The majority of references to cedar are regarding the "cedars of Lebanon." A different cedar, used with scarlet and hyssop, is used in the purification ritual. Walker believes that it is another tree from the Sinai Desert area. She cites the Juniperus phoenicia which is available in the vicinity of Mt. Hor.
Ezekiel 31:8 mentions the "cedars of God's garden". This cedar comparison would indicate another entirely different tree. According to Unger there is no means of certain identification, and I would tend to agree with that.
From Numbers 24: 8 we read "cedars beside the waters". The cedars of Lebanon are probably not indicated here. It is another tree in my opinion because of the specific reference to water. It was likely a water-loving tree known as a cedar.
The cedar was available in subalpine parts of Lebanon. At Besherreh in the Republic of Lebanon approximately one hundred miles north of Beirut there was an excellent group of these cedar trees (Unger). Cedars were found in the Taurus Mountains, in southern Turkey, including the Nur Mountains, called the Amanus Mountains in ancient times. From the Himalayas to the Atlas, and from central Asia Minor to Lebanon and Cyprus, cedars are known and used.
These trees have reddish-brown bark and trunks as much as 40 feet in circumference. Their branches spread out wide and they bare cones about 5 inches long. Their bright green needles are about 1/2 inch long. They were valued for architecture. From Isaiah we know that this was a tall tree (Isaiah 2:13, etc.). Ezekiel 31:3 tells of its beautiful branches and large shade.
Its wood was fine for masts of ships (Ezekiel 27:5); for beams, pillars and boards (I Kings 6:9; 7:2); and for carved work (Isaiah 44:14). The temple was built with a great deal of cedar, as was Solomon's house and other public structures in Jerusalem.
Cedar was used for roofing on the temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus and that of Apollo at Utica, the places of the Persian kings at Susa, and other famous buildings.
Ezekiel 31:3 (KJV) Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Ezekiel 31:4 (KJV) The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Ezekiel 31:5 (KJV) Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Ezekiel 31:6 (KJV) All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
Ezekiel 31:7 (KJV) Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
Ezekiel 31:8 (KJV) The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Numbers 24:6 (KJV) As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
Isaiah 2:13 (KJV) And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
1 Kings 6:9 (KJV) So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
1 Kings 6:10 (KJV) And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
1 Kings 7:2 (KJV) He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
Isaiah 44:14 (KJV) He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Email your comments to plants-of-old@juno.com
Get your own Free home page