The natural history of the Bible ; or, A description of all the quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, trees, plants, flowers, gums, and precious stones, mentioned in the sacred scriptures: Collected from the best authorities, and alphabetically arranged / by Thaddeus Mason Harris.

  • Thaddeus Mason Harris
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history of the Bible ; or, A description of all the quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, trees, plants, flowers, gums, and precious stones, mentioned in the sacred scriptures: Collected from the best authorities, and alphabetically arranged / by Thaddeus Mason Harris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    it cannot be supposed to be the proper apple-tree? ‘There are five places, besides this in Joel, in which the word occurs, and from them we learn that it was thought the noblest of the trees of the wood, and that its fruit was very sweet or pleasant, Cantic. Cantic. vii. 8: and proper for those to smell that were ready to faint, Cantic. ii. 5. The fifth passage, Cantic. viii. 5. contains nothing particular; but the description which the other four give answers to the Citron-tree and its fruit. | It may be thought possible, that the orange and the lemon tree, the citron, equally answer to the description. But it is to be remembered that it is very much doubted by eminent naturalists, Ray in particular”, whether they were known to the ancients ; whereas it is admitted they were acquainted with the citron. The story that Josephus tells us? of the pelting of king Alexander plainly proves that they were acquainted with that fruit: some generations before the birth of our Lord, and it is supposed to have been of much longer standing in that country 5, We may be sure that the taphuah was very early known in the Holy Land, as it is mentioned in the book of Joshua as having given name to a city of Manasseh and one of Judah’. Several interpreters and critics render 797 yy ^» Levit. xxiii. 40, branches (or fruit) of the beautiful tree; and understand it of the citron*?? ; and it is known that the Jews still make use of the fruit of this tree at their yearly feast of tabernacles. Citron-trees are very noble, being large, their leaves bead 6 ever continuing on the tree, of an exquisite smell, and affording a most delightful shade. It might well, therefore, be said, ** As Jw citron-tree is among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons,’ This is a delicate compliment, comparing the fine appearance of the Prince, amid his escort, to the superior beauty with which 48 Thevenot observed the gardens at Naplouse to be full of orange as well as tin and Saphet in Galilee, vol, ii. p. 40—48. See also Pococke's Travels, vol. ii. p. 67; Rauwolf, p. 2. c. 22. p. 427, ? Dr. Shaw appears to be of the same opinion. 59 Antiq. Jud. 1l. xiii. c. 13. sec. 5. 9! Dr, Russell says that citrons are brought from Jer ussléin to XMetipo. for the Jews on their great feasts, (M. S. note quoted by Dr. Adam Clarke.] 52 Josh. xv. 34. and 53. and xvii. 19. See also Eusebius in Beth-tapuah. says Dr. Geddes, might take the fruit, or shoots, here mentioned, from any not fruit, properly so called, but young growing shoots or boughs, as in our pub- lic version; although Delgado finds fault with it on that, account, and although the bulk of commentators are on his side. Houbigant, however, has surculos, - and Junius fermetes.
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