RELIGIOUS TREES 163 



the fig sovereign of the trees. The Mohammedans 

 still honour the date. 



In Biblical times the Canaanites planted a 

 sacred tree beside each altar, and the Israelites, 

 adopting their custom, set up sanctuaries under the 

 shade of groves, which were also emblematic of the 

 Garden of Eden. It was when the worship in these 

 groves took on a form still more like that of their 

 heathen neighbours, that the thunderous denuncia- 

 tions of the prophets were so often aroused. It is 

 recorded that the voice of God came to Moses from 

 a burning bush, which might be taken as an indica- 

 tion of the belief in trees as oracles. The olive was 

 reverenced by the Hebrews. It is said that the 

 cherubims of the ark were carved from its wood. 

 The golden palm was regarded as a mystic tree by 

 both the Jews and the Arabs. The species of that 

 day were said to rustle their leaves even when no 

 wind was stirring. This was looked upon as a form 

 of prophecy which those skilled in "the language of 

 the palms" could interpret. It is believed that 

 Abraham was well versed in this art and that Solo- 

 mon planted some of these wonderful trees in his 

 temple. The fact that Abraham "received heavenly 

 visitors" under an oak, that the angel spoke to 

 Gideon from under an oak and that Isaiah rebuked 



