[MR] Arab tree used for bows and arrows

[SNSpies at aol.com]

I think the mystery of what nab' wood is  may have been solved.
 
The editor of the translation of  "Splendori e Misteri di Sicilia" indicates 
in a footnote that nab' was a  yellow-colored wood often mentioned by Arab 
poets and used for making arrows  and bows.
 
Some very astute on-line searching by a  colleague brought up references to 
many Old Testament mentions of nab' which  is translated as pomegranate.  Lehi 
in the desert supposedly made a bow  from pomegranate wood which survived the 
harsh conditions around Jiddah, not  far from the Red Sea on the Arabian 
coast.  Another reference comes from  an old travel book which talks about the 
Arabs making bows only from nab'  wood which was available in an oasis near 
Jiddah.  (Thank you so much,  Karen!)
 
If you go to this web site, you can read a  few more references and see how 
yellow the wood actually is.  _Christian Gifts  Gallery - Pomegranate Wood - 
Inspired Woods: Of The Bible_ 
(http://www.inspiredwoods.com/bible_wood_pomegranate.php)  
 
It would appear, then, that  nab'/pomegranate was more a legendary wood for 
bows and arrows rather than a  wood that was actually commonly used by the 
Arabs to make them.   

Thank you to everyone for their  help.
 
Nancy  

Nancy  Spies
Arelate Studio
_www.weavershand.com/ArelateStudio.html_ 
(http://www.weavershand.com/ArelateStudio.html) 









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