Bible Dictionary
Goodly trees
“Goodly trees” refers to branches or fruit from beautiful or noble trees used during the Feast of Tabernacles. The passage is traditionally associated with the citron, though the original wording may have been more general.
Definition
“Goodly trees” refers to the beautiful or noble trees, branches, or fruit used during the Feast of Tabernacles. The original expression may have been general, though later Jewish tradition identified it with the citron.
Biblical Usage
The fruit or boughs of goodly trees were one of the four kinds of plants used in the Feast of Tabernacles, according to Leviticus 23:40.
Historical Background
The Septuagint and Vulgate understood the expression generically. The Talmud identified it as the citron, and this interpretation was ancient. The citron was probably brought from Babylon by Jews returning from captivity.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Boughs of, were to be carried in festive procession on the first day of the feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). This was probably the olive tree (Neh. 8:15), although no special tree is mentioned.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(peri`ets hadhar, "the fruit (the King James Version "boughs") of goodly (= beautiful or noble) trees"): One of the four species of plants used in the Feast of Tabernacles (Le 23:40). In the Talmud (Cukkdh 35a) this is explained to be the citron (Citrus medica) known in Hebrew as 'ethrogh. This tradition is ancient, at least as old as the Maccabees. Josephus (Ant., XIII, xiii, 5) records that Alexander Janneus, while serving at the altar during this feast, was pelted by the infuriated Jews with citrons. This fruit also figures on coins of this period. It is probable that the citron tree (Malum Persica) was imported from Babylon by Jews returning from the captivity. A citron is now carried in the synagogue by every orthodox Jew in one hand, and the lalabh (of myrtle, willow, and palm branch) in the other, on each day of the Feast of Tabernacles.</p><p>Originally the "goodly trees" had a much more generic sense, and the term is so interpreted by the Septuagint and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.)</p><p>See FEASTS AND FASTS; BOOTH.</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>