Myrtle

mûr´t'l ( הדס , hădhaṣ ; μυρσίνη , mursı́nē ( Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13; Nehemiah 8:15; Zechariah 1:8 , Zechariah 1:10 ); also as a name in Hadassah in Esther 2:7 , the Jewish form of ESTHER (which see)): The myrtle, Myrtus communis (Natural Order Myrtaceae ), is a very common indigenous shrub all over Palestine On the bare hillsides it is a low bush, but under favorable conditions of moisture it attains a considerable height (compare Zechariah 1:8 , Zechariah 1:10 ). It has dark green, scented leaves, delicate starry white flowers and dark-colored berries, which are eaten. In ancient times it was sacred to Astarte. It is mentioned as one of the choice plants of the land Isaiah 41:19 . "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree" Isaiah 55:13 , is one of the prophetic pictures of God's promised blessings. It was one of the trees used in the Feast of Tabernacles Nehemiah 8:15 : "the branches of thick trees " (which see) are interpreted in the Talmud (Ṣuk . Nehemiah 3:4; Yer Ṣuk . 3, 53rd) as myrtle boughs; also (id) the "thick trees" of Nehemiah 8:15 as "wild myrtle." Myrtle twigs, particularly those of the broadleaved variety, together with a palm branch and twigs of willow, are still used in the ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles. For many references to myrtle in Jewish writings see Jewish Encyclopedia , IX, 137.