Oak

Oak translates the Hebrew word 'allon or 'elon, a deciduous tree of the genus Quercus though scholars are not agreed about the species involved. On a number of occasions, however, the NIV translates 'allon as "large/great trees," (as, e.g., at Deut 11:30; Jos 19:33; Judg 4:11). The translation of the Hebrew word is also complicated by the fact that it is sometimes used interchangeably with terebinth.

Oak tress are known for their longetivity (specimens over 500 years old are not uncommon) and their size (reaching 20m in height). The picture that emerges from an examination of the occurences of the word in the OT suggests that the tree and/or the grooves where they grow were considered sacred, and often associated with pagan worship (e.g., Isa 1:29; 57:5; Eze 6:13; Hos 4:13). Its size and splendour also lends itself easily to the figure of arrogance (e.g., Isa 2:12-13; Amos 2:9). Of all the imageries of the oak in the Bible, the most tragically comical must be the scene in which Absalom, while trying to make good his escape riding on his mule, "the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in mid-air, while the mule he was riding kept on going," and he was killed when Joab drove three javelins into him (2Sam 18:9-14).