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mulberry tree

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(dark berry). Translation disputed (2 Sam. 5:23-24²³And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. ²⁴And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. (2 Samuel 5:23‑24); 1 Chron. 14:14¹⁴Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. (1 Chronicles 14:14)). The bacah or balsam tree is probably meant.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

The word baka is supposed to be from a root signifying “weeping,” and to refer to some tree that distils an odoriferous gum; but what tree is alluded to is unknown. David was to wait for some secret sign from God in the mulberry trees before attacking the enemy (2 Sam. 5:23-24²³And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. ²⁴And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. (2 Samuel 5:23‑24); 1 Chron. 14:14-15¹⁴Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. ¹⁵And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. (1 Chronicles 14:14‑15); Psa. 84:6⁶Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (Psalm 84:6) margin). The true mulberry is supposed to be the tree called in the AV Sycamore.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

1057 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

baka’

Phonic:

baw-kaw’

Meaning:

the same as 1056; the weeping tree (some gum- distilling tree, perhaps the balsam)

KJV Usage:

mulberry tree