Rick Carver
Premium Member
The use of a Sprig of Acacia has meaning to Masons, but have you ever considered it actual meaning?
Acacia is mentioned specifically in connection with the building of the Tabernacle in Exodus Chapters 37 and 38. It says that Acacia wood was used to construct the Ark of the Covenant as well as its poles, the table of showbread and its poles, the brazen altar and its poles, the incense altar and its poles, and all the poles for the hanging of the curtains as well as the supports. Essentially, the Bible says that all the structural load-bearing features of the Tabernacle were constructed of Acacia wood. It also tells us in Exodus 35:24 that one of the freewill offerings that the children of Israel brought to the Tabernacle was Acacia wood.
This verse demonstrates that the Hebrews held Acacia in high regard and used it in the most special of circumstances. But in this instance, where did they get it? It wasn’t growing wild in the desert.
Until they stopped to build the temple, we know that the Hebrews had been a nomadic and transient people since the time of the exodus from Egypt. They had never remained in any one place long enough to have transplanted trees and for them to mature to the point where they could produce lumber. We also know there were no indigenous Acacia trees in the region large enough to produce lumber. So where did they get all the Acacia lumber used in the construction of the Temple? We must conclude that either it was sent for, or that they brought it along as they traveled those many years. In either instance, the dense and heavy Acacia wood was unquestionably a burden to transport in those days, and further proves Acacia was considered to be of considerable value and importance.
Acacia is mentioned specifically in connection with the building of the Tabernacle in Exodus Chapters 37 and 38. It says that Acacia wood was used to construct the Ark of the Covenant as well as its poles, the table of showbread and its poles, the brazen altar and its poles, the incense altar and its poles, and all the poles for the hanging of the curtains as well as the supports. Essentially, the Bible says that all the structural load-bearing features of the Tabernacle were constructed of Acacia wood. It also tells us in Exodus 35:24 that one of the freewill offerings that the children of Israel brought to the Tabernacle was Acacia wood.
Every one who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's offering; and every man with whom was found acacia wood of any use in the work, brought it.
This verse demonstrates that the Hebrews held Acacia in high regard and used it in the most special of circumstances. But in this instance, where did they get it? It wasn’t growing wild in the desert.
Until they stopped to build the temple, we know that the Hebrews had been a nomadic and transient people since the time of the exodus from Egypt. They had never remained in any one place long enough to have transplanted trees and for them to mature to the point where they could produce lumber. We also know there were no indigenous Acacia trees in the region large enough to produce lumber. So where did they get all the Acacia lumber used in the construction of the Temple? We must conclude that either it was sent for, or that they brought it along as they traveled those many years. In either instance, the dense and heavy Acacia wood was unquestionably a burden to transport in those days, and further proves Acacia was considered to be of considerable value and importance.