“Teil–tree”

Alan C. Miner

Terebinth, turpentine tree (Heb. ela, Isaiah 6:13, AV “teil tree”; Hosea 4:13, “elm”). The Palestine terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus var. palestina, or P. palestina) is a small tree occurring very frequently in the hills. The terebinth was one of the trees under which sacrifice and offerings were made “because their shade is good” (Hosea 4:13). [Tyndale House, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary , Vol. 3, p. 1592]

According to Hoyt Brewster, although the branches of Israel will have been broken off the main tree and scattered--casting off their dead and dried up leaves--the stump of the tree will yet produce edible fruit… . The potential to produce life (“substance”) remains in the old tree. The Teil tree, as used in this context, is "a rare English word for lime or linden tree … [ Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., Isaiah Plain & Simple, p. 61]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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