Palm, Palm Tree. Exodus 15:27; Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 34:3. There are several hundred species of palm; but the Phœnix dactylifera, or date-palm, is that which, growing in Palestine, is often referred to in Scripture. Its fruit furnishes a considerable part of subsistence to the inhabitants of Egypt, Persia, and Arabia. A conserve is also made of it with sugar; while the stones are ground in the handmills for the food of camels. Baskets, bags, mate, etc., are manufactured of the leaves; the trunk is split up, and is serviceable in various ways; the weblike integuments at the bases of the leaves are twisted into ropes: the sap is collected, and is at first a sweetish mild beverage, but afterwards ferments, and a kind of arrack is produced from it by distillation. Every part, therefore, of the tree has its use. The names of many places show that palms were abundant: Elim, Elath, Hazezon-tamar—"felling of palm tree"—Genesis 14:6; Bethany, "house of dates." John 11:1; John 12:13.
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