The Pomegranate –
Its tree or shrub generally grows to a height of 20 - 30 feet, and produces a grenade-like fruit, which is compared to an apple in its shape. Within its skin are hundreds of pods which are eaten raw or squeezed for juice. The tree itself is a flowery shrub-like deciduous evergreen with crimson flowers.
The plant thrives in soils with high alkalinity, upon brackish irrigation waters, and in dry climates where the temperature doesn’t usually fall below 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Pomegranate tree will bear fruit about 3 years from its planting, but the fruit must remain up for 6-7 months after flowering. If it does not remain attached, the fruit will never sweeten/ripen. Once plucked, its fruit is the same as that of the apple. It is a favorite sustenance of lepers, who derive some apparent relief from its properties.
The pomegranate is highly susceptible to infestation and dry rot, as well as soft rot (from over-watering). Vinegar would have been applied to the plant to combat caterpillar infestations.
The Pomegranate is used by tanners in the tanning of leather. The root bark, fruit rinds, and even the trunk bark have solutions of tannin hovering around 25% in them. The bark of the stem and root are used in the treatment of tapeworm infestations, but mild overdoses can cause a simultaneous dual direction “body cleanse”.
The presence of the Pomegranate, along with the Vine, the Fig, and the Olive, is considered to be linked to G-D’s Temple Blessing upon Israel (Haggai 2:13).
The Passover lamb is required to be roasted whole while suspended on a dry pomegranate branch.
During the time of first fruits, Jewish tradition tells us:
"When a person goes down to his field and sees (for the first time) a ripe fig or a ripe cluster of grapes, or a ripe pomegranate, he binds a reed or grass ribbon around it and says, 'These are the firstfruits...'" (Bikkurim 1:1)
In I Samuel 14:2 ff., while Saul rested under a Pomegranate Tree with his 600 bodyguards about him, G-d used Saul’s son Jonathan and his armor bearer in his delivering Israel from the Philistines, who were on the threshold of victory in defeating Israel.
It is associated with the High Priest
The Crimson flowers and the fruit rinds of the pomegranate were used to make red dyes used in both textile work (Exodus 28:31,33,34) and in the dying of wool, such as that of the High Priest’s garment.
The High Priest wore 8 “garments” –the breastplate, the robe, the tunic, the crown, the pants, the turban, and the belt. In these he used 3 materials: twisted linen, dyed wool, and gold. Gold was used in only the high priest’s crown and in the pomegranate bells at the hem of his garment (Exodus 28:34, 36). There were 72 pomegranate shaped bells on this hem, with sky blue, crimson red, and dark red wools.
Any one else got one?
Olives
In Hebrew, this word is “zayith”. The experience in Spain and Italy is that this tree best yields when it dwells near the sea, and is given year round cultivation. It is, as such, a deciduous evergreen. It will bear fruit in 7 years from planting, and yield its first “full” crop in the 15th year. After which, with proper care, right climate and soil, it may still be fruitful for 300 to 400 more years.
The Olive represents two things: The eternal LIGHT of G-D (Exodus 27:20)
and
The Trespass Cleansing (like unto Baptism)
In the cleansing of the Leper in Leviticus 14, the trespass offering is slain for the Leper.
Blood from that Trespass offering is then applied to the Right Earlobe, the Right Thumb, and the Right Big Toe of the cleansed leper.
The priest then takes olive oil in one palm, and with a finger from the other hand, dips into the olive oil of the palm, as 7 times, he sprinkles the cleansed leper.
Then, the priest takes of the remaining oil, and applies it to the blood that is still upon the cleansed leper’s Right Ear, Right Thumb, and Right Big Toe (Leviticus 14:7).
Notice that the oil of the Olive is applied to the blood 3 times.
Notice that the sprinkling of anointing and cleansing of the olive occurs 7 times.
Compare this with the 7 baptism dippings of Naaman’s Baptism in the Jordan River in 2 Kings 5:14.
Olive oil will not be used in the sin offering (Leviticus 5:11), or in a grain offering regarding “Jealousy” (Numbers 5:15) because it represents a “bringing to light,” not a “covering of darkness” as it were. It’s product and result is to be set for all to see.
Priests of the Temple are to be anointed with Olive oil (Exodus 25:6). Hence, it is a fruit that is identified in both its aspects of Light and Trespass Cleansing as that which is to set apart, and make Holy.
In Genesis 30:14, we see the first mention of wheat in the fertile regions of Egypt. Note that in the dream of Pharaoh, it is wheat that bears 7 ears (Genesis 41:22). This “wheat” was held to a special regard by the Egyptians, and the elite were buried in death with 7 -eared wheat for their journey to the land of the dead.
