Topical Bible: The Cedar: Extensive Commerce In

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The cedar tree, particularly the Cedars of Lebanon, holds significant importance in biblical history and literature. Known for its durability, fragrance, and majestic stature, the cedar was highly prized in the ancient Near East and played a crucial role in commerce and construction.

Biblical References and Significance

The cedar is frequently mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing strength and beauty. In the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, King Solomon utilized cedar wood extensively. 1 Kings 5:6 records Solomon's request to Hiram, king of Tyre: "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."

The cedars of Lebanon were renowned for their quality, making them a valuable commodity in trade. Ezekiel 27:5 describes the use of cedar in shipbuilding: "They constructed all your planking with cypress from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you." This passage highlights the extensive commerce in cedar wood, as it was sought after for its strength and resistance to decay, essential qualities for maritime ventures.

Cedar in Temple and Palace Construction

The use of cedar in the construction of sacred and royal buildings underscores its significance. In addition to the Temple, Solomon's palace, known as the "House of the Forest of Lebanon," was constructed with cedar, as detailed in 1 Kings 7:2 : "He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting cut cedar beams."

The extensive use of cedar in these constructions not only reflects its availability through trade but also its symbolic representation of divine and royal authority. The cedar's association with majesty and permanence made it an ideal material for structures meant to convey power and stability.

Cedar as a Symbol of Prosperity and Judgment

The cedar's prominence in commerce is also reflected in its symbolic use in prophetic literature. The prophets often used the cedar to illustrate both prosperity and judgment. In Isaiah 2:13 , the cedar is mentioned in the context of God's judgment against human pride: "against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, and against all the oaks of Bashan."

Conversely, the cedar is also a symbol of restoration and blessing. In Psalm 92:12 , the righteous are compared to the cedar: "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." This imagery conveys the idea of strength, longevity, and divine favor.

Trade and Economic Impact

The extensive commerce in cedar wood had significant economic implications for the regions involved. The Phoenicians, particularly the city of Tyre, were instrumental in the trade of cedar, facilitating its distribution throughout the Mediterranean. This trade network not only enriched the Phoenician cities but also established them as key players in the ancient economy.

The demand for cedar in construction and shipbuilding contributed to the wealth and influence of these trading centers. The biblical narrative reflects this economic reality, as seen in the alliances and agreements between Israel and Tyre, which were often centered around the exchange of cedar and other valuable resources.

In summary, the cedar's role in extensive commerce is well-documented in the Bible, highlighting its importance in construction, symbolism, and economic trade. Its enduring legacy is a testament to its value and significance in the ancient world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 5:10,11
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 3:7
They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, to them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Solomon's Reign.
... people, through Hiram of Tyre, one of its kings, supplied the cedar wood and the ...
a daughter of Pharoah and carried on with Egypt an extensive commerce and for ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... gorges of the Jordan, or amid the cedar-heights of ... heights or uplands which command
an extensive prospect of ... hearing on his lordly bosom the commerce of the ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

The First Theban Empire
... certain perfumes, cedar wood and cedar essences, enamelled vases ... had always kept
up extensive commercial relations ... depredations to stop the commerce between the ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... the family and its property"Chaldaean commerce and industry. ... Sarzec found the remains
of carbonized cedar panels in ... and his powers were as extensive in civil ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Gaza enjoyed among them a kind of hegemony, alike on account of its strategic position
and its favourable situation for commerce, but this supremacy was of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... Many of these country magnates held extensive fiefs, and had in their pay small ... of
their court and people, and the countless riches which the commerce of the ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... of forbidding Babylonish caravans to enter Egyptian provinces, and thus crippling
Chaldaean commerce. ... which would make it one of the most extensive ruins in ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... heights were clothed with impenetrable forests of oak, pine, larch, cypress, spruce,
and cedar. ... it was the key to the route by which the commerce of Babylon ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... were in those days clothed with dense forests, in which the pine, the oak, and the
poplar grew side by side with the eastern plane tree, the cedar, lime, elm ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm