Topical Encyclopedia
The Oak of Tabor is a significant location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the narrative involving Saul, the first king of Israel. This site is referenced in
1 Samuel 10:3, where the prophet Samuel provides Saul with a series of signs to confirm his anointing as king. The passage reads: "Then you will go on from there until you reach the Oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine" (
1 Samuel 10:3).
Historical and Geographical ContextThe Oak of Tabor is traditionally understood to be a notable tree or grove located near the region of Mount Tabor, although its exact location is not definitively known today. Mount Tabor itself is a prominent hill in the Lower Galilee region of modern-day Israel, rising approximately 1,843 feet above sea level. It is situated near the boundary of the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, making it a significant landmark in the biblical landscape.
In ancient times, oaks were often associated with sacred sites and were commonly used as landmarks or meeting places. The Oak of Tabor, therefore, may have served as a well-known point of reference for travelers and worshippers in the region. The mention of this oak in the narrative of Saul's anointing underscores its importance as a recognizable location for the people of Israel.
Theological SignificanceThe encounter at the Oak of Tabor is part of a series of prophetic signs given to Saul by Samuel, which serve to confirm God's choice of Saul as king over Israel. The specificity of the signs, including the meeting with three men carrying specific items, highlights the divine orchestration of events and the assurance of God's guidance in Saul's life. This moment at the Oak of Tabor is a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to direct the course of history according to His purposes.
The Oak of Tabor also serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The men Saul meets are on their way to Bethel, a place of worship and significance in Israel's history, further emphasizing the connection between the divine and the everyday lives of the Israelites. The items they carry—goats, bread, and wine—are symbolic of sustenance and sacrifice, elements central to the worship and communal life of Israel.
Cultural and Symbolic AspectsIn the broader cultural context of the ancient Near East, trees, particularly oaks, were often seen as symbols of strength, endurance, and longevity. They were sometimes associated with divine presence or favor, serving as natural altars or places of revelation. The Oak of Tabor, therefore, may have held symbolic meaning for the Israelites, representing a place where the divine and human realms intersect.
The use of the oak as a landmark in the narrative also reflects the agrarian and pastoral lifestyle of the Israelites, for whom the natural environment was an integral part of their spiritual and communal identity. The Oak of Tabor, as a meeting place, underscores the importance of community and shared religious experience in the life of ancient Israel.
In summary, the Oak of Tabor is a significant biblical location that serves as a backdrop for a pivotal moment in the life of Saul and the history of Israel. Its mention in Scripture highlights themes of divine guidance, covenantal relationship, and the intersection of the sacred and the ordinary in the lives of God's people.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Oak of TaborOAK OF TABOR
('elon tabhor): Thus the Revised Version (British and American) in1 Samuel 10:3 for the King James Version "plain of Tabor" (the Revised Version margin "terebinth"). Tabor was famous for its groves of oak, but what "oak" is meant here is not known. Ewald thinks that "Tabor" is a different pronunciation for "Deborah," and connects withGenesis 35:8; but this is not likely.
SeeOAK, 3.
Library
How Samuel Found a Leader
... no more about the asses but is worrying about you, saying, "What shall I do for
my son?"' Then you shall go on from there and come to theoak ofTabor....
Women who Saved a Nation
... his tent as far away as theoak which is near Kadesh. When it was reported to Sisera
that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to MountTabor, Sisera gathered...
The Transfiguration
... it was Hermon are at liberty to think so; and those who think it wasTabor, have
a... There was a large meadow near by, with a grand oldoak tree standing in the...
Gideon's Brave Band
... Then the angel of Jehovah came and sat down under theoak which was in Ophrah... and
Zalmunna, "What kind of men were those whom you killed atTabor?" They replied...
That Upon the Conquest and Slaughter of vitellius Vespasian...
... who says he was not an hour in getting up to the top of this MountTabor, and that...
[17] Some of the ancients call this famous tree, or grove, anoak others, a...
The Transfiguration.
... fields where the pear tree supplants the fig; next, throughoak coppice, and... had
left C??sarea Philippi, and the scene of the Transfiguration was MountTabor....
A Homily for Humble Folks
... Let us envy no man his standing uponTabor or Pisgah, and on the other hand let... give
only a small chip at a time, keep on striking, and even theoak will yield...
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... of Issachar, Ephraim, and Machir to meet him at the foot ofTabor, where the... Deborah,
nurse of Rachel, who was buried near Bethel, under the "Oak of Weeping...
The Incarnation and Birth of Christ
... We have repaired even toTabor itself, where Christ was transfigured, and yet there...
cloud hath Providence to its pilot; doubtless the root of anoak is gnarled...
The Perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary.
... for him to show, now that so many years have rolled away since that day, that either
the idols hidden beneath theoak have been... MountTabor is called Itabyrium...
Resources
What is the significance of Bethel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was John Nelson Darby? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is autotheism? What is an autotheist? | GotQuestions.orgOak: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
