Olive trees became the most important tree cultivated in Palestine. One tree could provide a whole family with fats, for olive oil was used instead of butter. If neglected olive trees cease to bear fruit. It must be near the sea to flourish. The flowers of pale yellow have deeper yellow centers. They are small until they open and enlarge somewhat. The olive is an evergreen, are a gray-green, long, slender and shimmering.
The unripened green fruit is eaten with a brown bread. Harvest time is in October. At one time long sticks were used to beat the fruit from the branches. When ripe, black olives are gathered into baskets, crushed, and the oil obtained is used for several things. It was prepared for burning in the lamps of the temple. Exodus 27:20 "And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." A full size tree yields a half ton of oil yearly. It is the most frequently mentioned tree in Roman classical literature. Jesus spent his last night of freedom on earth in the Garden of Gethsemane, which translated means "garden with the olive press."
Deuteronomy 6:10 (KJV) And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
Deuteronomy 6:11 (KJV) And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Deuteronomy 6:12 (KJV) Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deuteronomy 6:13 (KJV) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
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