Topical Bible: Commerce: Articles of Timber

◄ Commerce: Articles of Timber ►

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In biblical times, timber was a significant commodity in commerce, playing a crucial role in construction, trade, and religious practices. The ancient Near East, including the regions of Israel and its neighbors, was rich in various types of timber, each serving different purposes in society.

Types of Timber and Their Uses

1. Cedar: Cedar wood was highly prized for its durability, fragrance, and resistance to decay. It was extensively used in the construction of temples, palaces, and ships. The most notable use of cedar in the Bible is in the building of Solomon's Temple. King Solomon procured cedar from Lebanon, as recorded in 1 Kings 5:6, "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."

2. Cypress: Known for its strength and resistance to water, cypress was often used in shipbuilding and construction. The prophet Isaiah mentions cypress in the context of the restoration of Israel, highlighting its value: "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive tree; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine together" (Isaiah 41:19).

3. Oak: Oak trees were common in the region and were used for various purposes, including construction and as landmarks. The strength of oak made it suitable for building and crafting tools.

4. Pine: Pine wood was also utilized in construction and for making musical instruments. Its mention in the Bible is less frequent but still significant in the context of temple furnishings and other sacred uses.

Trade and Commerce

The trade of timber was a vital part of the economy in biblical times. The Phoenicians, particularly the city of Tyre, were renowned for their expertise in timber trade and shipbuilding. Ezekiel 27:5-6 describes the ships of Tyre: "They made all your timbers of juniper from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus they made your deck, adorned with ivory."

The exchange of timber often involved complex trade agreements and alliances. Solomon's dealings with Hiram, king of Tyre, exemplify such arrangements, where timber was exchanged for wheat and oil (1 Kings 5:10-11).

Religious Significance

Timber also held religious significance, particularly in the construction of sacred spaces. The use of high-quality wood in the Temple symbolized the dedication of the best resources to God. The intricate carvings and overlays of gold on the wooden structures of the Temple underscored the importance of timber in religious architecture.

Symbolism

In biblical literature, trees and timber often symbolize strength, endurance, and prosperity. The righteous are likened to trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season (Psalm 1:3). The cedars of Lebanon, in particular, are frequently used as metaphors for majesty and stability.

In summary, timber was an essential article of commerce in biblical times, integral to construction, trade, and religious practices. Its various types and uses reflect the economic and spiritual life of ancient Israel and its neighbors, highlighting the enduring significance of this natural resource in biblical history.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 5:6,8
Now therefore command you that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants: and to you will I give hire for your servants according to all that you shall appoint: for you know that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like to the Sidonians.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

His Unconscious Preparation for his Work
... town enjoyed an extensive trade in timber, with which ... of cloth and manufactured into
various articles, among which ... was not only a center of commerce, but also ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter ii his unconscious preparation.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Gaza enjoyed among them a kind of hegemony, alike on account of its strategic position
and its favourable situation for commerce, but this supremacy was of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... thus formed a continuous route, along which the caravans of commerce, as well as ...
Mediterranean, forcing the inhabitants of the Lebanon to cut timber from their ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... Kabr-Hiram; Egyptian designs in Phoenician glass and goldsmiths'work"Commerce with
Egypt ... who was still high priest, was in need of foreign timber to complete ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... was still ignorant of the use of money, and that gold, silver, and copper, however
abundant we may suppose them to have been, were mere articles of exchange ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... This fact has been established by Ross and Lynch in two articles in the Journal
of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. ix. pp.446, 472. ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm