The account of Moses with the burning bush does not tell us exactly which kind of bush was involved. There are many varieties of acacias in the Sinai region, and the Hebrew word used here indicates the acacia. Loranthus is cited by Walker. It is a mistletoe with red berries that are used for birdlime to catch warblers that are numerous in the Middle East. The bright red berries give an appearance of flame. The Bible says the bush burned with fire, but was not "consumed".
Smith points out that seneh, a Hebrew word, occurs only in the passages which refer to the appearance of Jehovah in the flaming bush. These are: Exodus 3: 2-4; Deut. 33:16.
The Arabs applied the name sanna to all spiny shrubs and Egyptians used the name sunt for the acacia tree.
Exodus 3:1 (KJV) Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
Exodus 3:2 (KJV) And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Exodus 3:3 (KJV) And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Exodus 3:4 (KJV) And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
Email comments to plants-of-old@juno.com
Get your own Free home page