Bible Dictionaries
Broom Tree
Holman Bible Dictionary
A bush that often grows large enough to provide shade (1 Kings 19:4-5 ). Its foliage and roots were often used as fuel (Job 30:4; Psalm 120:4 ). Its white flowers with maroon center beautify the Dead Sea area. Bees buzz among its blooms. The name Rithmah—a place along the route of the Exodus (Numbers 33:18-19 )—was named for this shrub (rothem ). Although KJV, NAS identify the bush as the juniper, modern scholars agree that the bush intended by the Hebrew writer was the broom tree—Retama raetam (NIV, REB, NRSV).
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Broom Tree'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/b/broom-tree.html. 1991.