The Scripture classification of vegetables and other products of the earth is a simple one (Gen. 1:1111And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:11)). It should ever be borne in mind that the Bible was written for the world, and has a moral end in view, even the glory of God. Wondrous it is that God should have laid, in the death of His Beloved Son, the ground of salvation to lost man; but, even here, as in the boundless sphere of creation all is subordinated to the maintenance and display of His own glory, whether of power as in creation, or of grace as in redemption. Neither botany nor any other subject is treated scientifically in the Scriptures. The wise and learned may object, but the mass can appreciate. We do not object to scientific accuracy, quite the contrary, but why insist upon it in a book designed for man as such, and where as correct and satisfactory results are, in numerous subjects, arrived at simply as the result of careful observation? The Hebrews never formally wrote on botany, nor could they have produced a scientific delineation of the beautiful and abundant flora of their country; and yet from the "fig-tree" in Genesis to the "tree of life" in Revelation, the references in the Word to the botany of Palestine, Egypt, etc., are exceedingly numerous, affording rich and abundant material in the enforcement and illustration of moral truth. In the mention of those trees, shrubs, and flowers, which can be presently identified, naturalists of the highest standing bear testimony to the exactness of the description given, and yet all is drawn from observation. What did Solomon know of botanical science? yet " he spake of trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon (tall, strong, and stately), even unto the hyssop (low, lying plant) that springeth out of the wall" (1 Kings 4:3333And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. (1 Kings 4:33).)
"Modern travelers have repeatedly noticed the beauty and abundance of its spring flowers, and equally varied are its trees and shrubs: not less than 1000 species of plants have been recorded as natives of Palestine, and the whole number of species probably reaches 2000; but of these a very small portion are referred to in Holy Writ, and those it is often difficult to identify with certainty."We have about 28 names of trees, plants, and flowers specifically named in Scripture, but the difficulty of identifying even those with existing species is confessedly great; and hence some who have taken in hand this interesting branch of study have entered the regions of speculation and conjecture where we dare not follow them. Solid and reliable information is valuable, but conjectural statements should be shunned.
The Scripture classification of botanic physiology is thus simply stated:— “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth: and it was so" (Gen. 1:1111And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:11)). The loveliness of the "lily," the fragrance of the "rose" among flowers; the extensively cultivated garden plant the "mint" and the common enough "anise" as spices; the healing "balm" and soporific property of the "myrrh;" the strength and durability of the "cedar" and "fir" amongst trees; the "fig," "pomegranate," and "almond" among fruits; the tall, dark "cypress," waving over the graves of the departed; the stately "palm," emblematic of victory, and the drooping "weeping willow" by the river's side; besides, numerous aromatic and medicinal plants are all pressed into the service of the Holy Ghost in the unfolding of the circle of Divine truth, and further show that the ancients in Bible lands were well acquainted with the rich and varied flora of their respective regions. The trees and herbs yielded fruit and medicine, while the celebrated perfumes of the East were cultivated in their gardens and carefully compounded. From the Bible itself we learn that the Hebrews were enthusiastic students of nature. The following classification of the vegetable physiology of the Bible may prove helpful.:—