Almonds in The Bible
We have long known that almonds were popular in the Holy Land when great events were taking place there. The Bible references this when we research the life of trees, and take a look at the science of agriculture.
In the teachings of the Bible, we learn that Moses was chosen to build and furnish a temple. He was given some pretty specific instructions and when he started subcontracting, he made it very clear what was expected in every aspect of the job.
Bezaleel was the skilled artisan that was given the assignment of creating the ark, including a candelabrum of pure gold. The language is still here, in Exodus 25:
“Three cups made like almonds, each . . . . and three cups made like almonds . . . itself four cups made like almonds . . . .”
It may sound like Moses wanted ten cups of almonds, but the translation is a little murky; cups to hold the lamp oil could hardly be shaped like an actual almond. Instead, it’s likely that the craftsman was expected to shape and design the actual cups. To put it another way, a cup may have been engraved with the image of the almond blossom flower. When nuts were mentioned in the Bible, it referenced what people ate but also how nuts were used in the arts.
In Numbers, we find a magical transformation. “The rod of Aaron . . . was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds.” There is another talk of rods. In Jeremiah, “I see a rod of almond.” In Genesis, “. . . Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazelnut and chestnut tree .” It is spelled that way in the Bible, with no middle “t.” Also in Genesis, this reference to a nice sounding combination: “honey, gum, Myhre, pistachio nuts, and almonds .”
Old Testament Mention Of Nuts in the Bible
In the Song of Solomon, the narrator says, “I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded .” When the Bible just says “nuts,” it is probably either walnuts or pistachios.
Finally, this is from Ecclesiastes, “The almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags.” We are not sure what this translation means. In conclusion, it is the mention of nuts in the Bible that is one of the oldest known.
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