The terebinth tree and cultural prostitution
by Antonio Cruz, Evangelical Focus:
The terebinth, is native to the west Mediterranean, but it has spread eastwards to Greece, Turkey, Syria and Israel, and it is very resistant to drought.
They sacrifice on the mountaintops
and burn offerings on the hills,
under oak, poplar and terebinth,
where the shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters turn to prostitution
and your daughters-in-law to adultery. (Hosea 4:13)
The terebinth tree (Pistacia terebinthus) is a bush or small tree which normally grows to a height of about 5 metres, although it can reach a height of 10 metres. It is a deciduous tree whose leaves comprise 7 to 9 shiny, oval-shaped, coriaceous leaflets; its yellowish flowers are arranged in clusters and its fruit, the drupe, is a reddish berry, smaller than the pea, which finally turns brown.
The terebinth produces turpentine oil, a resin which, being astringent, was used in the ancient East for medicinal purposes. It was also used to sweeten wine and certain foods. Now it is the basic element in the development of a dissolvent product known as turpentine.
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