By Kathy L McFarland
(TY200 – Lesson 11)
7/3/2024
The Mysteries of Trees – Algum/Almug Tree
Mark 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
TY200 – INTERPRETATION CONFIDENCE CHART
- Typology known as fully God’s Truth concerning trees walking as recorded in Mark 8:22-26 (Those specifically, typologically identified in Scripture)
- Trees in Scripture identify the different Spiritual Lives that are lived on this Earth
- Different parts of the trees walking with Christ are fully represented in Scripture as God’s Truth
- Tree – Spiritual Lives of forgiven followers walking with the Lord Jesus Christ and producing powerful fruits of His.
- Root – The foundation of a tree from firstfruit that is secured by a lump of clay that can grow and produce living works of fruit
- Leaves – The preparation that LORD God makes for the coming events of living works.
- Fruit – Living works of the LORD God, done through followers (Branch) of the Lord Jesus Christ (Vine) at the guidance of the Holy Spirit with the spiritual life of a walking tree.
- Seed – Word of God.
- The fruit of righteousness is a Tree of Life.
- Typology Known Confidently (Those represented in Scripture with enough frequency, sufficiency, and accuracy to reveal their typological meanings with full Truth of God unchallenged and supported by the Holy Spirit’s teachings)
- Almond Tree – The believer, as an almond tree, is a Christian leader, chosen by God, that watches over the works of Christians guided by the Lord, and the people he serves.
- Algum/Almug Tree – The Spiritual Life works that honors the LORD God and guides Believers to come closer to Him toward the beauty of His Holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. Musical worship and high praise are often expressed through these types of Christian works.
- Typology Known Probably (Knowledge of Scripture, God’s Way, Logic and common sense in the typological meaning can NOT be confirmed fully with the Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit)
- Typology NOT Known (Can NOT make even simple assumptions of the typological meaning because there is NOT enough frequency, sufficiency, or accuracy recorded in Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is NOT teaching deeper meaning)
Algum – 454 אַלְגּוּמִּים (ʾǎl·gûm·mîm): n.[masc.]; ≡ Str 418; TWOT 89b—LN 3.2–3.12 a species of valued tree, transliterated as algumwood, traditionally sandal-wood but some suggest a species of Juniper, see also 523 (2Ch 2:7[EB 8]; 9:10, 11+)[1]
2 Chronicles 9:9–11 (KJV 1900)
9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
Teachings of Kathy L McFarland
Please first note the definition as it is translated into Hebrew. The transliterated noun shows that Hebrew Scripture calls this tree either Almug or Almugwood, while English speakers know it as Algum. Transliteration is what happens to a word in one language that does not correspond to another language perfectly and must use different or different-ordered letters.
We will be studying both Algum and Almug because of this translation difficulty.
Worksheet #1
1. Why do we study two different words, “Almug” and “Algum” for this specific tree?
a. The noun is transliterated
b. The noun is added later in translation
c. English words mean less than Hebrew
d. All the above
2. What does the Hebrew word אַלְגּוּמִּים (ʾǎl·gûm·mîm) definition for this tree?
a. Species of hard wood
b. Species of white wood
c. Species of valued tree
d. Species of ancient tree
3. What is the transliterated word for גּוּמּים אַלְגּוּמִּים (ʾǎl·gûm·mîm)?
a. Algum
b. Almug
c. Almug or Almugwood
d. Algum or Algumwood
4. What species of tree is probably its type as represented by Scripture? (Will be more than one answer)
a. Cedar
b. Pine
c. Sandalwood
d. Juniper
e. All the above
5. What famous woman met with the King in 2 Chronicles 9:9-11?
a. Ruth
b. Sheba
c. Delilah
d. Rebekah
6. What famous King is spoken about in 2 Chronicles 9:9-11?
a. Solomon
b. David
c. Pontius
d. Zechariah
7. What were the gifts brought to King Solomon by Queen Sheba directly?
a. One hundred and twenty talents of gold
b. Spices of great abundance
c. Precious stones
d. All the above
8. What was the nature of spices Queen Sheba given to King Solomon?
(More than one answer)
a. They were not known by Solomon before then
b. They were the same spices of Israel
c. They were unimportant because they represented natural life
d. They were valued as gifts from the LORD God to provide sustenance for Natural Life (Remember the teachings hints on the previous lesson about spices?)
9. What gifts were brought by servants separate from what Queen Sheba brought directly?
a. Gold
b. Algum Trees
c. Precious Stones
d. All the above
2 Chronicles 3:3 (KJV 1900)
3 Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits…
2 Chronicles 3:6 (KJV 1900)
6 …And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
1 Corinthians 3:11–17 (KJV 1900)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Revelation 21:10–11 (KJV 1900)
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Precious Stones, Silver, and Gold
Teachings of Kathy L McFarland
Solomon built the House of God. No longer confined to a large tent structure as a Tabernacle, Solomon built the Temple to contain the essence of the LORD God in the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holiest of Holy rooms. Precious Stones were used to add beauty to the structure.
