Definition and Description:
Acacia refers to a group of trees and shrubs belonging to the family Fabaceae, known for their durable wood and thorny branches. In the Bible, acacia wood is noted for its use in the construction of sacred objects and structures. The Hebrew word for acacia is "shittim," and it is often translated as "acacia" in modern Bible versions.

Biblical References:
Acacia wood is prominently mentioned in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. The wood's durability and resistance to decay made it an ideal material for sacred purposes.

1. The Ark of the Covenant:
The Ark of the Covenant, a central and sacred object in Israelite worship, was constructed using acacia wood. Exodus 25:10 states, "They are to construct an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high."

2. The Table for the Bread of the Presence:
The table that held the Bread of the Presence was also made from acacia wood. Exodus 25:23 instructs, "You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high."

3. The Altar of Burnt Offering:
The altar used for burnt offerings was constructed from acacia wood, as described in Exodus 27:1 : "You are to construct the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar is to be square, and three cubits high."

4. The Poles and Framework of the Tabernacle:
Acacia wood was used for the poles and framework of the Tabernacle, providing structural support. Exodus 26:15 states, "You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle."

5. The Altar of Incense:
The altar of incense, used for burning fragrant incense before the Lord, was also made from acacia wood. Exodus 30:1 specifies, "You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense."

Symbolism and Significance:
Acacia wood's use in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings underscores its importance and symbolic value. The wood's resilience and incorruptibility may symbolize purity and endurance, qualities befitting objects dedicated to divine worship. The frequent use of acacia wood in sacred contexts highlights its role in facilitating the Israelites' worship and their covenant relationship with God.

Geographical Context:
Acacia trees are native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East and Africa. They were likely abundant in the wilderness areas where the Israelites traveled during the Exodus, making them a practical choice for construction materials.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, acacia wood was valued for its strength and workability. Its use in the Tabernacle reflects the broader cultural appreciation for durable and aesthetically pleasing materials in religious and ceremonial contexts.(Hebrews shittim) Exodus 25:5, R.V. probably the Acacia seyal (the gum-arabic tree); called the "shittah" tree (Isaiah 41:19). Its wood is called shittim wood (Exodus 26:15, 26; 25:10, 13, 23, 28, etc.). This species (A. seyal) is like the hawthorn, a gnarled and thorny tree. It yields the gum-arabic of commerce. It is found in abundance in the Sinaitic peninsula. 1. (n.) A roll or bag, filled with dust, borne by Byzantine emperors, as a memento of mortality. It is represented on medals.

2. (n.) A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs. Nearly 300 species are Australian or Polynesian, and have terete or vertically compressed leaf stalks, instead of the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer species of America, Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate climates.

3. (n.) The inspissated juice of several species of acacia; -- called also gum acacia, and gum arabic.

ACACIA

a-ka'-sha (shiTTah, the shittah tree of the King James Version, Isaiah 41:19, and `atse-shiTTah, acacia wood; shittah wood the King James Version, Exodus 25:5, 10, 13; Exodus 26:15, 26; 27:1, 6 Deuteronomy 10:3.): ShiTTah (= shinTah) is equivalent to the Arabic sant which is now the name of the Acacia Nilotica (NO, Leguminosae), but no doubt the name once included other species of desert acacias. If one particular species is indicated in the Old Testament it is probably the Acacia Seyal-the Arabic Seyyal-which yields the well-known gum-arabic This tree, which has finely leaves ular flowers, grows to a height of twenty feet or more, and its stem may sometimes reach two feet in thickness. The tree often assumes a characteristic umbrella-like form. The wood is close-grained and is not readily attacked by insects. It would be well suited for such purposes as described, the construction of the ark of the covenant, the altar and boarding of the tabernacle. Even today these trees survive in considerable numbers around `Ain Jidy and in the valleys to the south.

