Grove: 1. Heb. 'asherah, properly a wooden image, or a pillar representing
Ashtoreth, a sensual Canaanitish goddess, probably usually set up
in a grove
(2 Kings 21:7; 23:4) In the Revised Version the word
"Asherah" (q.v.) is introduced as a proper noun, the name of the
wooden symbol of a goddess, with the plurals Asherim
(Exodus 34:13)
and Asheroth
(Judges 3:13) The LXX. have rendered asherah in(2 Chronicles 15:16) by "Astarte." The Vulgate has done this also in
(Judges 3:7)
2. Heb. 'eshel
(Genesis 21:33) In
(1 Samuel 22:6; 31:13) the Authorized
Version renders this word by "tree." In all these passages the
Revised Version renders by "tamarisk tree." It has been
identified with the Tamariscus orientalis, five species of which
are found in Palestine.
3. The Heb. word 'elon, uniformly rendered in the Authorized
Version by "plain," properly signifies a grove or plantation. In
the Revised Version it is rendered, pl., "oaks"
(Genesis 13:18; 14:13)
(Genesis 18:1; 12:6; Deuteronomy 11:30; Joshua 19:33) In the earliest times groves
are mentioned in connection with religious worship. The heathen
consecrated groves to particular gods, and for this reason they
were forbidden to the Jews
(Jeremiah 17:3; Ezekiel 20:28)