Later, we learn that Christian works are tried by fire on their day of examination; those that did great works for the LORD God upon the Foundation of Christ would show either Gold, Silver, or Precious Stones for a reward. Those works that suffer loss would reveal Wood, Hay or Stubble (but their salvation would NOT be touched.)
We also learn the Holy Spirit of God dwells in each believer that has been baptized by the Holy Spirit Baptism, and that Holy Spirit dwells inside a temple of God and that temple is inside a believer. Guess where the gold, silver, and precious stones are exactly inside a Believer?!?
That’s right folks; those precious stones, gold, and silver are used to make beautiful the temple of God, inside a Follower of Christ doing great works for Him. It is the Holy Spirit that guides all works of a Christian to the highest levels, and it is the temple inside each believer that these different brilliant rewards are placed, awaiting the testing of fire. Isn’t that cool when Scripture comes together so perfectly?
Much later in Scripture, we learn that the Holy Jerusalem will have the glory of God inside her.
Her light will shine through a precious stone that it is made with, clear as crystal! Thanks be to God for sharing the beauty of His rewards and decorations for His Temple.
Worksheet #2
10. Who built the House of God?
a. David
b. Moses
c. Abraham
d. Solomon
11. When the House of God was completed, what Holiest of Holy things of God was contained within?
(More than one answer)
a. The Ark of the Covenant
b. The actual Presence of the LORD God
c. Nothing
d. None of the above
12. What is the room named that contains the Ark of the Covenant in the House of God?
a. Holiest of Holies
b. Priest room
c. Tabernacle
d. Sacrificial tent
13. What is tested by fire for Christians during Christ’s judgment?
a. Faith
b. Praise
c. Worship
d. Works
14. Whose works are tested by fire?
a. Works done through Christian
b. Works directed by the Holy Spirit
c. Spiritual works led by the Spirit through the Christian
d. All the above
15. What houses the Holy Spirit inside every Believer?
a. A Temple of God
b. An active blood system
c. The Holiest of Holies
d. None of the above
16. Where are the rewards for works placed in every Believer before the trying of fire?
a. Inside the Holy Spirit
b. Inside the Temple of God inside the Believer
c. The entire body of the Believer
d. None of the above
17. Who guides spiritual works of the LORD God to the highest level inside a Believer?
a. Believer in faith
b. Believer in doing works
c. Holy Spirit
d. None of the above
18. What will the precious New Jerusalem be built with?
a. Gold
b. Silver
c. Precious Stones
d. Wood
19. What will the nature of the Precious Stones have in New Jerusalem construction?
a. Holy
b. Clear as crystal
c. Every color of the rainbow
d. None of the above
Herbs
Genesis 1:29–31 (KJV 1900)
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
We have NOT yet studied Herbs, yet they are an important symbol that touches the same Scriptures often that our Trees touch. Simply put my eager students, Herbs support Natural Life and Trees are the Spiritual Life of man. Just remember that small part about Herbs as we move on. We will be studying herbs in much greater detail in the next series of lessons.
Worksheet #3
20. When did the LORD God give the herbs and trees?
a. In the beginning of creation
b. In the arrival of Christ upon Earth
c. After Christ’s Resurrection
d. Will arrive with the New Earth and New Jerusalem
21. What purpose are herbs made?
a. Natural Life Meat
b. Spiritual Life Meat
c. There is no hidden, deep meaning
d. Eternal Life Meat
22. What purpose are trees made?
a. Natural Life Meat
b. Spiritual Life Meat
c. There is no hidden, deep meaning
d. Eternal Life Meat
2 Chronicles 9:9–11 (KJV 1900)
9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. 10 And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. 11 And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the Lord, and to the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
Gold, Spices, and Precious Stones vs. Gold, Algum Trees, and Precious Stones
Teachings by Kathy L McFarland
Notice how Queen Sheba’s gifts bring the best herbs ever known to Solomon as a gift to him and his wisdom. It was a special gift to enhance his Natural Life and show favor by Sheba.
The presence of these herbs suggest that it was Natural Life treasures that was given by Sheba.
Notice how the servants of Huram and Solomon brought Gold from Ophir, Algum Trees, and Precious Stones. The presence of Algum Trees suggest that it was Spiritual Life treasure given by the servants.
Both were the greatest of gifts. But we can be certain that with the inclusion of the type of trees brought by the servants as Algums, that Algum Trees are definitely a Spiritual Life level that honors God.
Why did the servants of Huram (Hiram) and Solomon bring Spiritual Life gifts?
