Unique Beauty. Historical Depth.

Old Olive Trees

Overview

The olive Tree is widely grown in the Mediterranean countries like Tunisia, Spain, Italy, and the Holy Land. The grains, sturdiness and beauty of the grains of the olive wood is different from one country to another based on factors climate and geography.

The olive Tree is the most widely grown tree in the Holy land through the history until now. The olive tree is the source of olives, oil, wood, and best of all, the beauty of the tree. Olive oil is consumed with food, and used in many products, like soap, other chemicals and some medicines.

The Olive Tree is a subtropical, broad-leaved, evergreen tree that has a long life cycle that could last for thousands of years if the circumstances do not affect its existence and growth. The Olive Tree is different than most of the trees. It takes about 8 years after planted to start producing the olives. Every year, after the harvest season that takes place in October, the olive tree needs to be pruned and trimmed to improve productivity. The purpose is to remove any non productive branches and to keep all branches within reach of appropriate sunlight and airflow. All central branches are removed to achieve that goal. This process helps in growth and in widening the trunk and thickening the branches of the tree. The tree can grow up to a 20 feet (7 m)

The Olive Tree of the Holy land

“The Sacred Tree”, “The Peace Tree”, “The Tree of Light”, and “The Tree of Legends”

Through the known history, besides the need for olives and oil for food, olive oil was used and continues to be used for anointing. In the Old Testament, olive oil was used to anoint prophets and kings, and to light the lamps. It was also used to anoint the sick and the dead.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ was described as the “Anointed One” the Messiah. Christians were called Nozreem or Masseheen, which in Aramic and Arabic means “people anointed with olive oil” or the followers of the Messiah; the anointed.

Many of the places mentioned in the Holy Bible like Mount of Olives, and Garden of Gethsemane are still growing the olive trees. The Olive trees of Gethsemane; the Jerusalem garden where Jesus Christ prayed after His last supper and before He was crucified, are among the oldest in the world, have been dated to at least 900 years old.

The Olive-tree in Scripture

The two “witnesses” mentioned in Revelation 11:4are spoken of as “two olive trees standing before the God of the earth.”The “olive-tree, wild by nature” ( Romans 11:24), is the shoot or cutting of the good olive-tree which, left ungrafted, grows up to be a “wild olive.”But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. Psalm 52:8New International Version (NIV)houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant–then when you eat and are satisfied, Deuteronomy 6:11a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey Deuteronomy 8:8His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree. Hosea 14:6King James Version (KJV)But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. Psalm 52:8New International Version (NIV)Out of the ground, the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant for the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9″“Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.” Psalm 52:8The dove sent out from the ark by Noah returned with an olive branch (Genesis 8:11). Here it became the great symbol of peace, indicating the end of God’s anger.The hard and beautifully-grained olive wood. Kings 6:23-35[Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” It is believed that Jesus prayed underneath an Olive Tree”. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:36-39For the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim out of olive wood, each ten cubits high. 1 Kings 6:23

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. Psalm 52:8

May God Bless You All