OLTIC (ok). Four Hebrew words are translated oak Of these, three, T.:8 (ay-law'), and l*ti (al-lone'), are uncertain in meaning, arid are either oak or terebinth. The other, 718 (al law'), probably refers definitely to the oak. They t.-re always so translated in A. V. and R. V.
(1) In the following passages, at least, the word probably denotes the terebinth, or the elm of Hos. iv :i3 (see TEIL TREE) ; Gen. xxxv :4, 8; Judg. vi 19; 2 Sam. xviii :9, to, 14; Kings xiii :14; Chron. x:12; Is. i :30 ; Ezek. vi :13. In other instances "oak" may denote any strong flourishing tree (Atnos ii :9), or a grove of such trees.
(2) Botanists find three species of this tree in Palestine. One of the most universal and char which are eaten by the poor, while their cups are employed by tanners under the name of valeria, and exported from many parts of the Turkish empire.
Another kind (Q. infectoria) sometimes oc curs in Samaria and Galilee as a small tree with deciduous leaves, white beneath. Travelers through the uninhabited districts of Gilead and Bashan have found there magnificent forests of all three species.
(3) In the Bible we find these noble trees often mentioned for the purpose of designating the lo cality of important events as in Gen. xxxv :8; Josh. xxiv :26. Oak wood was used for idols (Is. xliv:14) and idolatry was practiced under oaks (Is. i :3o ; lvii :5 ; Ezek. vi :13).
(4) The word translated "plains" in several passages (Gen. xii :6 ; xiii :18 ; xiv :13 ; xviii ; Deut. xi:3o; Judg. iv :II ; ix:6, 37; Sam. x: acteristic bushes of the country is the prickly evergreen-oak (Qucrcus pseudo-coccifcra), which has a leaf like the holly, hut smaller. This oak now rarely exceeds twelve feet in height, but when the destruction of trees was less universal it doubtless attained great size and age. "Abra ham's Oak," in the field of Mamre, near He bron, the noblest tree of southern Palestine, is of this species, and is twenty-three feet in girth ; and there are said to be still finer specimens in the north and cast.
The Valonia oak (Q. ergilops) sheds its leaves and more resembles some of our own species. The trunk is unusually massive, and the tree often grows to a magnificent size. It is not seen in the south, but abounds in the north, especially about Mount Tabor and also east of the Jordan, and is doubtless the "oak of Basilan" Os. ii :12, 13 ; Zech. xi :2). It produces very large acorns, 3) means places noted for one or more oaks. (Schaff, Bib. Dia.) (5) It will thus be seen that the several species of oak are among the most widely disseminated trees of Syria and Palestine. The mountains of fizzurdn (Basilan, Is. ii:13; Ezek. xxvii:6; Zech. xi :2) have many oak trees still, mostly Querecus Coccif era, Querccus 2Egilofis, and Quo-cc:Ls Lusitanica. Oak trees were planted by tombs (Gen. xxxv:8). Few objects in Palestine or Syria are more striking than the immense oak trees, solitary or grouped near the Welies or tombs of the prophets. (Hastings' Bib. Dict.) The Tyrians made their oars for rowing their ships of the fine "oaks of Basilan" (Ezek. xxvii: 6). (See ALLON.) Figurative. tl ) The Hebrews were like an "oak whose leaf fadeth": stripped of their confidence in themselves and others, and bereaved of their honor, wealth, prosperity, and pleasure (1s. i:3o), yet like an "oak or teil-tree," whose substance or life is in it though bare of foliage, could never be utterly destroyed by the Assyrians, Chaldzeans, or Romans (Is. vi :13). (2) Gov ernors and great and valiant men, are compared to the tall and strong "oaks of Basilan," to mark their apparent power, strength, and firmness, and their fitness to protect others (Is. ii:13; Zech. xi :2).