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TAMARISK (’çshel).—This name occurs in RV [Note: Revised Version.] (only) three times; Gen_21:33 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘grove,’ mg. ‘tree’; 1Sa_22:6 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘tree,’ mg. ‘grove’; 1Sa_31:13 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘tree.’ The RV [Note: Revised Version.] rendering is based upon an identification of the Heb. ’çshel with the Arab. [Note: Arabic.] ’âthl. RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] gives ‘tamarisk’ for heath of EV [Note: English Version.] in Jer_17:6 (cf. Jer_48:6), but probably a species of juniper is intended here. There are some eight species of tamarisks in Palestine; they are most common in the Maritime Plain and the Jordan Valley. Though mostly but shrubs, some species attain to the size of large trees. They are characterized by their brittle feathery branches and minute scale-like leaves.
E. W. G. Masterman.