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The olive tree and its oil were a major component in the Ancient Israelite society, and have been important to the Jewish people for millennia. [1] [2] Olives are often mentioned in Jewish religious texts and are generally seen as a symbol of peace, [3] [4] wisdom, [5] and vitality. [6] It had a key role in the agricultural life, industry and religious practices of ancient Israel and Judah.
The olive tree is endemic to Israel and the greater Mediterranean Basin. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] The cultivation of olive trees has been important to the agricultural life in the Land of Israel since the Neolithic period. [12] [13] [14] Pottery containing olive pits, remnants of olives and olive presses discovered on archaeological sites provide evidence of early olive oil production. [15] [16] [17] [18]
In the age of The Kingdom of Israel and Judah, industrial villages dedicated to oil production, likely under royal patronage, were established. [19] [20] [21] These villages housed dozens of presses, exemplified by discoveries at sites such as Khirbet Khadash. [22] [23] During the 8th century BCE, the olive oil industry experienced a boom in mass production across the two Israelite Kingdoms. [24] [25] [26] Even after the Assyrian conquest of the northern Kingdom, the production of Olive oil continued in Kingdom of Judah. [27] It was then shipped to other vassal states of the Assyrian Empire. [28] Olives in general were used as a source of food, light, hygiene and healing. [29] [30] Israelite and later Judean populations mostly planted the trees in the Galilee, Judea and Samaria. [31] [32] [33] [34]
Olives remained a key product for Jews in Israel, despite the land changing control under various powers. [35] [36] [37] [38]
Following the First Aliyah, Jewish olim began planting a number of plants, including Olive trees. [39] [40] [41] [42] Olive oil was sold in markets and exported [43] [44] Olive oil was the most common oil used by the Jewish community. With the foundation of a modern industrial oil factory that produced distilled oils from various grains, such as soy, sunflower, and corn, olive oil experienced a decline. [45]
Over the 20th century, the Jewish population established numerous olive plantations. The Kibbutz movements played a significant role in fostering the cultivation of olives. [46] [47]
At the turn of the 3rd Millennium, Israel saw an increase in olive oil consumption. Israel's Ministry of Agriculture promotes and supports the production of olives for olive oil pressing and local usage [47] [48] [49]
The olive tree is one of the most important trees in Judaism and Jewish culture. [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] They symbolize Jewish connection to their historic homeland. [77] [80] [81] [82] [83] Olives are a part of the Seven Species. [84] [85] They were part of the diet of the Ancient Israelites, and are still used in modern Israeli and Jewish cuisines. [86]
The first mention of olives appears in the narrative of Noah's flood, where the dove returns to the ark with an olive leaf in her mouth, signifying the receding of the waters (Genesis 8:11). During the sabbatical year, the land is to rest, allowing the poor and beasts to eat from vineyards and oliveyards (Exodus 23:11). Pure beaten olive oil is commanded for the continual lighting of the lamp in the tabernacle (Exodus 27:20). The holy anointing oil is compounded with spices and a hin of olive oil for consecrating the tabernacle and priests (Exodus 30:24). In Leviticus, clear beaten olive oil is again specified for the sanctuary lamps to burn continually (Leviticus 24:2). Houses full of goods, cisterns, vineyards, and olive trees are among the inheritances in the Promised Land sworn to the patriarchs (Deuteronomy 6:11). The Land of Israel is praised as one of wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates, olive oil, and honey (Deuteronomy 8:8). When beating the olive tree for harvest, branches are not to be gone over again, leaving remnants for the stranger, fatherless, and widow (Deuteronomy 24:20). As a curse for disobedience, olive trees throughout the coasts will cast their fruit, preventing anointing with oil (Deuteronomy 28:40). The Israelites receive a land with cities, vineyards, and oliveyards they did not plant or build (Joshua 24:13). In Jotham's parable, trees seek a king, first asking the olive tree to reign over them (Judges 9:8). The olive tree refuses, unwilling to leave its fatness honoring God and men to wave over other trees (Judges 9:9). Samson sets fire to Philistine standing corn, shocks, vineyards, and olives using foxes with torches (Judges 15:5). A king will take the best fields, vineyards, and oliveyards to give to his servants (1 Samuel 8:14). Elisha questions if it is time to receive money, garments, oliveyards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and servants (2 Kings 5:26) An Assyrian tempts surrender with a land of corn, wine, bread, vineyards, olive trees, and honey (2 Kings 18:32). Within the holy of holies, two cherubims were made of olive tree, each ten cubits high (1 Kings 6:23). Doors for the holy of holies are made of olive tree, with carvings of cherubims, palms, and flowers overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:31). For the temple door, posts are made of olive tree (1 Kings 6:33). Baalhanan the Gederite oversees the olive trees and sycamores in the low plains (1 Chronicles 27:28). The nobles' usury leads to restoring fields, vineyards, oliveyards, and houses to the people (Nehemiah 5:11). Proclamation is made to fetch olive branches, pine, myrtle, palm, and thick tree branches for booths (Nehemiah 8:15). Fortified cities, fat land, houses, cisterns, vineyards, oliveyards, and fruit trees are captured and enjoyed (Nehemiah 9:25). The wicked shake off unripe grapes and cast off flowers as the olive (Job 15:33).
Since 2021, the olive tree has been the national tree of the state of Israel. [102] Its branches are depicted on the Emblem of the State of Israel and the insignia of the Israel Defence Forces (Incl. The Military Rabbinate). [103]
In Israel, olives are an economically important fruit. [104] [105] Within Israel's olive plantations, some olive trees have stood for centuries. The trees can be found in various regions, from the elevated mountain areas to the coastal plains. The landscape contains ~340,000 dunams (84,000 acres) of olive plantations. [106] These expansive groves are home to a variety of olive types. Among them are the: Zuri, Barnea, Manzanillo, Picual, Muhasan, Nabali, Souri, Kalamata, Picholine,Maalot and Coratina. [107] [108]
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