Abraham planted a tamarisk tree


There are many trees and bushes mentioned in the bibles, and if you're lucky your Bible will properly translate the Hebrew and you will be left with a gem. And if you further study the botanical nature and attributes of these trees and bushes, you will be left with the "reason" of why they are important to the story.

In Genesis 21:33 we are told Abraham planted a Tamarisk Tree. He plants it after cutting a covenant. "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God."

Genesis 21:22-34         Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech
22 At that time Abimelech, accompanied by Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Swear to me by God here and now, that you will not break an agreement with me or with my children and descendants. As I have been loyal to you, so you will be loyal to me and to the country where you are a foreign resident.” 
24 And Abraham said, “I swear it.” 25 But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the water well that Abimelech’s servants had seized.
26 Abimelech replied, “I don’t know who did this thing. You didn’t report anything to me, so I hadn’t heard about it until today.”
27 Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28 Abraham separated seven ewe lambs from the flock. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “Why have you separated these seven ewe lambs?”

30 He replied, “You are to accept the seven ewe lambs from my hand so that this act will serve as my witness that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because it was there that the two of them swore an oath. 32 After they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines.

33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of Yahweh, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines for many days.



Like the Everlasting God, the Tamarisk is an Everlasting Tree.

1. It takes 80 years to grow to maturity. So it is a tree for many generations to come. So Abraham didn't plant it for himself

2. The tree is a natural air conditioner, producing cooler air; 15% lower in temperature than the surrounding air.

3. It did not grow naturally in the desert, so Abraham would have had to plant it, water it and nurture it and cultivate it, until it could take root.

The tree was a gift for future generations. And in this verse planted as a memorial.

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