ETZ-SHEMEN (pc) ry) occurs three times in Scripture, and is differently translated in all the three passages in the A. V. At the rebuilding of the temple, Nehemiah (viii. 75) directs the Israel ites to go forth unto the mount and fetch olive and pine branches (etz-shemen), and myrde-branches, and palm-branches, and branches of thick trees (etz -aboth), to make booths, as it is written.' This term occurs also in Is. xli. 79, where it is translated 'oil-tree.' The third mention of etz shemen is in 7 Kings vi. 23, where it is translated dive-tree. If we collate the several passages in which etz-shemen occurs, we shall find reason to conclude that it is not the olive-tree, as it is trans lated in 7 Kings vi. 23, since in Neh. viii. 75, the olive-tree (an?) is distinguished from etz-shemen, which is there rendered pine-tree; and that it is as little likely to be the pine-tree, since in Is. xli. so, etz-shemen, translated oil-tree, is mentioned as dis tinct from both the fir and the pine.
Though the above names, occurring in the same sentences with etz-shemen, enable us to say that it is not likely to have been any of them, it is not easy to say what tree is intended. Several have been adduced in addition to those mentioned above, as the different kinds of pine, including the cedar of Lebanon, the cypress, the citrus, the bal sam-tree ; but there is no proof in favour of any of these. Ursini and Celsius are both of opinion that the term is used generically, and therefore that no particular kind of tree is intended. This may ap
pear to be the case in the earlier passages ; but in those of Is. xli. 79, and of I Kings vi. 23, a specific tree seems to be pointed out ; but we have no means of determining the particular tree, though there are several in Palestine which are not noticed in our version of the Scriptures, and though it is probable that some even of the modern Arabic names may bear some similarity to the Hebrew. The Arabic shamanat, signifying fragrant things, and the Per sian shamanah, signifying anything odonferous, a fragrant smell, seem to be connected with it. But Hebrew scholars consider shemen as having some reference to oiliness or fatness. Thus Celsius (Hierob. i. 370) quotes R. D. Kimchi as comment ing on r Kings vi. 23, as follows : 'Intellige per "SY speciem aliquam pini, ex qua manat pinguedo, uncle faciunt picem ; nam rode dicitur ri,/ arbor pinguedinis.' The objection to etz shemen being one of the pine tribe, is that it is mentioned as apparently distinct from both the pine and fir in the passage of Isaiah, while in that of Kings a tree is required having wood fit for making the cherubim. As no tree has yet been pointed out having a name similar either in meaning or sound to the Hebrew, and with wood of a good quality, it is better to consider etz-shemen as one of those not yet ascertained, than to add one more tc the other unsatisfactory guesses.—J. F. R.