Shittah-tree

The shittah-tree (Hebrew shittah, plural shittim) is the acacia — almost certainly Acacia tortilis or related species common to the Sinai peninsula and arid regions of Palestine. It is a thorny, drought-resistant tree yielding a hard, fine-grained, reddish-brown timber highly resistant to decay. Isaiah 41:19 lists the shittah tree among the trees God promises to plant in the wilderness as a sign of restoration.

Its primary biblical importance lies in its use in the construction of the Mosaic Tabernacle. The ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the altar of burnt offering, the altar of incense, and the boards and pillars of the Tabernacle structure were all made of shittim wood overlaid with gold or bronze (Exodus 25–27; 37–38). The selection of this particular wood — durable, abundant in the Sinai desert, and light enough for a portable sanctuary — suited Israel's wilderness situation. The shittim stands at Shittim (Abel-shittim) in Moab likely derive their name from groves of this tree in the valley.