E. W. G. Masterman

7848. shittah -- acacia (a tree and a wood)
... 7847, 7848. shittah. 7849 . acacia (a tree and a wood). Transliteration:
shittah Phonetic Spelling: (shit-taw') Short Definition: acacia. ...
/hebrew/7848.htm - 6k

1029. Beth Hashshittah -- "place of the acacia," a place in ...
... "place of the acacia," a place in Palestine. Transliteration: Beth Hashshittah Phonetic
Spelling: (bayth hash-shit-taw') Short Definition: Beth-shittah. ...
/hebrew/1029.htm - 6k

7851. Shittim -- a place East of the Jordan, also a wadi perhaps ...
... NASB Word Usage Shittim (5). Shittim. The same as the plural of shittah; acacia
trees; Shittim, a place East of the Jordan -- Shittim. see HEBREW shittah. ...
/hebrew/7851.htm - 6k

The Wilderness.
... of water; and though there were here and there slopes of grass, and bushes of
hoary-leaved camel-thorn, and long-spined shittim or acacia, nothing bearing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson iv the wilderness.htm

Religious Dangers
... It is not in the waste and howling wilderness of rock, and sand and shingle, with
its scanty acacia copses, and groups of date trees round the lonely well ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon x religious dangers.htm

In the Desert
... It hinted of imprisonment. Turning as though pursued, he disappeared up
an acacia tree from which he could not be dislodged. With ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xix in the desert.htm

An Unfulfilled Desire
... A prophet, who knows God and His will, is standing on the mountain top, and as he
looks down over the valley beneath him, with its acacia-trees and swift river ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/an unfulfilled desire.htm

Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
... It was made of acacia wood, and overlaid with gold"Exodus 37:25.] 12 And Zacharias
was troubled [as men always are at the sight of heavenly beings ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/v annunciation to zacharias of.htm

October.
... The beds of red verbena and geranium were still brilliant, though choked with fallen
leaves of acacia and plane; the canary plant, still untouched by frost ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /october.htm

That There is no Distinction in the Scriptural Use of These ...
... [726] 1 Corinthians 8:6. [727] 1 Corinthians 11:12. [728] Exodus 25:10, LXX.
AV "shittim." RV "acacia." St. Ambrose (de Spiritu Sancto, ii. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter iv that there is.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... There are light groves of the date-palm, groups of acacia trees and sycamores, square
patches of barley or of wheat, fields of beans or of bersim,[*] and here ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

Joel
... argument from citations, it would be possible to maintain that Joel's simple and
natural picture of the stream from the temple watering the acacia valley, iii ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/joel.htm

Under Ban of the Ritual
... Palm and tamarisk, acacia and rose-shrub, jasmine and purple mimosa made a
multi-tinted jungle about a shadowy pool in which a white heron stood knee-deep. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ii under ban of.htm

Acacia (28 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews shittim) Exodus 25:5, RV probably the Acacia
seyal (the gum-arabic tree); called the "shittah" tree (Isaiah 41:19). ...ACACIA. ...
/a/acacia.htm - 16k

Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences)
Acacia-wood. Acacia-trees, Acacia-wood. Acatan . Multi-Version
Concordance Acacia-wood (27 Occurrences). Exodus 25:5 ...
/a/acacia-wood.htm - 13k

Acacia-trees (1 Occurrence)
Acacia-trees. Acacia-tree, Acacia-trees. Acacia-wood . Multi-Version
Concordance Acacia-trees (1 Occurrence). Joel 3:18 And it will ...
/a/acacia-trees.htm - 6k

Acacia-tree (1 Occurrence)
Acacia-tree. Acacias, Acacia-tree. Acacia-trees . Multi-Version
Concordance Acacia-tree (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 41:19 ...
/a/acacia-tree.htm - 6k

Poles (58 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:13 You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. ... Exodus
30:5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. ...
/p/poles.htm - 22k

Shittim (34 Occurrences)
... shit'a, (shiTTah; Septuagint xulon asepton; the Revised Version (British and American)
ACACIA TREE (Isaiah 41:19)); (`ace shiTTim; the Revised Version (British ...
/s/shittim.htm - 20k

Shittah (2 Occurrences)
... shit'a, (shiTTah; Septuagint xulon asepton; the Revised Version (British and American)
ACACIA TREE (Isaiah 41:19)); (`ace shiTTim; the Revised Version (British ...
/s/shittah.htm - 8k

Overlaid (50 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold;
their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver. ...
/o/overlaid.htm - 21k

Breadth (100 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:10 "They shall make an ark of acacia wood. ... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS
YLT RSV). Exodus 25:23 "You shall make a table of acacia wood. ...
/b/breadth.htm - 40k

Cubits (156 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Exodus 25:10 "They shall make an ark
of acacia wood. ... Exodus 25:23 "You shall make a table of acacia wood. ...
/c/cubits.htm - 40k

What is the significance of acacia wood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the altar of incense? | GotQuestions.org

What was the tabernacle of Moses? | GotQuestions.org

Acacia: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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