רמון, Numbers xiii, 23; xx, 5; 1 Sam. xiv, 2, &c, a low
tree growing very common in Palestine, and in other parts of the east.
Its branches are very thick and bushy; some of them are armed with sharp
thorns. They are garnished with narrow spear-shaped leaves. Its flowers
are of an elegant red colour, resembling a rose. It is chiefly valued
for the fruit, which is as big as a large apple, is quite round, and has
the general qualities of other summer fruits, allaying heat and
quenching thirst. The high estimation in which it was held by the people
of Israel, may be inferred from its being one of the three kinds of
fruit brought by the spies from Eshcol to Moses and the congregation in
the wilderness, Num. xiii, 23; xx, 5; and from its being specified by
that rebellious people as one of the greatest luxuries which they
enjoyed in Egypt, the want of which they felt so severely in the sandy
desert. The pomegranate, classed by Moses with wheat and barley, vines
and figs, oil olive and honey, was, in his account, one principal
recommendation of the promised land, Deut. viii, 8. The form of this
fruit was so beautiful, as to be honoured with a place at the bottom of
the high priest’s robe, Exodus xxviii, 33; Ecclus. xlv, 9; and was the
principal ornament of the stately columns of Solomon’s temple. The
inside is full of small kernels, replenished with a generous liquor. In
short there is scarcely any part of the pomegranate which does not
delight and recreate the senses.
tree growing very common in Palestine, and in other parts of the east.
Its branches are very thick and bushy; some of them are armed with sharp
thorns. They are garnished with narrow spear-shaped leaves. Its flowers
are of an elegant red colour, resembling a rose. It is chiefly valued
for the fruit, which is as big as a large apple, is quite round, and has
the general qualities of other summer fruits, allaying heat and
quenching thirst. The high estimation in which it was held by the people
of Israel, may be inferred from its being one of the three kinds of
fruit brought by the spies from Eshcol to Moses and the congregation in
the wilderness, Num. xiii, 23; xx, 5; and from its being specified by
that rebellious people as one of the greatest luxuries which they
enjoyed in Egypt, the want of which they felt so severely in the sandy
desert. The pomegranate, classed by Moses with wheat and barley, vines
and figs, oil olive and honey, was, in his account, one principal
recommendation of the promised land, Deut. viii, 8. The form of this
fruit was so beautiful, as to be honoured with a place at the bottom of
the high priest’s robe, Exodus xxviii, 33; Ecclus. xlv, 9; and was the
principal ornament of the stately columns of Solomon’s temple. The
inside is full of small kernels, replenished with a generous liquor. In
short there is scarcely any part of the pomegranate which does not
delight and recreate the senses.