Almugim

ALMUGIM, a certain kind of wood mentioned in the first book of Kings, Ch. x. 11. which in the Vulgate1 is translated ligna thyina, and in the Septuagint wrought wood. The Rabbins generally render it Coral, others Ebony, Brazil, or Pine. It certainly is not Coral, for Coral is not proper to make musical instruments of, nor to be used in rails, or in a staircase, which were the uses that the Scripture tells us this wood Almugim was put to. The Pine-tree is too common in Judæa and the neighbouring country to go in search for it as far as Ophir. The word Thyinum is that of the Citron-tree, known to the Ancients, and very much esteemed for its sweet odour and great beauty¹. It came from Mauritania.

We are of opinion that by the word Almugim or Algumim, or simply Gummim, taking al for a kind of article, may be understood oily and gummy sorts of wood, and particularly the tree which produces Gum Ammoniac or Gum Arabic. It is said that the Gum Ammoniac proceeds from a tree resembling that which bears Myrrh; and that the Gum of Arabia comes from the black Acacia, which we take to be the same as the Shittim wood, whereof there is such frequent mention in Moses. If this were so, Solomon’s Almugim and Moses’s Shittim would be the same wood. See our Comment upon 1 Kings x. 11. and what we have to say on the article SHITTIM.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages