Seven Species

(Heb. shiv'at ha-minim). Produce characteristic of Erets Israel. These crops are mentioned in an idyllic biblical passage describing Erets Israel as "a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; a land where you may eat food without stint, where you will lack nothing ..." (Deut. 8:8-9). Wheat, the most valuable grain, and barley, source of the ordinary Israelite's daily Bread, were the two most important indigenous cereal crops (see Five Species). From the vine, different types and qualities of Wine could be produced; the fig tree yielded a nourishing staple fruit and the pomegranate was a key symbol of the land's fertility (cf. Num. 13:23; Song 6:11, 7:13). Oil of the highest grade, pressed from olives, fed the lamps of the Sanctuary's candelabrum; while honey, though sometimes taken from bees (Judg. 14:8-9; I Sam. 14:27), was more often the sweet juice of dates or figs (Deut. 32:13; Ps. 81:17; II Chr. 31:5).

---

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)