King Hiram of Tyre provided materials to David for building his palace and to Solomon for building His temple. Tyre is famous for their giant Cedar Trees, and they figured predominately in the buildings. But, this time, during Queen Sheba’s giftings to discover Solomon’s wisdoms, King Hiram continues to send King Solomon Spiritual Life supplies worthy of the House of God that Solomon was building.
King Solomon used the gifted Algum Trees, to build terraces to the house of the LORD God, and to his palace, harps and psalteries for his singers. The text slightly suggests that Solomon gifted some of these special items made from Algum Trees to Queen Sheba since she had not brought those materials (2 Chronicles 9:12)
Terraces – 5019 לּהָסִ מְ) mesilꞏlā(h)): n.fem.; ≡ Str 4546; TWOT 1506d—1. LN 1.99–1.105 main road, highway, i.e., an open-country thoroughfare used much, that is relatively wide and maintained (Nu 20:19); 2. LN 7.26–7.53 raised structure, i.e., an unknown raised construction made of wood which has many differing translations (2Ch 9:11+) (NASB, RSV, NRSV, NJB, NIV) steps, (NAB) stairs (Tanakh) ramps; (NEB, REB) stands; (NKJV) walkways; (WBC) gateway; (KJV) terraces, see also 5026; 3. LN 41.1–41.24 conduct in life, formally, highway, i.e., the way one
lives life as a figurative extension of traveling down a highway (Pr 16:17; Isa 59:7); 4. LN 1.26– 1.33 star course, i.e., a normal path which is routinely followed, as pertaining to a heavenly body (Jdg 5:20); 5. LN 15.101–15.106 pilgrimage, religious trek, formally, highway, i.e., the act. of religious, often processional, travel to a holy place or site (Ps 84:6[EB 5])[2]
Terraces
Teachings by Kathy L McFarland
Note the tremendous amount of symbology contained within the word “Terrace” as applied to its meaning in Hebrews. You can be assured that every bit of the deeper meaning of Terrace is applied to the House of God that Solomon was building. He chose the Algum Tree to make the Terraces, because that was the steps that led into the House of God.
Figuratively, steps that lead to the house of God, made from Algum Trees, represent the steps of the journey of a Spiritual Life leading toward the LORD God.
Let’s just glance at another figurative meaning that is suggested by the Hebrew word of a harp:
Harp – 5575 II. בלֶנֵ) nēꞏḇěl): n.masc.; ≡ Str 5035; TWOT 1284a, 1284b—LN 6.83–6.95 stringed instrument, lyre, harp, kithara, i.e., a musical instrument consisting of a strong frame, taut strings of animal or plant material, plucked to make melodic sounds, usually of a portable size (1Sa 10:5; 2Sa 6:5; 1Ki 10:12; 1Ch 13:8; 15:16, 20, 28; 16:5; 25:1, 6; 2Ch 5:12; 9:11; 20:28; 29:25; Ne 12:27; Ps 33:2; 57:9[EB 8]; 71:22; 81:3[EB 2]; 92:4[EB 3]; 108:3[EB 2]; 144:9; 150:3; Isa 5:12; 14:11; Am 5:23; 6:5+)4[3]
Psalteries for Singers 5574 I. בלֶנֵ) nēꞏḇěl): n.masc.; ≡ Str 5035; TWOT 1284a—1. LN 6.118–6.151 leather vessel, i.e., a container made of animal skin (as a sheep), tied at the legs, with the neck as the spout to hold liquid (1Sa 1:24; 10:3; 25:18; 2Sa 16:1; Jer 13:12+); 2. LN 6.118–6.151 earthen vessel, jar, jug, pot, i.e., a container made of clay used to hold liquid (Job 38:37; Isa 22:24; 30:14; Jer 48:12; La 4:2+)
We have our famous one Hebrew word that means two different things. Or does it? You must wait for advanced lessons to find the depth of this combination!
Worksheet #4
23. What are the gifts of Queen Sheba to King Solomon?
a. Gold
b. Spices
c. Algum Trees
d. Precious Stones
24. What are the gifts of Queen Sheba to King Solomon?
a. Gold
b. Spices
c. Algum Trees
d. Precious Stones
25. What do the Herb gifts represent that are given by the Queen?
a. Natural Life
b. Spiritual Life
c. Eternal Life
d. None of the above
26. What do the Tree gifts represent that are given by the King of Tyre?
a. Natural Life
b. Spiritual Life
c. Eternal Life
d. None of the above
27. What type of tree did King Solomon use to build his Terraces to the House of God?
a. Algum/Almug Tree
b. Cedar Tree
c. Pine Tree
d. None of the above.
28. What does a Terrace symbolize in original Hebrew?
a. A Spiritual Journey
b. A Natural Journey
c. An Eternal Journey
d. All the above
Almug/Algum Tree – A Spiritual Life level that honors the LORD God and guides Believers to come closer to the beauty of His Holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. Musical worship and high praise are often expressed through these type of Believers.
[1] Swanson, James. 1997. In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
