Bible Dictionary
Acacia
Acacia is a thorny desert tree whose durable wood was used for parts of the tabernacle, including the ark, altar, boards, and poles. It is commonly identified with one or more species of biblical shittah tree.
Definition
Acacia is a thorny desert tree, probably including the species Acacia seyal and related desert acacias. Its close-grained, durable wood was suitable for construction and was not readily attacked by insects. It is associated with the biblical shittah tree and shittim wood.
Biblical Usage
Shittim wood was used for the ark of the covenant, the altar, the boards of the tabernacle, and their poles. Isaiah also mentions the shittah tree among trees associated with God’s provision.
Historical Background
Acacia grows abundantly in the Sinaitic peninsula and in desert valleys. The tree can reach considerable height and thickness, may have an umbrella-like form, and yields gum arabic.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. shittim) Ex. 25:5, R.V. probably the Acacia seyal (the gum-arabic tree); called the “shittah” tree (Isa. 41:19). Its wood is called shittim wood (Ex. 26:15, 26; 25:10, 13, 23, 28, etc.). This species (A. seyal) is like the hawthorn, a gnarled and thorny tree. It yields the gum-arabic of commerce. It is found in abundance in the Sinaitic peninsula.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-ka'-sha (shiTTah, the shittah tree of the King James Version, Isa 41:19, and `atse-shiTTah, acacia wood; shittah wood the King James Version, Ex 25:5,10,13; 26:15,26; 27:1,6; De 10:3.): ShiTTah (= shinTah) is equivalent to the Arabic sant which is now the name of the Acacia Nilotica (NO, Leguminosae), but no doubt the name once included other species of desert acacias. If one particular species is indicated in the Old Testament it is probably the Acacia Seyal--the Arabic Seyyal--which yields the well-known gum- arabic This tree, which has finely leaves ular flowers, grows to a height of twenty feet or more, and its stem may sometimes reach two feet in thickness. The tree often assumes a characteristic umbrella-like form. The wood is close-grained and is not readily attacked by insects. It would be well suited for such purposes as described, the construction of the ark of the covenant, the altar and boarding of the tabernacle. Even today these trees survive in considerable numbers around `Ain Jidy and in the valleys to the south.</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>