From Egypt, this special wheat was eventually taken and planted (post-Exodus) in Israel and Syria (Psalm 81:16, 147:14). In these verses of the Psalms, this kind of wheat is the “kidney fat of wheat” or “the very best of wheat”. Therefore, there is an association between “wheat” and “the kidney” and the kidney fat of the burnt offerings.
Wheat is placed foremost in importance when Israel entered the Promised Land.
“A land of wheat,
And barley,
And vines,
And fig trees,
And pomegranates; [note the separation of these 5]
A Land of Olive oil,
And honey.” (Deuteronomy 8:8)
Wheat is thus listed as the primary replacement of manna, and as the first of these 7, perhaps in order of what was abundant most listed first, followed by the less and lesser abundant.
In the 7 tier basket of firstfruits...only the honey is absent on top, replaced with a dove...while the Olive remains as the olive, and not as oil.
30, 60, 100 fold Israeli wheat was generally or more popularly not as a cooler climate’s Summer to Fall crop of “wheat”, but rather, as the planting of “winter wheat” thousands of years ahead of the realization of 19th Century A.D. Kansas (in the USA). Seeding would have followed the Fall Harvests, and planting would occur in November and early December. Spring Harvests were generally about 3 weeks later than Barley, in April and May (sometimes early June also).
As stated above, each head of wheat in New Testament times is thought to have varied 30, 60, or 100 grains of wheat (by Jesus’ implication) in Matthew 13:8 (cf. Genesis 26:12).
Job 31:40 lists thorns as the opposite (counter) to wheat…and weeds as the opposite (counter) to barley.
Thorns are representative of “Greed” (Matthew 13:22).
Less than a decade after the Apostle John’s death: Ignatius spoke of being “ground as wheat”, while on his way to Rome to be martyred. Was he telling us that for someone else’s “greed” he was being martyred for Christ? Something to consider.
Dates - are symbolized in Scripture by the Palm Tree, under which leaves they grow in (often in great and heavy) clusters (generally 60-80 feet up).
There are 139 varies of dates, and the best was called "El Shebei" by the nomads. Its time of ripening is in August - September, and is generally harvested about the same time as Rosh Hashana. After the dates are harvested, the Palm branches will be removed, and used in the building of booths at "Tabernacles".
In Torah, the Date (through the Palm Tree) is representative of the Sanhedrin over the 12 Tribes of Israel (represented through water wells).
"And they removed from Marah [Bitter],
and came unto Elim:
and in Elim were twelve fountains of water,
and threescore and ten palm trees;
and they pitched there. (Numbers 33:9)
When Israel entered the Land of Promise, after undergoing circumcision, they attack Jericho by encircling it 7 days, etc.
In Deuteronomy 34:3, Jericho is called the city of Palm Trees, a type of the Law...but by the Spirit of HASHEM, the walls of the Law are symbolically removed at the sound of the Trump, and Israel is led (as if by a New Covenant) to overcome the obstacles of the Old (Covenant)...(Joshua 5:15, 6:2-5).
In a way, Gilgal to Jericho is a dark repetition of the Marah and Elim in the Wilderness.
Dates then, not only point us to a Palm Tree example of erectness (Song of Solomon 7:7), uprightness (cf. Jeremiah 10:5), or righteousness and prosperity (Psalm 92:12), but to the holiness of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus.
Even Bethany, where Christ stayed while being examined for the 4 days in which a Pesach lamb must be examined (From Palm Shabbat /Saturday ff.), even Bethany appears to be a sign, being known as the "house of dates". (Although some translate as house of unripe figs or dates.)
Hence, the DATE...representing Christ, the great Law-giver...is the centermost basket of the 7 Firstfruit tower baskets, placed on the head and carried about up to and on the Festival of Firstfruits.
Exodus 15:
23 "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he [Moses] cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree,[representative of the Cross of Jesus/Yeshua, the Cross of Salvation] which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the VOICE [revealed as the Logos in John 1:1-3] of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in HIS sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters."
In all likelihood, even the Firstfruit baskets themselves, were made from the shoots of the Palm Tree.
These Palm Tree shoots were also advantageous in making ropes for everyday lashings (such as with tents and pack animals), and even was used as a material in the making of sandals.
In both in Solomon's Temple, and in the coming Ezekiel Temple, the "date" is represented through the Palm Tree (I Kings 6:29,32,35; Ezekiel 40:16,22,26,31,34,37; et al.).
And through the Palm Tree, indirectly, is the symbolism that points to the fulfillment of the Law in the Cross. So when the Law is fufilled in the Cross, we are sometimes reminded of this by observing and considering the "date". Shalom.
Brian: Thankyou for the information. It comes quite timely for shavuot.
