Exodus 25:23
table <07979> [a table.]
acacia wood <06086 07848> [shittim wood.]
{Shittim} wood is probably the acacia Nilotica. St. Jerome says, that the {shittim} wood grows in the deserts of Arabia, and is like white thorn, as to its colour and leaves; but the tree is so large as to furnish very long planks. The wood is hard, tough, and extremely beautiful. It is thought he means the black acacia, because that is the most common tree in the deserts of Arabia. It is of the size of a large mulberry tree. The spreading branches and larger limbs are armed with thorns, which grow three together. The bark is rough; and the leaves are oblong, standing opposite each other. The flowers, though sometimes white, are generally of a bright yellow; and the fruit, which resembles a bean, is contained in pods like those of the lupin. "The acacia," says Dr. Shaw, "being by much the largest and most common tree in the deserts," (Arabia Petr‘a,) we have some reason to conjecture that the {shittim} wood was the wood of the acacia, especially as its flowers are of an excellent smell; for the {shittah} tree is, in Isa 41:19, joined with the myrtle and other fragrant shrubs. It may be remarked, that of the two Hebrew names, {shittim} is masculine, and {shittah} feminine. So Mr. Bruce says, "the male is called {saiel;} from it proceeds the {gula} Arabic, on incision with an axe."
