Climbing the Sycamore Fig

Climbing the Sycamore Fig

By Don Henderson 11/17/2010

Last Sunday, November 14, George delivered a lesson about Zacchareus the Tax collector ( Luke 19:1-9.) Zacchareus, a short man, ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a Sycamore Fig tree so that he could see Jesus. Someone asked what was a Sycamore Fig tree? After doing a little research, some very interesting facts have emerged. Being a scientific person, I am always fascinated by things in the Bible that are related to nature. We were wondering, “How big was this tree?” “Was it related to the fig that we know?” Little did I know what could be uncovered.

1 Kings 10:27- Solomon made Silver as common in Jerusalem as stones and cedars and as common as the Sycamore Fig in the foothills… so, the Sycamore Fig was a very common tree.

1 Chron 27: 28- The army was made into divisions. Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and the Sycamore Fig trees in the western foothills… indicating an importance of the tree. We know about the importance of olive trees throughout history, so the Sycamore Fig must have been important also.

2 Chron 1:15- Solomon made silver and gold as common as stones, cedar as plentiful as the Sycamore Fig. Same quote in 2 Chron. 9:27

Amos 7:14- Amos answered Amaziah, “ I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd and I also took care of Sycamore Fig trees, but the Lord took me from the flock and said go prophesy.” Note: Sycamore Fig- large tree, fig-like fruit, useful as timber. To ensure good fruit, the gardener had to slit the top of each fig to allow the wasp to get out, thus “Took care of…”

According to Davis dictionary of the bible, fruit can not be eaten until the fruit is punctured and the insect allowed to escape. This is a very interesting symbiotic relationship between the wasp and the Sycamore Fig. Neither could survive without the other. God has fashioned this tiny wasp to work on this tree to ensure the production of the fruit and the survival of the propagation of the species. The pollination actually occurs inside the fruit. The wasp enters the fruit and pollinates, producing a seed. Without the wasp, no pollination would occur, thus no seed. Without a seed; no next generation.

Ps. 78:47- Reference to what God did to Egypt. Destroyed their vines with hail and their Sycamore Figs with sleet.

Facts about the Sycamore Fig- taken from Wikepedia

sycamore fig or fig-mulberry (leaves resemble those of mulberry)
cultivated since early times
Native to Africa south of Sahel and North of Tropic Capricorn
Grows naturally in Lebanon, naturalized in Israel and Egypt
Grows up to 60 ft tall and 18 ft wide, heart shaped leaves
Fruit is a large edible fig, 2-3 cm in diameter, ripening from buff-green to yellow to orange, borne in thick clusters, like all figs, contains a latex
Near Orient- tree of great importance and extensive use, producing delightful shade.
Ancient Egypt, called: Tree of Life, fruit and timber of Sycamore found in tombs, fruit of cultivated by Egyptians
Requires presence of symbiotic wasp, but this wasp is now extinct in Egypt (was this the result of God’s destroying the trees?)
Egyptian caskets of mummies were made from Sycamore wood

Well, does this give you more than you ever wanted to know about the Sycamore Fig?

The following gives you even more. Included in the links are two videos, one showing the tree and its inhabitants in Africa, the other: how the wasp does its thing.

Wikipedia article about

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_sycomorus

Pictures of fig tree

http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/Subgenus_Sycomorus/Section_Sycomorus/Subsection_Sycomorus/Ficus_sycomorus_sycomorus.htm

Special information about the Sycamore Fig

http://www.ulandslaere.au.dk/NOTICES/TeachingMaterial/TeachingMaterial_2000_01/undervisningsmateriale/Lars_Moller/Wild_fig.pdf

Wasp and the Sycamore Tree

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-queen-of-trees/introduction/1362/

Wasp Video

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-queen-of-trees/video-mutual-dependence/1359/

Sycamore Fig Tree Video

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-queen-of-trees/video-giving-food-and-shelter/1358/