Palm Tree: (Heb. tamar), the date-palm characteristic of Palestine. It is
described as1. "flourishing"
(Psalms 92:12)
2. tall
(The Song of Solomon 7:7)
3. "upright"
(Jeremiah 10:5)
Its branches are a symbol of victory
(Revelation 7:9) "Rising with slender
stem 40 or 50 at times even 80 feet aloft, its only branches, the
feathery, snow-like, pale-green fronds from 6 to 12 feet long, bending
from its top, the palm attracts the eye wherever it is seen." The whole
land of Palestine was called by the Greeks and Romans Phoenicia, i.e.,
"the land of palms." Tadmor in the desert was called by the Greeks and
Romans Palmyra, i.e., "the city of palms." The finest specimens of this
tree grew at Jericho
(Deuteronomy 34:3) and Engedi and along the banks of the
Jordan. Branches of the palm tree were carried at the feast of
Tabernacles
(Leviticus 23:40) At our Lord's triumphal entrance into
Jerusalem the crowds took palm branches, and went forth to meet him,
crying, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name
of the Lord"
(Matthew 21:8; John 12:13)
(See DATE)
