Biblical Fruits and Grains: the Date

Dates - are symbolized in Scripture by the Palm Tree, under which leaves they grow in (often in great and heavy) clusters (generally 60-80 feet up).

There are 139 varies of dates, and the best was called "El Shebei" by the nomads. Its time of ripening is in August - September, and is generally harvested about the same time as Rosh Hashana. After the dates are harvested, the Palm branches will be removed, and used in the building of booths at the festival Sukkah / "Tabernacles".


In Torah, the Date (through the Palm Tree) is representative of the Sanhedrin over the 12 Tribes of Israel (represented through water wells).

"And they removed from Marah [Bitter],
and came unto Elim:
and in Elim were twelve fountains of water,
and threescore and ten palm trees;
and they pitched there." (Numbers 33:9)

Hence, 70 "date" trees by 12 Springs of water sem representaive of the 70 Judges of the Sanhedrin, and 12 Apostles of the Maqor Source of Living Waters (Yeshua / Jesus).

When Israel entered the Land of Promise under Jehoshua Joshua / Jesus (LXX), after undergoing circumcision, they attack Jericho by encircling it 7 days, etc. In Deuteronomy 34:3, Jericho is called the city of Palm Trees, a type of the Law...but by the Spirit of HASHEM, the walls of the Law are symbolically removed at the sound of the Trump, and Israel is led (as if by a New Covenant) to overcome the obstacles of the Old (Covenant)...(Joshua 5:15, 6:2-5).

In a way, Gilgal to Jericho is a dark repetition of the Marah and Elim in the Wilderness.

Dates then, not only point us to a Palm Tree example of erectness (Song of Solomon 7:7), uprightness (cf. Jeremiah 10:5), or righteousness and prosperity (Psalm 92:12), but to the holiness of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus.

Even Bethany, where Christ stayed while being examined for the 4 days in which a Pesach lamb must be examined (From Palm Shabbat /Saturday ff.), even Bethany appears to be a sign, being known as the "house of dates". (Although some translate as house of unripe figs or dates.)

Hence, the DATE...representing Christ, the great Law-giver...is the centermost basket of the 7 Firstfruit tower baskets, placed on the head and carried about up to and on the Festival of Firstfruits.

Exodus 15:
23 "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25 And he [Moses] cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree,[representative of the Cross of Jesus/Yeshua, the Cross of Salvation] which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the VOICE [revealed as the Logos in John 1:1-3] of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in HIS sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters."

In all likelihood, even the Firstfruit baskets themselves, were made from the shoots of the Palm Tree.

These Palm Tree shoots were also advantageous in making ropes for everyday lashings (such as with tents and pack animals), and even was used as a material in the making of sandals.

In both in Solomon's Temple, and in the coming Ezekiel Temple, the "date" is represented through the Palm Tree (I Kings 6:29,32,35; Ezekiel 40:16,22,26,31,34,37; et al.).

And through the Palm Tree, indirectly, is the symbolism that points to the fulfillment of the Law in the Cross. So when the Law is fufilled in the Cross, we are sometimes reminded of this by observing and considering the "date".


Revelation 7:

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

9 μετα ταυτα ειδον και ιδου οχλος πολυς ον αριθμησαι αυτον ουδεις ηδυνατο εκ παντος εθνους και φυλων και λαων και γλωσσων εστωτες ενωπιον του θρονου και ενωπιον του αρνιου περιβεβλημενοι στολας λευκας και φοινικες εν ταις χερσιν αυτων

10 και κραζοντες φωνη μεγαλη λεγοντες η σωτηρια τω καθημενω επι του θρονου του θεου ημων και τω αρνιω

φοινιξ- "Phoinix"/"Phoenix", in the NT, used primarily of a palm-tree. Also used in Phenice (of Crete). Outside the NT, Phoenix also decribes "a bird of resurrection". But the symbolism of the resurrected life in Christ Jesus, in the Palm, should not be lost upon us, as we are called forth to bear that fruit of uprightness or righteousness.