Have you done studies on the counting of the Omer and Messiah's relation to the cutting of the sheaf after the crucifixion {barley harvest}? A search on the first and ladder rain harvests using Messiah's 1st and second advent will prove revealing. Give some thought to those who wandered in the wilderness who never participated in the fruit feasts until "after" they crossed the Jordan. Oh! what a coincidence that was Passover, First fruits, and the first Pentecost/ Shavuot as well. Personally I use the "Temple Institute" for much info. Try it!
Oh and please forgive me if I shamelessly plagerize this info in a future sermon! Thankyou
Figs
This is the six of the 7 tier First fruit basket items. The Hebrew word for “Fig Tree” is Te’enah” and means “to spread out”. The first mentioned fruit tree: Genesis 3:7 “and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” The very aspect of “spreading out” points to a promise of a “Shabbat” rest and the Shabbat Kingdom Era to come, the Millennial reign of Christ.
I Kings 4:
25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon [the king or “prince” of Peace – cf. Solomon w/ Sar Shalom in Isa. 9:6].
(Cf. Zech. 3:10) It appears that the passage of Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-4 may actually deal with the New Heavens and New Earth, as at the end of the 1000 years the nations still learn war yet again – cf. Revelation 20:1-10). The Fig Tree may actually be representative more of local Jewish synagogues, rabbis, judges, and hierarchy in general than of eretz Israel...who are seen as an Olive Tree as a nation, such as through Paul's example in Romans.
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The fig tree generally grows to a height of 10-30 feet, but may be carefully pruned and cultivated to a height as high as 50 feet. The leaves of the fig can exceed 1 foot in length. They are inclined to dwell in an all day sun. When next to a wall, the preferable location is that it rests north of the tree, and is light colored to reflect and emit heat for the tree.
This leads me to believe the likelihood that when Jesus came from Bethany on two of His days, He walked not over Olivet, but around the backside of the mountain, and approached the city through the southeast Kidron. He would have thus approached via the Well of En Rogel, and across the wooden bridge into the Ophel area (the lower city of Jerusalem).
But there is also another possibility of a location. Judas hanged himself on a large tree whose limb was certainly dead. What if this diagonal location from the Cross (the location of Judas’ hanging) was the Fig Tree that was cursed? That would make the southwestern Kidron/Hinom Valley juncture a prophetic cursing and representation. But that is another involved discussion.
Matthew 21:
17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
So in this, we see that the tree is a type of Fig Tree that was expected to have ripe and sweet fruit, but had not. In fact, it had not even the evidence of EVER having bore fruit. And for this reason, the mature “Kermouse Fig Tree”, which has fruit ripening upon it from August to March, was cursed. The Kermouse forms the fig first and then the leaves, and is highly more desirable than the Sycamore “green” fig which ripens from November to June and is most edible in late May to June. When Jesus was checking this Fig Tree, it would have been around March 21st (according to Lactantius).
Once picked, a fig must be eaten within a day or two, or dried in the sun over a period of 4-5 days, that in its dried form, it might last 6-8 months longer. The Bible refers to dried figs as cakes, and they will generally be carried like popcorn on a string.
In Mark 11:13, the way the Greek reads, it appears that the correct reading should be:
"And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves -- certainly nothing (but); for was the time of figs."
This interpretation is also confirmed by the examination of the parable of the Fig Tree which follows in Mark 13:28-29 (cf. Luke 13:6-9).
Revelation 6:
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Be it Heavenly or Earthly Trustees, both angels and men are associated with the fig tree. When a fig is untimely cast off, it becomes only useful as a type of fertilizer or dung.
So what was the big deal in cursing the Fig Tree? Again, alike Mark 13:28-29 -
Matthew 24:
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, [i.e., when the leaves get really big, about a foot long] ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
In Hosea 9:10, the fig tree represents the “fathers” of Israel in that generation:
“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. “
In other words, the tree that Jesus hungered and came to, was like the Tree of Prophecy of Shechem was for many hundreds of years...the same tree of prophecy which shared residency inside the courts of the Tabernacle, and served as a witness. This tree of Shechem, though not a fig tree, was present with Abraham as an altar place (Genesis 12:6-7) and saw G-D as a witness with Abraham...witnessed also the farewell of Joshua (Joshua chapter 24) along with the great stone or eben (Alef-BeN, "G-D's Son" which was set up under the oak/terebinth -- Joshua 24:26)...after which it became a tree of prophecy for hundreds of years after.
Again, we look back upon the Fig tree of Israel of the Herodian Period as being foreknown to have been without "fruit"...which is clarified as repentance and watchfulness... probably more along the lines of the Jewish leadership and Sanhedrin (as Israel proper is and Olive Tree, so its leadership appears to be as a "fig tree").
Luke 13:
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Proverbs 27:
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. (Proverbs 27:18)
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Shalom.