit good for food; and, as Bellonius and late
accounts deliver, very refreshing unto travellers in
those hot and dry countries : whereby the expression
of Amos 3 becomes more intelligible, when he said he
was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit.
And the expression of David4 also becomes more
emphatical: “ He destroyed their vines with hail, and
their sycamore trees with frost.” That is, their sicmoth
in the original, a word in the sound not far from the
sycamore.
Thus, when it is said, “ If ye had faith as a grain
of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree,
be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou placed
in the sea, and it should obey you : ” 5 it might be
1 i Chron. xxvii. 28. 2 1 Kings x. 27.
3 Amos vii. 14. 4 Psalm Ixxviii. 47.
5 Luke xvii. 6.
therefore it is said that King David 1 appointed Baal-
hanan to be over his olive trees and sycamores, which
were in great plenty; and it is accordingly delivered,
that “ Solomon made cedars to be as the sycamore
trees that are in the vale for abundance.” 2 That is, he
planted many, though they did not come to perfection
in his days.
And as it grew plentifully about the plains, so was
the fruit good for food; and, as Bellonius and late
accounts deliver, very refreshing unto travellers in
those hot and dry countries : whereby the expression
of Amos 3 becomes more intelligible, when he said he
was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit.
And the expression of David4 also becomes more
emphatical: “ He destroyed their vines with hail, and
their sycamore trees with frost.” That is, their sicmoth
in the original, a word in the sound not far from the
sycamore.
Thus, when it is said, “ If ye had faith as a grain
of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree,
be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou placed
in the sea, and it should obey you : ” 5 it might be
1 i Chron. xxvii. 28. 2 1 Kings x. 27.
3 Amos vii. 14. 4 Psalm Ixxviii. 47.
5 Luke xvii. 6.