TEREBINTH tĕr’ ə bīnth (אֵלָה֒, H461). The tr. “terebinth” is found in the RSV for the tree tr. “oak” in Isaiah 6:13, or even “elm” as in Hosea 4:13. In Cruden’s Concordance the alternative tr. to ’elâ is given as “terebinth,” as well as to ’allâ in Joshua 24:26, but not to ’allôn, the word used for “oak” in Genesis 35:8; Isaiah 2:13; Amos 2:9 and Zechariah 11:2.

The word ’ēlâ really denotes a strong, hardy tree. It is presumed that the Israelites sacrified to idols under terebinth trees because “the shadow thereof is good,” since it provided concealment.

This long-lived tree is the Pistacia terebinthus palaestina. It is common enough in Pal. growing to a height of thirty-five ft. In the dark valley of Elah, David slew Goliath—perhaps this is the reason Goliath did not easily see the slung stone.