FORESTRY OF THE PROPHETS 415 



vour every green tree . . . and every dry tree : the flaming flame 

 shall not be quenched." 



Surprisingly little is said about how fires started. Man-caused fires 

 were no doubt frequent, as were to be expected in a pastoral com- 

 munity. Tobacco fires were of course still unknown. (Samuel Butler 

 says the Lord postponed the discovery of tobacco, being afraid that 

 St. Paul would forbid smoking. This, says Butler, was a little hard on 

 Paul.) Lightning was no doubt the principal natural cause of fire. 

 Very heavy lightning seems to have occurred in the mountains. David, 

 in the "Song of the Thunderstorm" (Psalm, 39), says: "The God of 

 glory thundereth, ... the voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars ; 

 Yea, the Lord breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon," His voice 

 "cleaveth the flames of fire . . . and strippeth the forest bare." 

 It is not entirely clear whether this refers to lightning only, or possibly 

 also to subsequent fire. 



How much did the prophets really know about the eflfects of fires? 

 Joel has already been quoted as to the eflfects on streamflow, but there 

 is a possibility that he meant that his "water-brooks" dried up, not as 

 the ultimate eflfect of fires, but as the immediate effect of a drouth 

 prevailing at the time of the particular fire which he describes. David 

 (Psalm, 107) plainly states that changes in climate occur, but no 

 forest influences or other causes are mentioned. I think it is quite 

 possible that the eflr'ect of forests on streamflow was known empirically 

 to a few advanced thinkers like Joel, but it is quite certain that their 

 knowledge went no further or deeper. The habit of thinking of 

 natural phenomena as acts of God instead of as cause and effect pre- 

 vails to this day with a majority of people, and no doubt prevailed at 

 that time in the minds of all. But even if the prophets were ignorant 

 of science, they were wise in the ways of men. "Seemeth it a small 

 thing unto you to have fed upon the good pasture, but ye must tread 

 down with your feet the residue of your pasture ? And to have drunk 

 of the clear waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?" 

 (Ezekiel, 24-18.) Here is the doctrine of conservation, from its sub- 

 jective side, as aptly put as by any forester of this generation. 



FOREST UTILIZATION IN THE HOLY LAND 



The old Hebrew used both saws and axes in cutting timber. Isaiah 

 (10-15) says: "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth 

 therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it?" 



