54 BAY. 



three times in Scripture, although not under the same name, 

 either in the original or in our version. In Ps. i. 3 it is spoken 

 of simply as &quot;a tree:&quot; &quot;He shall be like a tree planted by 

 the rivers of waters.&quot; In Dan. iv. 4 it is said of Nebuchad 

 nezzar that he was &quot; flourishing in my palace,&quot; where the word, 

 though correctly translated &quot; flourishing,&quot; might also have been 

 &quot;green bay-tree,&quot; and the passage would have been, &quot;he was 

 a green bay-tree in my palace,&quot; as some think this signification 

 is equally applicable to the word occurring in Dan. iv. 4 as to 

 that in Ps. xxxvii. 35. 



There is room for doubt as to the particular kind of tree 

 referred to, but the Scripture allusion is evidently to the flou 

 rishing character, the greenness and beauty, of the plant. The 

 botanical term &quot;nobilis&quot; associated with the generic word laurus, 

 expresses even now the idea that associated itself with the bay- 

 tree anciently. It was a noble plant, with beautiful, rich green 

 leaves, and the perfect emblem of prosperity in every respect. 

 Hence the aptness of the illustration, &quot; I have seen the wicked 

 in great power, spreading himself like a green bay-tree; yet he 

 passed away.&quot; Neither the oleander nor the bay-tree (Laurus 

 nobllis) are strong trees; and very frequently a slight cause 

 will either break the limbs or tree, or cause it to fade imme 

 diately, even during its most prosperous season. The oleander 

 represented in the first plate is supposed to be the plant referred 

 to in the passages quoted above. It grows freely throughout 

 the country and by the brooks, but is not so leafy as when 

 cultivated in gardens. 



