Lexical Summary allah: Oath, curse Original Word: אַלָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance oak A variation of 'elah -- oak. see HEBREW 'elah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition an oak NASB Translation oak (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַלָּה noun feminine oak (compare אַלּוֺן, but ᵐ5 here τερέμινθος) only Joshua 24:26 the oak which is in the sanctuary of ׳י; read however perhaps אֵלָה, terebinth (see I. אֵלָה). Topical Lexicon Botanical and Symbolic Significance אַלָּה denotes the oak or terebinth, a tree renowned in the Near East for its deep roots, long life, and imposing stature. Because of these qualities, the oak became a natural emblem of stability, permanence, and covenantal faithfulness. Scripture often places covenantal or judicial moments beneath such trees, underscoring their role as silent, enduring witnesses to human vows before God. The Oak at Shechem (Joshua 24:26) “And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.” (Joshua 24:26) 1. Location. Shechem lay between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, the very site where Israel had earlier rehearsed the blessings and curses of the Law (Joshua 8:30-35). Patriarchal Connections Though אַלָּה appears only here, earlier covenantal episodes at Shechem likewise feature an oak (Genesis 35:4) or “oaks” of Moreh (Genesis 12:6). Together they weave a thematic thread: • Abraham built his first Canaanite altar at an oak in Moreh, marking Yahweh’s land promise. The recurrence of an oak at pivotal moments portrays God’s unbroken redemptive storyline across generations. Stone and Tree: Dual Witnesses Joshua’s act joins two natural elements: the immovable stone and the living tree. The stone signified recorded testimony (“this stone... has heard all the words” Joshua 24:27), while the oak, nourished through seasons, portrayed ongoing accountability. Together they foreshadow the union of wood and stone at Calvary—the wooden cross erected upon the rocky hill—where the final and everlasting covenant was ratified in Christ’s blood. Theological Reflections 1. Covenant Memory. The oak’s presence teaches that God anchors His covenants in history and nature, inviting every succeeding generation to remember and obey. Ministry and Discipleship Applications • Visible Memorials. Churches may employ enduring symbols—stones, communion tables, baptismal waters—to remind congregations of commitments made to Christ. Historical Legacy Later prophets evoke oaks when condemning idolatrous worship “under every green tree” (Isaiah 57:5; Hosea 4:13), a tragic inversion of the holy oak at Shechem. Such contrasts caution the Church: places once marked by obedience can be corrupted if hearts wander. Yet the Shechem oak endures in the biblical imagination as a marker of fidelity, urging every reader to stand, like Israel of old, and declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Forms and Transliterations הָֽאַלָּ֔ה האלה hā’allāh hā·’al·lāh haalLahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 24:26 HEB: שָּׁ֔ם תַּ֚חַת הָֽאַלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ NAS: under the oak that was by the sanctuary KJV: and set it up there under an oak, that [was] by the sanctuary INT: there under the oak that was sanctuary 1 Occurrence |
    |